Nov. 10, 2009
Contact: Jody Redman or Ellen Giloy-Rajkowski / MSHSL
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
State Girls' Volleyball Tournament
Shakopee looking for third consecutive Class AAA title; Seven teams make first appearances
Shakopee is the only team returning to defend its 2008 title at the 2009 State Girls' Volleyball Tournament. If the Sabers win it would be their third consecutive Class AAA crown.
It is the second year of seeding for the tournament. Coaches of the qualified teams seeded all of the other teams and then opponents were randomly selected for the top four seeds.
Two other teams, Andover and Wayzata, are also returning from the 2008 Class AAA field. Centennial of Circle Pines, Stillwater Area, and Farmington are all making their debut appearances.
In Class AA, four teams return from the 2008 field: Marshall, Wadena-Deer Creek, Hibbing, and Delano. Byron and Minnehaha Academy of Minneapolis are competing in the tournament for the first time.
Three teams return from the 2008 Class A field: Bethlehem Academy, Deer River, and Lake of the Woods of Baudette. Nevis and Parkers Prairie are both making their debut appearances.
Statistics provided by qualified teams are available on the League's Web site - www.MSHSL.org - as a Media Guide link under Tournaments, then Fall, then Volleyball.
Class A Quarterfinal Highlights
None of the Class A qualifiers have perfect records, and only Nevis and Parkers Prairie are making debut appearances.
No. 1 Seed-Section 1-Bethlehem Academy (27-3) vs. Section 2-Gibbon-Fairfax-Winthrop, Winthrop (25-7): Bethlehem Academy, which includes students from Discovery School of Faribault, returns for its eighth consecutive and overall appearance. The Cardinals earned runner-up honors last year, but they won previous titles in 2003, 2005, and 2007. Bethlehem Academy was the top seed and the No. 1 team in the final coaches association poll. The unseeded and unranked Thunderbirds of Gibbon-Fairfax-Winthrop return to tournament action after a one-year hiatus in their second overall appearance. Neither team faced any other qualifiers during the regular season.
No. 4 Seed-Section 5-Nevis (24-5-1) vs. Section 4-Meadow Creek Christian, Andover (26-6): These teams met during the regular season with Nevis winning 2-1. The Nevis Tigers are making their first tournament appearance. During the regular season they also lost to Deer River 2-0 and both tied and defeated Lake of the Woods 1-1 and 2-1. The Saints of Meadow Creek Christian are making their second appearance, but their first since 2006. In addition to Nevis, the Saints also lost to Minneota 2-0 during regular-season play. Neither team was ranked in the final coaches poll.
No. 2 Seed-Section 3-Minneota (26-5) vs. Section 6-Parkers Prairie (24-7-2): The No. 2-seeded and No. 2-ranked Minneota Vikings are returning to the tournament after a two-year absence. This is their sixth appearance and they won one previous championship in 2006. During the regular season Minneota defeated Meadow Creek Christian 2-0. Parkers Prairie is making its first appearance and was not ranked in the final poll. The Panthers did not face any other qualifiers during the regular season.
No. 3 Seed-Section 7-Deer River (26-7) vs. Section 8-Lake of the Woods, Baudette (22-8-2): These teams met during a regular-season tournament resulting in a 1-1 tie. The No. 3-seeded Warriors of Deer River are making their second consecutive and overall appearance. The Warriors lost in the consolation semifinals of the 2008 tournament and were ranked No. 5 in this year's final coaches poll. In addition to facing Lake of the Woods, Deer River also defeated Nevis 2-0 in regular-season play. Lake of the Woods, which also lost in the consolation semifinals last year, is making its second consecutive and sixth overall appearance. The Bears were ranked No. 10 in this year's final coaches poll and are looking for their second title. They won previously in 2005. Lake of the Woods also faced Nevis twice during the regular season. They tied the first match 1-1 and lost the second 2-1.
Class AA Quarterfinal Highlights
There were no perfect records in Class AA, and none of the qualifiers met during the regular season. Byron and Minnehaha Academy of Minneapolis are both making their first appearances.
No. 1 Seed-Section 3-Marshall (28-3) vs. Section 8-Wadena-Deer Creek (28-4): The Marshall Tigers enter the tournament as the No. 1-seeded and No. 2-ranked team in the final coaches association poll. They are making their ninth consecutive and 21st overall appearance. Marshall placed second in 2008, but the Tigers earned titles in 2004 and 2007. The Wadena-Deer Creek Wolverines, who were No. 10 in the final poll, return for their second consecutive and fourth overall appearance. They lost in the consolation semifinals last year.
No. 4 Seed-Section 6-New London-Spicer (32-1) vs. Section 7-Hibbing (20-11): The Wildcats of New London-Spicer are making their ninth tournament appearance, but their first since 1998. They were ranked No. 9 in the coaches final poll. The unranked Hibbing Bluejackets are looking to improve on last year's third-place showing. This is their seventh consecutive and 23rd overall appearance. If Hibbing wins it would be the second title for the school; the Bluejackets won previously in 1975.
No. 2 Seed-Section 5-Delano (27-3) vs. Section 1-Byron (26-5): The Delano Tigers, seeded No. 2 for this year's tournament, return for their third consecutive and fifth overall appearance. They placed sixth last year and were ranked No. 3 in this year's final coaches poll. The unranked Byron Bears are making their debut appearance at this year's tournament.
No. 3 Seed-Section 2-LeSueur-Henderson (28-3) vs. Section 4-Minnehaha Academy, Minneapolis (24-8): LeSueur-Henderson, which includes students from Minnesota New Country School in Henderson, returns after a two-year absence. The Giants are making their second appearance and they were No. 6 in the final coaches poll. The Minnehaha Academy Redhawks are making their first tournament appearance. They were not ranked in the final coaches poll.
Class AAA Quarterfinal Highlights
Shakopee boasts the only perfect record in the Class AAA tournament. Three teams are making their first appearances: Stillwater Area, Centennial of Circle Pines, and Farmington.
No. 1 Seed-Section 2-Shakopee (29-0) vs. Section 5-Centennial, Circle Pines (24-5): The two-time defending champions from Shakopee return in search of more gold. The Sabers are making their third consecutive and overall appearance, and were ranked No. 1 in the final coaches poll. During regular-season play Shakopee defeated Wayzata 3-0, Farmington 3-0, Burnsville 2-0, and Andover 2-0. The unranked Centennial Cougars are making their first appearance. During regular-season play they defeated Andover 3-1.
No. 4 Seed-Section 4-Stillwater Area (26-4) vs. Section 7-Andover (23-7): Stillwater Area, which was ranked No. 5 in the final coaches poll, is making its first tournament appearance. The Ponies defeated Wayzata 2-0 during the regular season. The Huskies of Andover are hoping to improve on last year's fourth-place finish. They are making their third consecutive and fifth overall appearance. During regular-season play the Huskies lost to Centennial 3-1 and Shakopee 2-0, and split a series with Wayzata, losing 3-0 and winning 2-0. Andover was ranked No. 8 in the final coaches poll.
No. 2 Seed-Section 3-Burnsville (21-9) vs. Section 1-Farmington (19-10): These two teams met during the regular season with Burnsville winning 2-0. The Burnsville Blaze are making their third appearance, but their first since 1998. In addition to facing Farmington, Burnsville also lost to Shakopee 2-0 during regular-season play. The Farmington Tigers are making their first tournament appearance. They also lost 3-0 to Shakopee during the regular season. Neither team was ranked in the final coaches poll.
No. 3 Seed-Section 6-Wayzata (22-8) vs. Section 8-Alexandria (23-7): The Wayzata Trojans return for their second consecutive and fifth overall appearance. They earned consolation honors last year and were the No. 7 team in this year's final poll. During the regular season the Trojans lost to Shakopee 3-0 and Stillwater Area 2-0, and split a series with Andover, winning 3-0 and losing 2-0. The unranked Cardinals of Alexandria are making their 11th appearance, but their first since 2004. If they win it would be their third title; they won previously in 1995 and 1999. Alexandria did not face any other qualifiers during the regular season.
Official Tournament Ball
The official state volleyball tournament ball is the Baden LEXUM 15-0.
The Schedule
The tournament will be conducted on two courts at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul. The 2009 State Girls' Volleyball Tournament will be played Thursday through Saturday, Nov. 12-14.
Quarterfinal matches for all three classes will be played Thursday, Nov. 12. Consolation semifinals and championship semifinals for all classes will be held Friday, Nov. 13.
On Saturday, Nov. 14, the Class A championship will be played at 1:00 p.m. on Court 1, the Class AA championship will be played at 3:00 p.m. on Court 2, and the Class AAA championship will be played at 5:00 p.m. on Court 1. Consolation title and third-place matches are also scheduled on Saturday.
- 30 -
Tournament results and statistics will be posted on the League's Web site. The League's Web site address is www.MSHSL.org.