RAPID CITY — Gabi Zachariasen stamped her brilliant volleyball career with a fourth state championship on Nov. 22. 

Zachariasen and the Harrisburg Tigers swept O’Gorman for the Class AA state volleyball championship, winning their fourth straight title and finishing with a 125-5 record since 2022.

And it was in 2022 when Zachariasen, a little-known freshman, predicted big things for the Tigers. 

“I said we were going to win four state championships,” Zachariasen said. “Somehow I knew it. But it’s crazy that we could do that.”

By now, South Dakota volleyball fans are well versed on Harrisburg’s staggering list of accomplishments and numbers. But here's a quick recap.

The Tigers have not lost to a South Dakota team since Sept. 22, 2022, and their two losses this season were against No. 8 Torrey Pines (California) and No. 10 Cornerstone Christian (Texas) at the prestigious Durango Fall Classic in Las Vegas, Nevada, in September. 

Harrisburg’s last defeat against a South Dakota team was Sioux Falls Lincoln on Sept. 22, 2022. The Tigers (35-2) are ranked No. 11 nationally, according to MaxPreps.com. They’ve won 97 straight matches against South Dakota teams. 

That included a 25-16, 25-16 and 25-13 sweep against O’Gorman for Harrisburg’s fourth straight state championship. Zachariasen totaled 15 kills and six digs in the title match, while also taking a moment to appreciate her last run with the Tigers. 

“The last few points on the court I was just looking around and trying to soak it all in because these are my best friends on the court,” Zachariasen said. “So it’s really awesome that we got to do that with them.” 

Harrisburg's Gabi Zachariasen delivers a kill around Watertown's Siri Bach (8) during a Class AA semifinal match on Friday at Summit Arena during the state volleyball tournament in Rapid City. (Matt Gade / 605 Sports)

And Zachariasen, a 6-foot outside hitter, was the “driving force,” as Harrisburg coach Ronette Costain likes to say behind the Tigers’ success. 

“She is very strong willed, but a very driven young lady,” Costain said. “I am going to miss the heck out of her. Not just because she can get the kills and things, but Gabi is the driving force. She is going to do great things in life because she’s motivated and she’s determined.”

A two-time Gatorade South Dakota volleyball player of the year (the 2025 winner will be announced next month), Zachariasen closed out her career with 1,802 kills, 924 digs, 171 aces and 122 blocks. She was a 2024 MaxPreps All-American Second Team selection and MaxPreps Junior All-America Team. 

But Zachariasen said capping off her career with another state championship was the most important stat. 

“It’s so rewarding that we could finish out on a strong note, especially the senior class,” Zachariasen said. “It shows that all of our hard work has paid off and I honestly couldn’t be prouder of our group.”

Zachariasen has signed to play Division I volleyball at the University of South Dakota. She will enroll in college in January, a move she said will benefit her development. 

“I think it will be a great opportunity to play with the team and get to know everything before the season starts,” Zachariasen said. “I think that will just make me so much better playing with the team, and playing super competitive right away.”

At USD, she’ll join a Coyote program that regularly competes for Summit League titles and has qualified for five NCAA Division I tournaments under coach Leanne Williamson. 

“They are a super competitive program that really made me feel wanted and valued me,” Zachariasen said. “I wanted to go somewhere that I could make an impact right away and be super competitive and that’s something I can do there and I am super excited.”

And Costain knows the future is bright for Zachariasen.

“She is going to do big things at USD,” Costain said.