Bethlehem Academy of Faribault in Class A and Stewartville in Class AA
both return to defend their 2014 titles at the 2015 State Girls’
Volleyball Tournament. If Bethlehem Academy wins, it would be the second
consecutive and eighth overall title for the Cardinals. The
Stewartville Tigers are looking for their second consecutive and fifth
overall championship.
It is the eighth year of seeding for the tournament. Coaches of the
qualified teams seeded all of the other teams online and then opponents
were randomly selected for the top three seeds by coaches’ association
representative Jeff Groves. Seeds No. 4 and No. 5 automatically play
each other.
In Class A, two additional teams return from the 2014 qualifying field:
Tracy-Milroy-Balaton and Ada-Borup. In addition to Stewartville, Belle
Plaine, Concordia Academy-Roseville, and Rocori of Cold Spring return to
the Class AA field. Roseville Area, Eagan, Rochester Mayo, and Champlin
Park return in the Class AAA field.
Seven teams are making their debut appearances this year: Cook County
of Grand Marais, Heritage Christian Academy of Maple Grove, Verndale,
Sebeka, and Waterville-Elysian-Morristown in Class A; the co-op of
Morris Area/Chokio-Alberta in Class AA; and Prior Lake in Class AAA.
Media guides will not be distributed this year, but statistics provided
by qualified teams are available on the League’s website — www.MSHSL.org — as a Media Guide link under Tournaments, then Fall, then Volleyball.
Class A Quarterfinal Highlights
Five teams are making their first appearances and Cook County of Grand Marais boasts the only perfect record.
No. 1 Seed-Section 1-Bethlehem Academy, Faribault (23-7) vs. Section
7-Cook County, Grand Marais (25-0): The defending champions from
Bethlehem Academy, who were ranked No. 1 in the final coaches’
association poll, return to defend their title. The Cardinals are making
their second consecutive and fourth overall appearance under this name,
but also made eight appearances as a co-op with Discovery Public School
of Faribault between 2002 and 2009. Bethlehem Academy is looking for
its eighth title. In addition to last year, the Cardinals also won in
2003, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2011, and 2012. Bethlehem Academy defeated
Waterville-Elysian-Morristown 3-0 during the regular season. The
unranked Vikings of Cook County are making their debut appearance and
did not face any other qualifiers during the regular season.
No. 4 Seed-Section 4-Heritage Christian Academy, Maple Grove (26-10)
vs. No. 5 Seed-Section 5-Verndale (28-5): Both teams are making their
first appearances. The No. 4-ranked Eagles of Heritage Christian Academy
did not face any other Class A qualifiers during the regular season.
Verndale, which was not ranked in the final coaches’ poll, defeated
Sebeka twice during the regular season. Those scores were 3-1 and 3-0.
No. 2 Seed-Section 3-Tracy-Milroy-Balaton (30-5) vs. Section 6-Sebeka
(24-9): These teams met during the regular season with
Tracy-Milroy-Balaton winning 2-0. Tracy-Milroy-Balaton returns for its
second consecutive and third overall appearance under this name. The
Panthers, who placed second in 2014, won their only championship under
this name in 2004. Milroy made two additional appearances in 1983 and
1984 and Tracy-Milroy made 10 appearances between 1986 and 2001. The
Panthers won titles under the Tracy-Milroy name in 1990, 1992, 1994,
1995, 1996, and 2001. Tracy-Milroy also made one additional appearance
as a co-op with Walnut Grove in 1989. Tracy-Milroy-Balaton was the No. 2
team in the final coaches’ association poll this year. In addition to
facing Sebeka, the Panthers also defeated Waterville-Elysian-Morristown
2-0 during regular-season play. The unranked Trojans of Sebeka are
making their first tournament appearance. The Trojans also lost to
Verndale twice during the regular season; those scores were 3-1 and 2-1.
No. 3 Seed-Section 2-Waterville-Elysian-Morristown (31-3) vs. Section
8-Ada-Borup (25-6): The No. 5-ranked Buccaneers of
Waterville-Elysian-Morristown are making their debut appearance. During
regular-season play, the Bucs lost to Bethlehem Academy 3-0 and
Tracy-Milroy-Balaton 2-0. The Ada-Borup Cougars, who were not ranked in
the final coaches’ poll, claimed consolation honors last year. This is
their third consecutive and ninth overall appearance. Ada-Borup is still
looking for its first title and did not face any other qualifiers
during the regular season.
Class AA Quarterfinal Highlights
There are no unblemished records in Class AA and the co-op of Morris
Area/Chokio-Alberta is the only program making its first appearance.
No. 1 Seed-Section 2-Belle Plaine (29-3) vs. Section 8-Perham (27-5):
The No. 1-ranked Belle Plaine Tigers return to make their fourth
consecutive and ninth overall appearance. They earned third-place honors
last year. During the regular season, Belle Plaine defeated Concordia
Academy-Roseville 1-1 (point spread) and Hill-Murray 2-0. The unranked
Perham Yellowjackets are making their second appearance, but first since
1998. They did not face any other qualifiers during regular-season play
and are searching for their first championship.
No. 4 Seed-Section 1-Stewartville (23-8) vs. No. 5 Seed-Section
4-Hill-Murray, Maplewood (23-11): The defending champions from
Stewartville, who were ranked No. 3 in the final coaches’ poll, return
for their second consecutive appearance. This is their 23rd overall
appearance and in addition to last year they also won titles in 1991,
1997, and 2000. During the regular season, Stewartville defeated
Concordia Academy-Roseville 2-0. The unranked Hill-Murray Pioneers
return to the tournament after a one-year absence. This is their second
appearance overall and they have never won a state title. Hill-Murray
lost to Belle Plaine 2-0 and Concordia Academy-Roseville 1-1 (point
spread) during regular-season play.
No. 2 Seed-Section 5-Concordia Academy-Roseville (25-6) vs. Section
7-Hermantown (24-4): The No. 2-ranked Beacons of Concordia
Academy-Roseville return to make their second consecutive and 12th
overall appearance. They placed sixth in 2014 and won two previous
championships in 1984 and 1987. During the regular season, the Beacons
defeated Stewartville 2-0, Belle Plaine 1-1 (point spread), and
Hill-Murray 1-1 (point spread). The Hermantown Hawks, who were not
ranked in this year’s final poll, are making their fifth appearance.
They made their last appearance in 1995 and won one previous
championship in 1976. Hermantown did not face any other qualifiers
during the regular season.
No. 3 Seed-Section 6-Rocori, Cold Spring (28-1) vs. Section 3-Morris
Area/Chokio-Alberta (24-3): The No. 7-ranked Spartans of Rocori are
making their second consecutive appearance and their third overall. They
claimed consolation honors last year and are still in the hunt for
their first title. The unranked Morris Area/Chokio-Alberta Tigers are
making their debut appearance. Neither team faced any other qualifiers
during regular-season play.
Class AAA Quarterfinal Highlights
There are no perfect records in Class AAA and Prior Lake is the only team making its debut appearance.
No. 1 Seed-Section 2-Prior Lake (26-4) vs. Section 6-Hopkins (17-13):
These teams met in late September with Prior Lake winning 2-0. The
top-ranked Lakers of Prior Lake are making their first tournament
appearance. In addition to facing Hopkins, Prior Lake also met Champlin
Park, Eagan, and Roseville Area during the regular season. The Lakers
split their series with Champlin Park, losing 3-2 and winning 2-0. They
also split their series with Eagan, losing 3-1 and winning 2-0. Prior
Lake defeated Roseville Area 2-1. The unranked Hopkins Royals return for
their fourth appearance, but first since 2007. In addition to playing
Prior Lake, the Royals also lost to Roseville Area 3-0 and Moorhead 2-0
during regular-season play. Hopkins has never won a state title.
No. 4 Seed-Section 4-Roseville Area (23-6) vs. No. 5 Seed-Section
8-Moorhead (26-4): These two teams faced off against each other in
mid-October and Moorhead won 2-0. The Roseville Area Raiders, who placed
fourth last year, return for their fourth consecutive and sixth overall
appearance. They were ranked No. 9 in the final coaches’ association
poll and faced two other teams during the regular season. Roseville Area
defeated Hopkins 3-0 and lost to Prior Lake 2-1. Roseville Area has
never won a state title. The Moorhead Spuds return for their 21st
appearance, but first since 2013. They were ranked No. 10 in this year’s
final coaches’ association poll and won one previous title in 1988.
During the regular season, Moorhead defeated Hopkins 2-0 and lost to
Eagan 2-0 and Champlin Park 2-0.
No. 2 Seed-Section 3-Eagan (25-4) vs. Section 1-Rochester Mayo (27-2):
Eagan defeated Rochester Mayo 2-0 in mid-September. The No. 2-ranked
Eagan Wildcats are making their third consecutive and 12th overall
appearance. They placed second in 2014. If the Wildcats win, it would be
their sixth championship; they won previously in 1997, 1998, 2001,
2003, and 2013. In addition to Rochester Mayo, Eagan faced three other
qualifiers this year. The Wildcats defeated Moorhead 2-0 and split their
series with series with Prior Lake, winning 3-1 and losing 2-0. Eagan
also lost to Champlin Park 2-0. The unranked Rochester Mayo Spartans are
making their third consecutive and sixth overall appearance. They
placed sixth in 2014. The Spartans, who have never won a state title,
did not face any other qualifiers during regular-season play.
No. 3 Seed-Section 5-Champlin Park (27-4) vs. Section 7-North Branch
(24-5): Champlin Park, which was No. 5 in the final coaches’ poll, is
making its second consecutive and third overall appearance. The Rebels
are looking to improve on last year’s fifth-place showing. During the
regular season, Champlin Park defeated Moorhead 2-0 and Eagan 2-0. The
Rebels also split a series with Prior Lake; they won 3-2 and lost 2-0.
The unranked North Branch Vikings are making their third appearance, but
first since 1994. The Vikings did not face any other qualifiers this
season. Both teams are still looking for their first championship.
The Schedule
The tournament will be conducted on two courts at Xcel Energy Center in
St. Paul. The 2015 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.
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