MINOT, N.D. (NewsDakota) – One team has never won a state volleyball championship and the other has not won a title in 13 years.

Saturday night something had to give, and it went to the latter. Thompson claimed is fifth state title overall and first since 2005 with a thrilling five set win over Oakes Saturday night in the state volleyball title match at the Minot State Dome.

The first set belonged to Thompson as the Region 1 champs had a .333 hitting percentage with Macy Jordheim hitting at an .857 clip, seven attacks, six kills ad no errors. Marisa Garza did her part in keeping Oakes in the first set with six attacks, four kills and no errors. But Thompson prevailed 25-20. Oakes assistant coach, Brian Christenson says it took the Tornadoes some time to settle in to the first set. But once they did, the game was on.

Oakes jumped out to a 6-1 lead in the second set only to see the lead evaporate when the Tommies scored five straight points to tie it at 6. It was back and for the rest of the way with the Tornadoes winning 25-23. The defense picked things up in the set for Oakes. Thompson had the same number of attacks as in the first set but seven fewer kills, three more errors. The Tornadoes had 22 digs in the set and held Thompson to a .095 hitting percentage.

With the momentum clearly with Oakes, they had no problem in the third set winning 25-13. The defense stepped up big in the set holding Thompson to a -.217 hitting percentage. Which means they had twice as many errors, nine, as kills, four, in the set.

Thompson got the momentum back in the fourth set holding Oakes to a .000 hitting percentage. Which means kills and errors are equal. The Tommies took the set 25-16 setting up a winner take all fifth set.

In the fifth set, there were six ties and two lead changes but in the end, Thompson came out ahead with a 15-13 win.

For the match, there were 17 lead changes and seven ties. Coach Christenson says that is a championship game.

 

Sophomore Sadie Hansen had a double-double with 42 set assists and 17 digs. Junior Jaida Seyer lead the defense with 22 digs while Junior Claire Wagner added 20. Junior Nicole Schmitz led the offense with 19 kills and added eight digs. Senior Marisa Garza finished with 16 kills.

Thompson was led by Macy Jordheim with 22 kills. After Jordheim there was balance in the Thompson offense. Caroline Nistler had nine kills. Allison Ness, Izzy Shirek and Taylor Zak all had eight kills and Mackenzie Hughes had seven. Zak led the defense with 25 digs. Hughes had the double-double with 15 digs and 38 set assists. Lauren Cunningham had 16 digs and Kaia Sorby added 15 assisist.

Oakes ends the season 33-8 and with a wealth of talent coming back next year, Coach Chistenson says he wished next season started now.

 

Oakes had four players on the all-tournament team. Nicole Schmitz, Marisa Garza, Jaida Seyer, Sadie Hansen. Thompson had three players, Lauren Cunningham, Macy Jordheim and Taylor Zak. Also on the all-tournament team was Tessa Olson of Our Redeemers, Morgan Vitek of Center-Stanton, Alexa Walby and Macy Kuntz from Dickinson Trinity, Bailey Nelson and Liberty Fix of Northern Cass, Calle Ronningen and Madison Pritchard of Langdon Area/Edmore/Munich.

Taylor Zak was named the Class B Senior Athlete of the Year and Thompson coach Lisa Strand was named Coach of the Year after guiding the Tommies to a 39-1-1 mark the title