2017 NDHSAA Volleyball Competitions Begin Aug. 25

By Tom Mix
NDHSAA Media Specialist

VALLEY CITY, N.D. – The 2017 North Dakota High School Activities Association prep volleyball season gets underway Friday, August 25.

Class A squads will converge on Bismarck to compete in the annual Bismarck Public Schools Tournament and Class B programs will begin varsity competition Saturday, August 26 at a handful of season opening tournaments across the state.

In Class A, Jamestown was selected as the preseason favorites to the Western Dakota Association regular season title in a coaches poll conducted earlier this week.

The Blue Jays received six of the 10 first place votes followed by two-time defending Class A state champion Bismarck Century, which garnered three first-place votes.

Jamestown won 28 matches a year ago and finished seventh place at the Class A state tournament. The Blue Jays return a talented lineup including seniors Megan Gaffaney and Hannah Schiele and junior Courtney Peterson.

Gaffaney posted 978 assists a year ago and is one of the top setters in the state. Schiele, a libero, had 760 digs in 2016 and is poised to have another standout season leading the Blue Jays defensive attack that also includes Olivia Nihill (391 digs, 39 aces) and Alyssa Ukestad (442 digs, 49 aces). Peterson collected 363 kills as a sophomore.

The returning talent will come in handy once the WDA-conference season begins later this fall. Bismarck Century swept Jamestown twice a year ago and the Patriots will be out to try and compete for a return trip to the state tournament for a chance to become just the second team ever to three-peat in state history.

The Eastern Dakota Conference also figures to be highly competitive on a nightly basis. A year ago, Shanley, Fargo Davies, West Fargo and Grand Forks Red River all qualified for the state tournament.

Red River is the defending regular season EDC champion. Davies is the defending East Region champion.

In Class B, two-time defending state champion LaMoure-Litchville/Marion will also be trying for a three-peat this fall. Several top returners for the Loboes are senior outside hitter Anna Holen, senior setter Jackie Meiklejohn and sophomore outside hitter Ellie Holen.

Anna Holen and Meiklejohn have been key contributors for several years for LaMoure. The pair were eighth graders in 2013 when LaMoure qualified for state and have become leaders for the program’s run of back-to-back titles in 2015 and 2016.

The NDHSAA Volleyball State Tournament is set for November 16-18 at the Fargodome.

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