RAPID CITY — Dakota Valley returned to the top of Class A volleyball on Saturday.

The Panthers won their first Class A state volleyball championship since 2016, outlasting conference rival and defending state champ Dell Rapids in a four-set match. The set scores were 26-24, 26-24, 24-26 and 25-22 at the Summit Arena at the Monument. 

Dakota Valley completed a 34-3 season, and captured its third state volleyball championship in program history. The Panthers also finished runner-ups to Dell Rapids last season. 

Saturday’s state championship match was the fourth meeting this season between the Panthers and Quarriers. Dakota Valley improved to 4-0 this season against Dell Rapids (29-7). 

On Saturday, the Dak-XII Conference foes played a highly-competitive match where no lead was safe. In the first set, the Quarriers led 24-17 before the Panthers scored the final nine points for a 1-0 match lead. 

In the second set, the Quarriers again controlled most of the action in a seesaw frame. The set was tied at 22-22, 23-23 and 24-24, with the Panthers scoring the final three points for the two-point win. 

In the third set, Dell Rapids staved off the sweep with a late flurry of points. The set was tied again at 21-21, 22-22 and 24-24. The Quarriers scored the final four points to avoid the sweep. 

In the fourth set, the Panthers took a 21-16 advantage and held off Dell Rapids for the four-set victory. 

Dakota Valley’s Claire Munch finished with a match-high 26 kills and added 13 digs. Samantha Kimball totaled eight kills and 13 digs. Madie Munch posted 40 assists and nine digs. Aubree Worden totaled three blocks. 

Dell Rapids’ Madelynn Henry recorded 22 kills, five aces and eight digs. Sylea Sykes recorded 12 kills and eight digs. Tenley Anderson dished out 40 assists and added 14 digs. Alaina Wolff posted 11 digs. Peyton Hohn added five blocks.