SIOUX FALLS – The Miller Rustlers were eventually able to finish what they started Thursday night at the Premier Center in Sioux Falls.

After relinquishing leads in the first two sets, the second-seeded squad maintained their advantage in the following three sets for a 24-26, 25-27, 25-17, 25-20, 15-8 victory over Platte-Geddes during the opening round of the Class A State Volleyball Tournament.

“This team just doesn’t quit,” said Miller coach Linda DeBoer. “We’ve had matches or sets all year long where we’ve gotten down, and so we’re not new to fighting back and tonight this team didn’t stop.”

The Rustlers definitely had their chances in the opening sets, leading 16-11 in the first set, evening having a set point at 24-23. Miller then had four sets points in the second set before Platte-Geddes clawed back to win another set in extra points.

However, the Rustlers did not panic. They had a belief and a resolve that they could get the job done.

“I just trusted my team,” said Miller senior Ally Mullaney. “I just knew that we could get it if we believed in each other.”

Mullaney certainly did her part. She finished with a match-leading 27 kills to help the Rustlers get over the hump.

“I had my back row tell me where to place it,” Mullaney said, “because they can see the court better when I’m in there, so I just listen to them.”

Mullaney is making the most of her new position this season, moving from one front-row spot to another.

“We like to go to Ally a lot,” DeBoer said. “Having a 6-foot right side, Ally made the switch from middle to right side this year, and she has just embraced the role and had a lot of success out there. It was fun to see her swing the way she did tonight and block.”

Once the match got into the fifth set, the Rustlers were rock solid, never trailing on the way to the victory. Senior Tyra Gates served out the final four points, including an ace, to cap off the win.

“We worked all season to go into that fifth set and stay strong, so I feel like that helped,” Gates said, “just our communication and our energy and believing in our teammates, that helped our fifth set.”

Gates finished with three aces on the night. She said she has confidence when set steps up to the service line.

“All season I’ve been serving well,” Gates said. “I really trust in my serve and I know that it’s going to go over, so I just play the same game and get that serve over.”

Gates also contributed 43 set assists. She has a variety of hitting options to choose from. When asked how she knows there to go with the ball, she responded, “That’s a very tough question, but it’s whoever is hot that night or struggling, or if I want to switch it up a bit, just so the defense doesn’t know where I’m going.”

Karly VanDerWerff had 22 kills and Cadence Van Zee 19 to lead Platte-Geddes. The Black Panthers will meet Belle Fourche in consolation round action at 1:15 this afternoon.

Miller, 33-2, moves into the semifinal round where the Rustlers will square off against Elkton-Lake Benton at 6:45 tonight. It marks the third time Miller has played in the semifinals in the past five seasons, also advancing to the final four in 2018 and 2019.

“We’ll just come with a lot of energy, trust each other again,” Mullaney said, “and we can do it.”

Serving: Platte-Geddes 1 ace (Karly VanDerWerff 1); Miller 9 aces (Jolie Palmer 3, Tyra Gates 3, Journey Palmer 1, Shaylee Anderberg 1, Abigail Blake 1).

Hitting: Platte-Geddes 48 (VanDerWerff 22, Cadence Van Zee 19); Miller 59 (Ally Mullaney 27, Blake 9, Jaden Werdel 8).

Setting: Platte-Geddes 45 (Karsen Sondgeroth 37, Baleigh Nachtigal 7); Miller 48 (Gates 43, Jolie Palmer 4).

Digs: Platte-Geddes 103 (Van Zee 25, Hadley Hanson 18, Avery DeVries 17, VanDerWerff 16, Nachtigal 15); Miller 102 (Jolie Palmer 29, Gates 20, Werdel 16).

Blocks: Platte-Geddes 1 solo 8 assists (DeVries 1 solo, Emerson Ringling 3 assists, Regan Hoffman 2 assists); Miller 6 solo 10 assists (Blake 3 solo 3 assists, Mullaney 2 solo 3 assists, Aleah Schlechter 1 solo 2 assists, Gates 2 assists).

Records: Platte-Geddes 27-8; Miller 33-2.