Oakes, ND (NewsDakota.com) – The 2025 volleyball season got underway in Oakes as the Tornados began play in the new world of 3 classes as they took on an old Class B team who is now Class A, the Lisbon Broncos.

The Tornados this year are returning only 1 varsity starter from last year and it took a little bit for Oakes to get their sea legs back as the Broncos dominated early in set 1 jumping out to a quick 9-1 lead and never looking back. Lisbon would control the pace throughout the set winning it 25-19.

Lisbon would once again jump out early as the 2nd set got underway taking a quick 5-1 lead. Oakes would not go away quietly this time as they would battle back to tie it at 8-8. The game would be back forth till 11-11 when Oakes would take the lead and hold it afterwards building a 16-12 lead. They would hold onto that lead till getting set point at 24-22. They wouldn’t put it away however as Lisbon would take tie it up at 24-24. Oakes wouldn’t give up the lead as they’d get 25-24, 26-25, and then win it 27-25.

Lisbon would return with a vengeance in the next set as they quickly got a 15-4 lead. Oakes would attempt to battle back but it would be too little too late as the Broncos took the set 25-18.

Set 4 saw the Tornados get their time to shine as they’d go back and forth with Lisbon till 4-4 when they would jump out to a 10-4 lead building it to 16-7. They would end up taking the set 25-19 forcing set 5.

Set 5 was a good old fashioned brawl with back and forth play till 3-3. The Tornadoes would build up the lead to 11-7. It’d essentially be back and forth after that with Oakes eventually getting match point at 14-12 and winning it 15-13.

The Bank North Player of the Game was Mallory Harris who ended with a double-double (13 kills and 15 assists).

Next up for Oakes is Thursday when they travel out to Ashley to take on the South Border Mustangs with pregame beginning at 6:45 pm and match start scheduled for 7:00 pm.