Miller clinches state berth with win against Cubs

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HURON — The Miller Rustlers progress to the State Tournament as the No. 1 seeded team in the state for Class “A” volleyball after recording their third victory over the Chamberlain Cubs this season. The Rustlers claimed a 3-0 sweep during the SoDak 16 match, held at the James Valley Christian School on Tuesday night.
“I am very proud and excited,” said Miller coach Linda DeBoer. “I feel like the girls took care of business tonight, which is something we wanted to do, to go out and establish the pace and the tone of the match right away.”
An improved record of 28-2 on the season for the Rustlers came with set scores of 25-6, 25-4, 25-8, as Miller overwhelmed the Cubs, who end their season with a 13-17 record after the loss.
Miller’s Kadye Fernholz led the team as she tallied five aces and 18 kills, starting with back-to-back hits to kick off the match. The Cubs were able to rally five points early on, but the Rustlers dominated with their skillful techniques, claiming a powerful 22-0 run, which led Miller to set point at 24-5 and end the first period with a 25-6 score after each team pushed for one more point.
“The girls went out there and accomplished what they needed to do in order to advance to the State Tournament, and I’m very proud,” DeBoer said.
Another decisive set score was claimed in the second period, ending with 25-4 as the Rustlers continued to demolish with a 15-0 run, closing with two Kailen Krause aces. Chamberlain’s Hannah Anderson was able to hit a kill to end the run, but Fernholz served an ace to win the second with a 21-point lead at 25-4 for Miller.

The Cubs managed to tally up a few more points in the third set as Maggie Pickner hit two kills, but Chamberlain was unable to match up to Miller’s four consecutive Fernholz kills, followed by another four hits to the floor, split between VonnaGail Schlechter and Madison Wetz, before Storm Johnson took the shot that ended the last period at 25-8 and another victorious match for the Rustlers.  
“Last year we finished 7th, so the girls have had a goal this year to place higher than that,” DeBoer explained. “Going in as the number one team puts a big target on our back, but I hope we go to state and play well and do our best.”
The Miller Rustlers are set to play in the Class “A” State Tournament quarterfinals round, on Thursday, Nov. 15, at the Denny Sanford Premier Center in Sioux Falls.

Miller         25  25  25
Chamberlain       6    4    8

Hitting: M — Kadye Fernholz 18 kills; VonnaGail Schlechter 7 kills; Madison Wetz 7 kills; Josi Stevens 3 kills; Storm Johnsen 1 kill. C — Maggy Pickner 3 kills; Hannah Anderson 2 kills.
Setting: M — Rachel Oligmueller 56 of 57, 35 assists; Fernholz 4 assists; Wetz 3 assists; Emma Breland 1 assists; Schlechter 1 assist. C — Makenzy Mutziger 3 assists; Mackenzie Sorensen 2 assists.
Serving: M — Fernholz 5 aces; Kailen Krause 5 aces; Wetz 2 aces; Schlechter 1 ace.
Digs: M — Breland 8; Schelchter 8; Fernholz 7; Krause 6; Wetz 5; Oligmueller 4; Johnsen 2; Alvena Batin 1; Erin Moncur 1. C — Avany Long 5.
Blocks: M — Oligmueller 3; Fernholz 2; Wetz 2; Schlechter 1; Johnsen 1. C — Anderson 2.