2024 Volleyball State Tournament: Day 3 Recap

Ten losses during the regular season were the primary reason Alexandria Area was tagged with the No. 5 seed in the Class AAA field of the Minnesota State High School League’s Girls Volleyball State Tournament. No problem, the Cardinals have shared. They have merely shrugged it off by being on the threshold of winning a state championship. 

The Cardinals extended their state tournament mastery by delivering a stunning 25-22, 25-17, 25-14 semifinal victory over top-seeded and previously-undefeated Delano on Friday, Nov. 8 at the Xcel Energy Center. Senior Addison Rossum had 19 kills and junior Hadley Thull added 13 to power the Cardinals (22-10) past the Tigers (31-1) into the Class AAA championship match for the first time since 1999 when Alexandria Area was the Class AAA champion in the three-class tournament. 

Junior Meadow Zimple had 20 assists and Rossum added 15 for the Cardinals, who battled injuries earlier this season, but are healthy at the right time. 

Alexandria Area was in trouble early, trailing 5-1 in the first set, before rattling off 11 consecutive points to reverse the game’s momentum. The Cardinals rode that momentum through sets two and three. It was the only time this season the Tigers had lost more than one set in a match. 

Alexandria Area, which earned a spot in the semifinals with a victory over No. 4 Mahtomedi in the quarterfinals, advances to face No. 2 Marshall (28-6) for the Class AAA crown. 

Marshall advanced to the familiar spot on the tournament’s last day with a 25-22, 25-16, 25-16 victory over No. 3 Stewartville in the other Class AAA semifinal. Junior outside hitter Reese Drake had 19 kills and junior middle blocker Avery Fahl added 11 to put the Tigers in line to potentially win their fourth consecutive Class AAA championship. Marshall has won 10 volleyball state titles overall. 

Class AA

Southwest Christian was the second school of the day to spring a major upset. 

The Stars, seeded No. 4 in the Class A field, were laser-focused and not intimidated during a 25-12, 25-18, 25-17 victory over top-seeded Albany in the semifinals. Junior outside hitter Claire Lemkull had 17 kills and sophomore outside hitter Avery Beckering chipped in 12 to send Southwest Christian (21-12) to the resounding victory and a spot in the Class A championship match for the first time since winning the crown in 2013. The year prior, the Stars were the runner-up. 

Southwest Christian’s semifinal victory on Friday reverses a two-set loss to Albany during an invitational on Sept. 21. 

In the other semifinal, No. 3 Hawley outlasted No. 2 Chatfield for a 25-23, 15-25, 20-25, 25-18, 15-10 victory. Sophomore outside hitter Katarina Vetter led a balanced attack with 16 kills and junior middle blocker Annaka Johnson chipped in 15 as the Nuggets (28-5) advanced to a championship match for the first time in two state tournament trips. 

Senior outside hitter Jaelyn Plante paced Chatfield (29-5) with 19 kills. 

Class A

Familiar foes will reunite again with a state championship at stake. 

Top-seeded Mayer Lutheran advanced to the Class A championship match with a 25-23, 23-25, 25-16, 25-14 victory over No. 4 West Central Area in the semifinals. It will be the fourth consecutive trip to the championship match for the Crusaders (30-5). Senior middle blocker Marley Martin powered Mayer Lutheran with a career-high 25 kills while junior setter Izabelle Keaveny had 43 assists. 

Mayer Lutheran is looking to end a two-match skid with the Class A championship on the line. A year ago, the Crusaders lost to Russell-Tyler-Ruthton, and in 2022, they were the runner-up to Minneota. Mayer Lutheran’s latest of four Class A titles came in 2021. 

Minneota (24-11), the No. 2 seed, found its way to another state championship match with a 21-25, 26-24, 25-15, 26-24 victory over No. 4 Fillmore Central in the other semifinal. Ninth-grade outside hitter Eden Meagher had 15 kills and ninth-grade setter Autum Anderson had 22 digs for the Vikings, who have three championships since 2018.

Earlier this season, Minneota dropped two sets to Mayer Lutheran in an invitational on Sept. 7. 

Here is a look at Saturday's Championship Day lineup:

Class A

• No. 1 Mayer Lutheran vs. No. 2 Minneota, 2:30 p.m.

Class AA

• No. 4 Southwest Christian vs. No. 3 Hawley, 3 p.m.

Class AAA

• No. 5 Alexandria Area vs. No. 2 Marshall, 6:30 p.m.

Class AAAA

• No. 1 Lakeville South vs. No. 2 Champlin Park, 7 p.m.