2016 MN State Girls’ Volleyball Tournament Preview

BROOKLYN CENTER, Minn. --- The Minnesota State High School League’s state girls’ volleyball tournament is scheduled for November 10-12 at the Xcel Energy Center in downtown St. Paul. Here is a look at the tournament:

FAST FACTS

The schedule:

All quarterfinals will be played on Thursday, Nov. 10. Class AAA matches are scheduled for 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. and Class A will follow at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. Class AA teams will compete at 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. Detailed quarterfinal match-ups can be viewed below. Championship and consolation semifinals in all classes are on Friday, Nov. 11 with the consolation final, third-place and championship matches are schedules for Saturday, Nov. 12. For a complete schedule, see the Minnesota State High School League’s website at www.mshsl.org

Webcast: All matches will be webcast at video.grandstadium.tv. Prices are $9.95 for one day of viewing or $19.97 for all three days.

Tickets: Single session: $14 for adults and $9 for students. Daily passes: $22 for adults and $15 for students.

Official ball: Baden VX5EC-220 Perfection, Blue/White/Grey

Detailed season statistics: Provided qualified teams are available on the League website - www.mshsl.org - as a Media Guide link under Tournaments, then Fall, then Volleyball, Girls.

Gates open: 8 a.m. each day.

Game results: Posted on the League’s website at www.mshsl.org

Social media: Follow the tournament on the League’s Facebook page and on Twitter at @MSHSL and @MSHSLJohn.

THE QUARTERFINAL MATCH-UPS

Class A

No. 1 Seed Mayer Lutheran (26-6) vs. Stephen-Argyle Central (28-3), 1 p.m. – The Crusaders of Mayer Lutheran return to tournament action after a one-year absence. This is their 12th appearance and they are in the hunt for their second title; they won their first in 1982. The Storm of Stephen-Argyle Central are making their debut appearance.

No. 4 Seed Heritage Christian Academy, Maple Grove (25-10) vs. No. 5 Seed Underwood (28-4) 1 p.m. – The Eagles of Heritage Christian Academy are looking to improve on last year’s third-place showing. This is their second consecutive and overall appearance. The Underwood Rockets are making their seventh tournament appearance, but first since 2012.

No. 2 Seed Tracy-Milroy-Balaton (27-7) vs. Kimball Area (20-13), 3 p.m. - Tracy-Milroy-Balaton returns for its third consecutive and fourth overall appearance under this name. The Panthers, who placed fourth in 2015, 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. The Kimball Area Cubs are making their first appearance.

No. 3 Seed Caledonia (28-5) vs. Cook County, Grand Marais (22-3), 3 p.m. – The Warriors of Caledonia are making their second appearance, but first since 2012. The Cook County Vikings return for their second consecutive and overall appearance. They fell in the consolation semifinals in 2015.

Class AA

No. 1 Seed Kenyon-Wanamingo (32-1) vs. Academy of Holy Angels, Richfield (27-4), 5 p.m. – The Knights of Kenyon-Wanamingo are making their first appearance under this name. Kenyon made four additional appearances between 1975 and 1988. Academy of Holy Angels returns for its fourth appearance, but first since 1995.

No. 4 Seed Concordia Academy-Roseville (24-7) vs. No. 5 Seed Morris Area/Chokio-Alberta (25-3) 5 p.m. – The Beacons of Concordia Academy-Roseville return to make their third consecutive and 13th overall appearance. They placed second in 2015 and won two previous championships in 1984 and 1987. Morris Area/Chokio-Alberta is making its second consecutive and overall appearance. The Tigers placed sixth in 2015. 

No. 2 Seed Maple Lake (27-3) vs. Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton (25-6), 7 p.m. – The Maple Lake Irish return to the tournament after a one-year absence to make their fifth appearance. The Rebels of Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton are making their fourth appearance; they made their last in 2007.

No. 3 Seed Kasson-Mantorville (21-11) vs. Hermantown (27-3), 7 p.m. – The KoMets of Kasson-Mantorville, who made their last appearance in 2013, are making their sixth appearance. The Hermantown Hawks return for their second consecutive and sixth overall appearance. They fell in the consolation semifinals in 2015 and won one previous championship in 1976.

Class AAA

No. 1 Seed Eagan (28-1) vs. Grand Rapids (22-8), 9 a.m. – The Eagan Wildcats return to defend their 2015 title. Eagan is making its fourth consecutive and 13th overall appearance. If the Wildcats win, it would be their seventh championship. In addition to last year, they also won in 1997, 1998, 2001, 2003, and 2013. The Thunderhawks of Grand Rapids are making their fourth appearance, but first since 2013.

No. 4 Seed Lakeville South (27-3) vs. No. 5 Seed Prior Lake (25-6), 9 a.m. – The Lakeville South Cougars are making their debut appearance. The Lakers of Prior Lake are hoping to improve on last year’s runner-up showing. This is their second consecutive and overall appearance.

No. 2 Seed Champlin Park (29-2) vs. Roseville Area (18-11), 11 a.m. – The Champlin Park Rebels return for their third consecutive and fourth overall appearance. The Raiders of Roseville Area are making their fifth consecutive appearance and their seventh overall. These two teams met in the third-place match at last year’s state tournament with Champlin Park winning 3-2.

No. 3 Seed Hopkins (29-1) vs. Moorhead (24-6), 11 a.m. – Hopkins, which fell in the consolation semifinals last year, returns for its second consecutive appearance and fifth overall. The Moorhead Spuds return for their second consecutive appearance and 22nd overall. They placed sixth last year and won one previous title in 1988.

PRESS CONFERENCES

There will be a press conference after each match and a mandatory “cooling-off” period. A media steward will assist you in contacting any players or coaches you wish to interview.

2015 STATE TOURNAMENT RECAP

      Class A --- The Buccaneers of Waterville-Elysian-Morristown won their first championship after upsetting the defending champions from Bethlehem Academy of Faribault 3-2. It was also the first tournament appearance for the Buccaneers, who entered the tournament as the No. 3 seed. Heritage Christian Academy of Maple Grove claimed third-place honors after defeating Tracy-Milroy-Balaton 3-2. Sebeka went home with the consolation hardware after posting a 3-2 victory over Verndale.

      Class A --- Top-seeded Belle Plaine earned its first title after defeating Concordia Academy-Roseville 3-0. The Tigers, who placed third in 2014, were making their fourth consecutive appearance and their ninth overall. Stewartville settled for third place after beating Rocori of Cold Spring 3-2. Hill-Murray of Maplewood rebounded to claim consolation honors. The Pioneers defeated the Tigers of Morris Area/Chokio-Alberta 3-0.

      Class AAA --- Eagan improved on its 2014 runner-up showing and won its sixth championship. The Wildcats, who were the No. 2 seed, upset top-seeded Prior Lake 3-2. In addition to 2015, the Wildcats also won titles in 1997, 1998, 2001, 2003, and 2013. Champlin Park secured third-place honors after defeating Roseville Area 3-2. The North Branch Vikings won the consolation title after notching a 3-2 win over Moorhead.