Majettes drop heartbreaker, miss qualifying for state tournament

Kari Gibb/MDN
Minot High junior Eve Knutson (3) and senior Leah Walter (11) defend the net against Bismarck Legacy junior Cambree Volk (1) as the Majettes and Sabers battle to qualify for the NDHSAA Class A VB Tournament on Saturday, November 16, at Minot High.

The Minot High volleyball team, seeded third going into the Western Dakota Association (WDA) volleyball tournament, needed three sets to advance to the 2024 NDHSAA Class A State Volleyball Tournament to be held in Fargo this week.

All that stood in the way of the Majettes was the fifth seeded Bismarck Legacy team.

The Sabers dashed the travel plans for the Majettes with the 3-2 win.

Minot High and Legacy each came out the gate swinging, matching each other point for point until the Sabers edged the Majettes with the 27-25 frame one win.

Minot High rebounded in dominating fashion with 25-13 and 25-12 scores in frames two and three to hold the 2-1 lead going into the fourth frame.

Legacy regrouped and held off Minot High with the 25-20 win in the fourth frame for a 2-2 tie going into the fifth and final frame.

The Lady Sabers would edge the Majettes 15-12 for the 3-2 win and the travel slot for the state tournament.

Minot High was led by Leah Walter and Kynsli Gillmore with 15 kills each. Jayda Schall posted six kills while Eve Knutson and Sydney Aberle each added five as well.

Knutson was tough at the net on defense with four blocks. Aberle recorded 3.5 blocks while Mackenzie Dufner and Walter each added a block. Mya Bogden had half a block to go with her kill.

Dufner posted 43 assists and 17 digs on the night. Raegan Terrel added three assists to go with her kill and 25 digs. Nicole Couture posted 20 digs and a pair of assists. Everet Deschamp had 13 digs and three assists in the effort. Mya Bogden added ten digs and a kill.

Bismarck Legacy will be the WDA three seed at the state tournament that begins on Thursday, November 21, in Fargo.

Century 3, Bismarck High 0

The top seeded Bismarck Century volleyball team had little trouble in the WDA Volleyball Tournament Championship posting 25-19, 25-14 and 25-13 scores for the sweep and the top seed from the west for the state tournament.

Bismarck High will be the second seed from the west at the tournament.

Jamestown 3, Dickinson 0

The Blue Jays were the seventh seed going into the WDA volleyball tournament and beat the Midgets, the fourth seed in the state qualifying match with scores of 25-22, 25-15 and 25-21 to be the WDA fourth seed going into the state tournament this week.