MN State Girls’ Volleyball Tournament Preview

BROOKLYN CENTER, Minn. --- The State Girls’ Volleyball Tournament is scheduled for November 9-11 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. 9. 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. 10 with the consolation final, third-place and championship matches scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 11. 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 $10.95 for one day of viewing or $23.97 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: Team statistics 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 (29-2) vs. Cook County, Grand Marais (22-5), 1 p.m. –  The defending champions from Mayer Lutheran return in search of more gold. This is their second consecutive appearance and 13th overall appearance. They claimed one additional title in 1982. The Cook County Vikings return for their third consecutive and overall appearance. They fell in the consolation semifinals in 2016.

                No. 4 Seed Wadena-Deer Creek (25-6) vs. No. 5 Seed Ada-Borup/Norman County West (21-10), 1 p.m. – The Wolverines of Wadena-Deer Creek are making their seventh appearance, but first since 2011. If they win, it would be their second championship; they won their first in 2010. The co-op of Ada-Borup/Norman County West is making its first appearance under this name. Ada-Borup made nine additional appearances with its last coming in 2015.

                No. 2 Seed Minneota (27-5) vs. New Life Academy of Woodbury (18-13), 3 p.m. - Minneota returns to tournament action after a three-year absence. The Vikings, who won their only title in 2006, are making their 11th appearance overall. The Eagles of New Life Academy of Woodbury are making their first appearance.

                No. 3 Seed Bethlehem Academy, Faribault (16-14) vs. Pine River-Backus (24-6), 3 p.m. – The Cardinals of Bethlehem Academy are making their fifth appearance under this name. Their last appearance was in 2015 and they won titles in 2011, 2012, and 2014. Bethlehem Academy made eight additional appearances as a co-op with Discovery Public School of Faribault and those teams claimed championships in 2003, 2005, 2007, and 2009. The Pine River-Backus Tigers return for their third appearance, but first since 2005. 

Class AA

                No. 1 Seed Maple Lake (33-0) vs. Kenyon-Wanamingo (22-7), 5 p.m. – The Maple Lake Irish are in the hunt for their second consecutive championship. This is their second consecutive appearance and sixth overall. The Knights of Kenyon-Wanamingo are making their second consecutive and overall appearance under this name. They placed third in 2016. Kenyon made four additional appearances between 1975 and 1988.

                No. 4 Seed Academy of Holy Angels, Richfield (27-3) vs. No. 5 Seed Kasson-Mantorville (22-10), 5 p.m. – Academy of Holy Angels, which fell in the consolation semifinals last year, is making its second consecutive appearance and fourth overall. The KoMets of Kasson-Mantorville are hoping to improve on last year’s fourth-place showing. This is their second consecutive appearance and seventh overall.

                No. 2 Seed Marshall (26-7) vs. Roseau (24-9), 7 p.m. – The Tigers of Marshall return to the tournament after a two-year hiatus. This is their 27th appearance and they won previous championships in 2004, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2012, and 2013. The Rams of Roseau return to make their third appearance, but first since 2000.

                No. 3 Seed North Branch (27-3) vs. Watertown-Mayer (22-7), 7 p.m. – North Branch returns to the tournament after a one-year absence. The Vikings are making their fourth appearance overall. The Watertown-Mayer Royals are making their second appearance, but first since 2000.

Class AAA

                No. 1 Seed Eagan (28-1) vs. Forest Lake (21-8), 9 a.m. – The Eagan Wildcats return as the two-time defending champions. Eagan is making its fifth consecutive and 14th overall appearance. If the Wildcats win, it would be their eighth championship. In addition to the past two years, they also won in 1997, 1998, 2001, 2003, and 2013. The Rangers of Forest Lake are making their second appearance, but first since 2002.

                No. 4 Seed Hopkins (23-7) vs. No. 5 Seed Prior Lake (21-10), 9 a.m. – Hopkins, which placed fourth last year, returns for its third consecutive appearance and sixth overall. The Lakers of Prior Lake are hoping to improve on last year’s fifth-place showing. This is their third consecutive and overall appearance.

                No. 2 Seed Lakeville North (29-2) vs. Stillwater Area (22-8), 11 a.m. – The Panthers of Lakeville North are making their seventh appearance, but first since 2012. Lakeville North won two previous championships in 2010 and 2012. The Stillwater Area Ponies return for the first time since 2009. They are making their second appearance overall.

                No. 3 Seed Champlin Park (27-4) vs. Moorhead (21-9), 11 a.m. – The Champlin Park Rebels return for their fourth consecutive and fifth overall appearance. They earned runner-up honors in 2016. The Moorhead Spuds return for their third consecutive appearance and 23rd 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.

2016 STATE TOURNAMENT RECAP

      Class A --- Top-seeded Mayer Lutheran won its second championship after defeating No. 3-seeded Caledonia 3-1. The Crusaders won their first title in 1982. Tracy-Milroy-Balaton claimed third-place honors after defeating Heritage Christian Academy of Maple Grove 3-0. Underwood went home with the consolation hardware after posting a 3-0 victory over Kimball Area.

      Class A --- Maple Lake earned its first title after defeating Concordia Academy-Roseville 3-0. Maple Lake came in as the No. 2 seed and Concordia Academy-Roseville was the No. 4 seed. Kenyon-Wanamingo settled for third place after beating Kasson-Mantorville 3-0. Morris Area/Chokio-Alberta rebounded to claim consolation honors. The Tigers defeated the Rebels of Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton 3-1.

      Class AAA --- Eagan won its second consecutive and seventh overall championship. The Wildcats, who were the No. 1 seed, defeated No. 2-seeded Champlin Park 3-1. In addition to the past two years, the Wildcats also won titles in 1997, 1998, 2001, 2003, and 2013. Lakeville South secured third-place honors after defeating Hopkins 3-0. The Prior Lake Lakers won the consolation title after notching a 3-1 win over Moorhead.
(via mshsl)