Kernel volleyball falls to Cavaliers in Class AA state tourney finale

Nov. 22—RAPID CITY — The Mitchell High School volleyball season came to an end on Saturday afternoon with a three-set sweep at the hands of Sioux Falls Jefferson, sending the Kernels home with eighth place in Class AA.

Set scores were 25-22, 25-12, 25-10 in favor of Jefferson.

Mitchell, which was seeded eighth entering the Class AA postseason, ended the season at 16-11, while the 11th-seeded Cavaliers were 13-14 on the season.

The Kernels had slow starts in each of the three sets that put them in a bind in the match, falling behind 12-3 in the first set. Mitchell battled to get back within 22-21 but Jefferson scored three of the final four points to claim the first marker in the match. The second set saw Mitchell down 6-1 early and the same played out in the third frame, as the Kernels were down 11-2 and never able to get back into it.

"We did not come out and play like we did on Friday," Mitchell coach Deb Thill said. "I thought we would. ... I think our kids were trying a little too hard, because they knew this was the last match together and they were trying so hard, they were making serving and hitting errors and putting the ball into the net. ... We tried to remind them that you have to let the game come to you and relax."

Nia Talley had 11 kills and 11 digs for Mitchell to lead the Kernels' attack, with seven kills from Audrey Miller and four kills for Addie Siemsen, who tacked on 20 assists. Kenna Soulek had 11 digs and Cassidy Korzan added seven digs. Kambyl Wede had three total blocks, with two blocks each from Kenzie Hetland and Ivory Fenski.

"This team accomplished a lot and the state tournament was a great reward for what we've done all season," Thill said. "There's so much for this group of kids to be proud of."

The match did include a season highlight for Hetland, the 6-foot-1 junior middle hitter, who finished tied for the Kernel record for total blocks in a season, according to Thill. Hetland ended her season with 94 blocks, which matched her with Michelle Doerr from 2002. Hetland already owns the school record for blocks in a match after recording 13 total blocks in 2024.

"Michelle had 40-plus matches and Kenzie did it in 27 matches, so it was a very impressive season," Thill said.

For the Cavaliers, Sienna Sabers finished a match-best 13 kills, while Natalie Welty had seven kills. Olivia Wachal had 23 assists and 10 digs, joined by Riley Fodness with 10 digs and two aces, with two aces from AJ Venekamp.

Saturday was the end of the Kernel volleyball careers for Soulek, Miller, Wede and Siemsen, all of whom helped lead the turnaround from a three-win season a year ago.

"Those four girls and I have been through a lot of thick and thin, so it was really rewarding that we got here," Thill said. "It's emotional to have the season end and for these girls, this is their end with volleyball. ... I told them they have made a lot of people in Mitchell proud and there's a lot of little girls who have been looking up to them as great role models."