Postseason push begins for WDA volleyball teams

BISMARCK – The goal is straightfoward for the eight teams part of the Division AA West Region volleyball tournament field this week. Win two before losing two. That will guarantee a team another week of play. Quarterfinals for the regional are Thursday, Nov. 13 in Mandan. Top seed and 11-time defending champion Bismarck Century opens play against No. 8 Minot North at 1 p.m. No. 4 Bismarck Legacy takes on No. 5 Bismarck High in game two at approximately 3 p.m. No. 2 Minot High faces tournament host No. 7 Mandan at 5 p.m. The nightcap features No. 3 Jamestown against No. 6 Dickinson at  7 p.m. Play continues with a pair of semifinals and loser-out matches on Friday, Nov. 14 with two state qualifiers and the championship on Saturday, Nov. 15. 
The contenders: Bismarck Century has owned this tournament for more than  decade, winning the past 11 titles. The top-seeded Patriots will be the favorite again, but don’t count out Jamestown. The Blue Jays, the No. 3 seed, handed Century a loss a few weeks ago and are peaking at the right time. Jamestown has reached the tournament title match six times since 2016. 
No. 2 seed Minot High is also a team that has been strong throughout the season. The Majettes are hoping to end their state tournament drought this weekend. The last time Minot High reached the state tournament was 2011. Don’t sleep on No. 4 Legacy and No. 5 Bismarck High. These teams have turned in impressive regular seasons.
Welcome Back! Mandan returns to the quarterfinal round for the first time since 2021. And a good time to do it as they Braves are playing tournament host. Coach Anna Folk returned to the program this season after stepping away for a few seasons. She led the squad to a Class A runner-up finish in 2018.
Underdogs can bite!
The top four seeds don’t always come out of the tournament unscathed. In fact four of the last five tournaments has seen the No. 5 seed or lower advance to the state tournament. The last to do this was Jamestown a season ago. The Blue Jays were the No. 7 seed, but won two tournament matches to qualify for state.
Going the distance
Thirteen conference matches went five-sets this regular season. Eight teams had at least one five-setter with Bismarck Legacy having six. Dickinson had five. Mandan won all four of its five-setters. 
Missed it by that much!: There were some differences in where coaches selected teams in the preseason poll compared to where teams actually finished. Here is the comparison on the actual finish vs. the preseason rankings. Century, 1/1; Minot High, 2/6; Jamestown, 3/5; 4. Bismarck Legacy, 4/3; Bismarck High, 5/2; Dickinson, 6/4; Mandan, 7/8; Minot North, 8/7; St. Mary’s, 9/9; Williston, 10/10
Final volleys: WDA teams posted a collective 34-57 record vs. EDC teams this season...Five WDA teams have winning records (Century, Minot High, Jamestown, Legacy and Bismarck High)...Century currently has the longest consecutive streak of state tournament appearances for WDA teams (14 seasons)...Bismarck is hosting the State AA-A-B Tournament (Nov. 19-22)...BEK TV his broadcasting the West Region Tournament...Watford City and TMCHS both moved into the Division A classification and competed in region tournaments earlier this week...Last state tournament appearances: Century, 2024; Jamestown, 2024; Legacy, 2024; Bismarck High, 2024; St. Mary’s, 2022; Mandan, 2020; Dickinson, 2012; Minot High, 2011; Williston, 2010; Minot North, none.

(1) Bismarck Century Patriots
Records: 28-2 Overall; 17-1 WDA
Head Coach: Jamie Zastoupil
Record vs. Top 4 W. Region seeds: 5-1
Record in Reg. Season Tournaments: 11-1
Longest season win streak vs. WDA opponents: 16 matches
Longest season losing streak: 1 match
Players to watch: Alexis Heinle, Sr.; Sylvia Taylor, Sr.; Abby Fosland, Sr.
Record in first sets: 15-2
Record in second sets: 17-1
Record in third sets: 16-2
Record in fourth sets: 4-1
Record in fifth sets: 0-0
Team Leaders: Kills/Per Match: Syvlia Taylor, 260/14.44; Blocks/Per Match: Alexis Heinle, 48.5/2.69; Assists/Per Match: Abby Fosland, 357/19.8; Digs/Per Match: Kinley Pedersen, 255/14.16; Service Aces/Per Match: Parker Lutman, 40/2.22
2024 West Region Tournament Rewind: (champion); Win vs. Williston; Win vs. Legacy; Win vs. Bismarck High
Last West Region Tournament Championship: 2024
Last Class A Championship: 2024
Dig This: Century is the defending state champion.

(2) Minot High Majettes
Records: 19-12 Overall; 13-5 WDA
Head Coach: Jesse Goertzen
Record vs. Top 4 W. Region seeds: 2-4
Record in Reg. Season Tournaments: 6-7
Longest season win streak vs. WDA opponents: 4 matches
Longest season losing streak vs. WDA opponents: 1 match (five times)
Players to watch: Kynsli Gillmore, Sr.; McKenzie Dufner, Sr.; Camdyn Varty, Jr.
Record in first sets: 11-7
Record in second sets: 13-5
Record in third sets: 12-6
Record in fourth sets: 4-5
Record in fifth sets: 2-0
Team Leaders: Kills/Per Match: Kynslie Gillmore, 218/12.11 Blocks/Per Match: Eve Knutson, 38.5/2.13; Assists/Per Match: McKenzie Dufner, 669/37.16 Digs/Per Match: Camdyn Varty, Sr. 434/24.11; Service Aces/Per Match: Everette Deschamp, 27/1.50
2024 West Region Tournament Rewind: Did Not Place; Win vs. Minot North; Loss vs. Bismarck High; Loss vs. Legacy
Last West Region Tournament Championship: 2007
Last Class A Championship: None
Dig This: Minot High’s second place WDA finish was its best since 2000.

(3) Jamestown Blue Jays
Records: 19-11 Overall; 13-5 WDA
Head Coach: Sara Hegerle
Record vs. Top 4 W. Region seeds: 4-2
Record in Reg. Season Tournaments: 
6-6
Longest win streak vs. WDA opponents: 3 matches (three times)
Longest season losing streak: 3 matches
Players to watch: Lucy Falk, Jr.; Mari Anderson, Sr.; Jetta Peterson, Sr.
Record in first sets: 12-6
Record in second sets: 9-9
Record in third sets: 12-6
Record in fourth sets: 10-2
Record in fifth sets: 0-1
Team Leaders: Kills/Per Match: Lucy Falk, 317/17.61; Blocks/Per Match: Mari Anderson, 64.0/3.55; Assists/Per Match: Hannah Attleson, 468/26.00; Digs/Per Match: Jetta Peterson, 439/24.38; Service Aces/Per Match: L. Falk, 39/2.16
2024 West Region Tournament Rewind: (4th); Loss vs. Bismarck High; Win vs. Minot North; Win vs. Dickinson
Last West Region Tournament 
Championship: None
Last Class A Championship: 2013
Dig This: Jamestown was the only WDA team to defeat top seed Bismarck 
Century.

(4) Bismarck Legacy Sabers
Records: 18-12 Overall; 12-6 WDA
Head Coach: Jennifer Astle
Record vs. Top 4 W. Region seeds: 1-5
Record in Reg. Season Tournaments: 6-6
Longest season win streak vs. WDA opponents: 4 matches 
Longest season losing streak: 2 matches (twice)
Players to watch: Brooklyn Pudwill, Jr.; Marlee Falcon, Jr.; Bentley Solem, Sr.
Record in first sets: 11-6
Record in second sets: 9-9
Record in third sets: 10-8
Record in fourth sets: 7-4
Record in fifth sets: 4-2
Team Leaders: Kills/Per Match: Brooklyn Pudwill, 177/9.83; Blocks/Per Match: Finley Fettig, 39.0/2.16; Assists/Per Match: Bentley Solem, 549/30.50; Digs/Per Match: McKenzie Schilke, 241/13.38; Service Aces/Per Match: M. Schilke, 17/0.94
2024 West Region Tournament Rewind: 3rd (state qualifier); Win vs. Dickinson; Loss vs. Century; Win vs. Minot High
Last West Region Tournament Championship: None
Last Class A Championship: None
Dig This: Eleven of Legacy’s 18 WDA matches went four or five sets.

(5) Bismarck High Demons
Records: 19-12 Overall; 12-6 WDA
Head Coach: Brianna Kline
Record vs. Top 4 W. Region seeds: 2-6
Record in Reg. Season Tournaments: 6-6
Longest season win streak vs. WDA opponents: 4 matches
Longest season losing streak: 2 matches
Players to watch: Aspen Roaldson, Sr.; Rosalyn Brunelle, Jr.; Sr.; Dalena Aamot, Sr.
Record in first sets: 12-6
Record in second sets: 12-6
Record in third sets: 13-5
Record in fourth sets: 4-2
Record in fifth sets: 0-2
Team Leaders: Kills/Per Match: Rosalyn Brunelle, 171/9.50; Blocks/Per Match: Dalena Aamot, 28.0/1.55; Assists/Per Match: Aspen Roaldson, 631/35.05; Digs/Per Match: Hannah Kemmis, 244/13.55; Service Aces/Per Match: Taylor Mayer, 28/1.55
2024 West Region Tournament Rewind: (2nd); Win vs. Jamestown; Win vs. Minot High; Loss vs. Century
Last West Region Tournament 
Championship: 2010
Last Class A Championship: 2010
Dig This: The Demons have advanced to the state tournament in each of the past two seasons.

(6) Dickinson Mavericks
Records: 11-19 Overall; 7-11 WDA
Head Coach: Taylor Hafner
Record vs. Top 4 W. Region seeds: 2-6
Record in Reg. Season Tournaments: 3-9
Longest season win streak vs. WDA opponents: 4 matches 
Longest season losing streak vs. WDA opponents: 3 matches (3 times)
Players to watch: Jenna Nelson, Sr.; Jersi Luchi, Sr.; Kaley Embry, Sr.
Record in first sets: 6-12
Record in second sets: 9-9
Record in third sets: 10-8
Record in fourth sets: 8-5
Record in fifth sets: 1-4
Team Leaders: Kills/Per Match: Jenna Nelson, 355/19.7; Blocks/Per Match: Jersi Luchi, 35.0/1.94; Assists/Per Match: Rubi Valencia, 221/12.27; Digs/Per Match: Kaley Embry, 417/23.16; Service Aces/Per Match: Lexi Bradley, 37/2.05
2024 West Region Tournament Rewind: Did Not Place; Loss vs. Legacy; Win vs. Williston; Loss vs. Jamestown
Last West Region Tournament Championship: 2005
Last Class A Championship: 2006
Dig This: The Mavericks have two wins against teams above it in the standings.

(7) Mandan Braves
Records: 11-21 Overall; 7-11 WDA
Head Coach: Anna Folk
Record vs. Top 4 W. Region seeds: 1-7
Record in Reg. Season Tournaments: 3-10
Longest season win streak vs. WDA opponents: 2 matches (twice)
Longest season losing streak vs. WDA opponents: 4 matches
Players to watch: Jersey Hammes, Jr.; Anna Claire Bugbee, So.; Hadley Harris, So.
Record in first sets: 7-11
Record in second sets: 6-12
Record in third sets: 7-11
Record in fourth sets: 2-5
Record in fifth sets: 4-0
Team Leaders: Kills/Per Match: Jersey Hammes, 157/8.72; Blocks/Per Match: Anna Claire-Bugbee, 27.5/1.52; Assists/Per Match: Gabriele Frohlich, 318/17.66; Digs/Per Match: Hadley Harris, 331/18.38; Service Aces/Per Match: Keya Condon, 29/1.61 
2024 West Region Tournament Rewind: Did Not Participate
Last West Region Tournament Championship: 2006
Last Class A Championship: 2004
Dig This: Mandan went 4-0 in five-set matches this season.

(8) Minot North Sentinels
Records: 14-17 Overall; 6-12 WDA
Head Coach: Kari Francis
Record vs. Top 4 W. Region seeds: 0-8
Record in Reg. Season Tournaments: 7-5
Longest season win streak vs. WDA opponents: 2 matches
Longest season losing streak vs. WDA opponents: 5 matches
Players to watch: Aven Kelly, Sr.; Brynn Francis, Jr.; Kate Weishaar, Sr.
Record in first sets: 6-12
Record in second sets: 8-10
Record in third sets: 7-11
Record in fourth sets: 4-7
Record in fifth sets: 2-1
Team Leaders: Kills/Per Match: Aven Kelly, 178/9.88; Blocks/Per Match: A. Kelly, 46.0/2.55; Assists/Per Match: Brynn Francis, 465/25.83; Digs/Per Match: Kate Weishaar, 299/16.61; Service Aces/Per Match: B. Francis, 21/1.16
2024 West Region Tournament Rewind: Did Not Place; Loss vs. Minot High; Loss vs. Jamestown
Last West Region Tournament Championship: None
Last Class A Championship: None
Dig This: Minot North enters the tournament on three-match win streak.

Bismarck Century setter Abby Fosland, photo courtesy of Loralyn Joyce