By Rich Winter

605 Sports

SIOUX FALLS — For five years Dell Rapids setter Sophi Randall has been orchestrating the offense for an ever-improving Quarrier volleyball team. 

Her talents have not gone unnoticed and last week the 6-foot setter signed to continue her academic and athletic career at the University of Illinois. 

“I wanted to make the decision early because that is where I wanted to go,” Randall said. “It’s really nice to have it be concrete and on paper. It’s a great feeling and I’m really excited to get going.” 

A year ago Randall helped lead the Quarriers to a third-place finish in the Class A state tournament. Dell Rapids entered the 2024 state tournament with a 29-3 record with their only losses coming to Class B No. 1 Chester, seven-time defending Class A champion Sioux Falls Christian and Class A No. 1 seed Dakota Valley. 

Randall was outstanding in Thursday’s straight-set sweep of Winner finishing with 26 assists, eight kills, two aces, six digs and three assisted blocks. 

“Sophi is the heart and soul of our team,” Erica Fersdahl, Dell Rapids coach said. “She is a great all-around player as well as a setter and volleyball player. The leadership she brings is unmatched and she just makes everyone around her better.”  

Fersdahal knew right away, when Randall was an eighth-grader, that someone very special had walked into the Dell Rapids gym. 

“The leadership and the skill level was there very early,” Fersdahl said. “The biggest change for her has been the mental aspect. She loves the mental aspect of watching film and knowing what her teammates do well and then feeding them in those positions. She knows how to make her teammates better and does everything in her power to accomplish that.” 

Fersdahl added that having a Big 10 signee is big for her program but noted Randall’s success comes from putting in the hard work, getting in the weight room and playing club volleyball forever. 

Randall said playing for Kairos volleyball helped put her on the map.

Dell Rapids opened tournament play with the sweep over Winner. On Friday the Quarriers meet up with No. 2 seed Hamlin.

“I feel like we got off to a great start and our team is super confident,” Randall said. “I’d really love to add a state championship in the next few days.”

Former Sioux Falls O’Gorman player Raegen Reilly is currently a senior setter on the 17-9 Illinois team.