HURON — After going through the regular season with just a pair of losses in 32 matches, the Miller volleyball team has earned the top seed for the SoDak 16, which will be held today at various locations throughout the state.
The Rustlers, who are now 31-2, will meet up with No. 16-seeded Sioux Valley at 7:30 p.m., today at Huron Arena for a shot at earning a berth in the Class A State Volleyball Tournament.
“There is a certain amount of pressure that comes with the No. 1 seed. I think it puts a target on our back going into the SoDak 16,” Miller coach Linda DeBoer said. “The girls have had some time to get used to it, as our seed point has had us as No. 1 for a good part of the season.”
Sioux Valley will bring a 15-19 record into tonight’s match after clinching one of the two SoDak 16 qualifying spots out of Region 2A.
The two teams know a little bit about each other after meeting during the Milbank Tournament on Oct. 19. The Rustlers emerged with a 2-0 victory using set scores of 25-14 and 25-10.
“That means we are somewhat familiar with their team, their strengths, their weakness and their personnel. It also means they have that same advantage in playing us,” DeBoer said of the impact the earlier match will have on today’s match. “Playing 2 out of 3 in a Saturday tournament is different than a 3 out of 5 match with a berth at the state tournament on the line. We will use the data from our first meeting to prepare for this second competition with them.”

With six seniors on the roster, DeBoer has had a luxury of fielding a veteran team this season and she pointed to that as a key to the success the Rustlers have experienced.
“They play with such passion and purpose. The experience that they bring to the court and practices has helped them deal with adversity throughout the season,” DeBoer said. “Their leadership has helped them with new players on the team and to embrace the WE-over-Me philosophy.”
Seniors for the Rustlers this season, include Tori VanZee, Rachel Oligmueller, VonnaGail Schlechter, Kadye Fernholz, Madison Wetz and Rachel Joy.
Oligmueller surpassed the 3,000-career assist mark this season for the Rustlers, while Schlechter has recorded more than 1,000 career digs. Fernholz, who has verbally committed to play at Kansas State next season, has reached 1,000 career digs and is nearing the 2,000-kill mark.
Fundamentally, DeBoer believes her team has used a solid approach to continue to improve throughout the season.
“Our team has focused a great deal on first contact this season — serve and serve receive/dig,” she said. “We serve more aggressively to spots and our defense has really improved throughout the season.”
The winner of tonight’s match will earn a spot in the field for the Class A State Volleyball Tournament, which is scheduled Nov. 21-23 at the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center in Rapid City.
Here is a look at the rest of the Class A SoDak 16 matchups slated today: No. 2 Dakota Valley vs. No. 15 Mobridge-Pollock in Madison; No. 3 Hill City vs. No. 14 Elk Point-Jefferson in Pierre; No. 4 McCook Central/Montrose vs. No. 13 Garretson at Sioux Falls Roosevelt High School; No. 5 Winner vs. No. 12 Hamlin in Parkston; No. 6 Rapid City Christian vs. No. 11 Madison in Pierre; No. 7 Pine Ridge vs. No. 10 Groton Area in Ft. Pierre; and No. 8 Sioux Falls Christian vs. No. 9 Aberdeen Roncalli in Watertown.