The road to Rapid City and the state volleyball tournament begins this week as Class A teams head into regional action.
The short-term goal is to qualify for next week’s SoDak 16 matches. The long-term goal is to advance to the state tournament, and of course the ultimate goal is to bring home a state championship.
Here is a capsule look at each region involving area teams:
Region 1A
Tuesday at Roncalli, Thursday at Groton
It appears that the top seeds, Groton and Aberdeen Roncalli, will be favored to make it out of this region.
Groton lost just five matches all season against teams which had combined records of 108-15. The Tigers also have a bye and home-court advantage on their side.
Roncalli owns wins against every team within the region except for Groton. The Cavaliers will get to play at home in the first round.
Team W L
Groton 24-5
Aberdeen Roncalli 16-11
Webster 14-9
Britton-Hecla 13-12
Redfield 10-16
Sisseton 4-19
Milbank 5-23
Tuesday’s matches at Roncalli: Milbank vs. Aberdeen Roncalli, 5 p.m.; Sisseton vs. Webster, 6:30 p.m., Redfield vs. Britton-Hecla, 8 p.m.
Thursday’ Matches at Groton: Groton vs. Redfield/Britton-Hecla winner, 6:30 p.m.; Milbank-Aberdeen Roncalli winner vs. Sisseton-Webster winner, 8 p.m.
Region 2A
Tuesday and Thursday at highest seeds
Clark-Willow Lake was the state’s last unbeaten team before falling in its final match to Hamlin. The Cyclones will try to continue a memorable fall for their area as their football counterparts have advanced to this weekend’s semifinal round.
Likewise, Hamlin, which handed Clark-Willow Lake its only volleyball loss, has a football team competing in the semifinals of the football playoffs this weekend.
Team W L
Clark-Willow Lake 24-1
Hamlin 18-4
Sioux Valley 16-11
Great Plains Lutheran 14-14
Elkton-Lake Benton 8-19
Florence-Henry 8-20
Deuel 5-18
Tuesday’s matches: Elkton-Lake Benton at Great Plains Lutheran, 7 p.m.; Deuel at Hamlin, 7 p.m,; Florence-Henry at Sioux Valley, 7 p.m.
Thursday’s matches: Elkton-Lake Benton/Great Plains Luthern winner at Clark-Willow Lake, 7 p.m.; Florence-Henry/Sioux Valley winner vs. Deuel-Hamlin winner, at highest seed
Region 6A
Tuesday and Thursday at highest seeds
There are just two teams in this region with winning records, and both will be favored to advance to the SoDak 16.
Miller once again played a demanding schedule and owns some quality wins this season. Mobridge-Pollock is one game above .500 and played a schedule that included nine teams with at least 20 wins on the campaign.
Team W L
Miller 22-7
Mobridge-Pollock 17-16
Platte-Geddes 12-19
Chamberlain 6-20
Crow Creek 11-15
Cheyenne-Eagle Butte 12-19
Stanley County 6-20
Tuesday’s matches: Crow Creek at Chamberlain, 7 p.m.; Stanley County at Mobridge-Pollock, 7 p.m.; Cheyenne-Eagle Butte at Platte-Geddes, 6 p.m.
Thursday’s matches: Crow Creek-Chamberlain winner at Miller, 7 p.m.; Cheyenne-Eagle Butte/Platte-Geddes winner vs. Stanley County/Mobridge-Pollock winner, at highest seed.
