The Class AA state volleyball tournament field has been finalized, with the **11th-seeded Sioux Falls Jefferson** achieving a significant upset against **No. 6 Rapid City Stevens** on Thursday night. Jefferson triumphed with a **3-1** victory, marking the largest upset by seed in the history of the **SoDak 16** for Class AA since its inception in **2017**. This win also improved Jefferson’s season record to **12-12**.
The match against Stevens was particularly notable as it was the only Class AA contest on the night that extended beyond three sets. Jefferson’s performance saw them secure a place in the state tournament after finishing fourth in the previous year. They have now won four of their last five matches, while Stevens concluded their season with a record of **26-12**.
No. 1-seeded **Harrisburg**, the reigning three-time state champions, continued their strong performance by convincingly sweeping **Sturgis** with a score of **25-5, 25-11, 25-8**, improving to **32-2** overall. **Brandon Valley**, **O’Gorman**, and **Sioux Falls Lincoln** also advanced to the state tournament, defeating their respective opponents.
Jefferson’s next challenge will be against **Sioux Falls O’Gorman** in the first round of the Class AA bracket, scheduled for **November 20, 2024**, in **Rapid City**. The matchup between O’Gorman and Jefferson promises to be competitive, considering Jefferson’s recent momentum.
In another highlight, **Mitchell** ended an eight-year absence from the state tournament by defeating **Spearfish** in the No. 8/No. 9 match. They will face the top-seeded Harrisburg in the quarterfinals.
The state quarterfinals will take place at **Summit Arena** in Rapid City, featuring the following matchups on **November 20**:
– **No. 1 Harrisburg (32-2)** vs. **No. 8 Mitchell (16-8)** at noon
– **No. 4 Sioux Falls Lincoln (19-5)** vs. **No. 5 Watertown (20-9)**
– **No. 2 Brandon Valley (25-3)** vs. **No. 7 Sioux Falls Washington (17-7)** at 6 p.m.
– **No. 3 Sioux Falls O’Gorman (24-4)** vs. **No. 11 Sioux Falls Jefferson (12-12)** at 7:45 p.m.
Overall, six teams are returning from last year’s state tournament, with Lincoln and Mitchell making their debut in this year’s competition. The excitement surrounding the upcoming matches is building as teams prepare for the challenges ahead.
