SIOUX FALLS – The defending State B champs were tested, but found the right solutions to move on during the Class B State Volleyball Tournament Thursday afternoon.

The Warner Monarchs split the first two sets before pulling away to secure a 25-21, 25-27, 25-16, 25-11 victoy over Freeman at the Premier Center.

“Our coaching staff knew that if they got hot tipping, we were in trouble defensively and we were going to have to make some adjustments,” said Warner coach Kari Jung. “So we tried to move our defense in a little bit to help that.”

The Flyers led 16-13 in the opening set before Courtney Bjorgaard reeled off 10 straight points to help Warner finish off the set.

“I just stayed focused,” Bjorgaard said. “My main goal was to get it into the court.”

While Bjorgaard did not have an ace, she kept the Flyers on their heels with her float serve and provided the Monarchs with a spark they needed in the first set.

“Courtney had a great match passing and serving for us. She was solid at the serving line today,” Jung said. “I thought she was aggressive. She had a great float going. I don’t know if she got an ace, but she kept them out of system.”

Even though Warner grabbed the opener, Freeman was undeterred and ended up winning the second set in extra points.

The pivotal third set was tight early before the Monarchs finally took control in the match. It was the defense that provided the difference.

“I think our defense really started picking it up,” said Warner setter Ava Nilsson. “They put up a great block and our hitters were kind of struggling to get around that, but then when we saw some glory in the defense, our defense really picked it up and we started pulling away from them.”

Warner dominated the final part of the third set and the entire fourth set to record its 17th straight victory.

Jung credited senior Kendyl Anderson for coming up clutch as the Monarchs closed out the victory.

“Kendyl Anderson, late in the match, uffda, she was on fire. She had eight kills with only one error,” Jung said. “We don’t usually use her much, because it’s a little bit harder to get the right side sometimes, but she was really a key for us late in the match.”

Lauren Marcuson led the team with 17 kills, Kyra Marcuson followed with 14 and Kamryn Anderson added 12.

Nilsson finished with 53 set assists including her 4,000th career assist. The junior was quick to credit those around her for the milestone accomplishment.

“In my opinion, you can’t get an assist unless you get a kill, so all of my assists are credited to my hitters,” Nilsson said. “Everything, if I throw it up there, if I kick it up there, and they kill it, that’s an assist. So I’m super glad and grateful for all the amazing hitters that I have.”

Kate Miller topped Freeman with 18 kills. The Flyers face Northwestern in consolation action at 11:15 this morning.

Warner, 35-2, faces Wolsey-Wessington in the semifinals at 5 this evening. The Monarchs won a previous encounter back in August.

Bjorgaard talked about keys to her team’s success moving forward.

“Come out strong, have good defense,” Bjorgaard said, “and just play our game, good communication.”

The top-seeded Monarchs know the pressure is on them each them they step onto the court, but understand that just goes with the territory.

“We have a target on our back. You can’t beat around the bush. We know that,” Nilsson said. “It’s pressure, but it’s also a sense of security. We’re here. We’re supposed to be here. We’re meant to be here. We can go in with that and just have that sense of confidence every play.”

Serving: Freeman 2 aces (Emily Mendel 1, Zenovia Butler 1); Warner 2 aces (Kyra Marcuson 2).

Hitting: Freeman 36 kills (Kate Miller 18, Erin Uecker 6, Ashlin Jacobsen 5); Warner 68 (Lauren Marcuson 17, Krya Marcuson 14, Kamryn Anderson 12, Kyleigh Schopp 9, Kendyl Anderson 9).

Setting: Freeman 36 assists (Cami Fransen 33); Warner 55 (Ava Nilsson 53).

Digs: Freeman 84 (Uecker 18, Jacobsen 17, Miller 14, Butler 14); Warner 93 (Courtney Bjorgaard 22, L. Marcuson 15, Nilson 14, K. Marcuson 12).

Blocks: Freeman 3 solo 7 assists (Miller 2 solo 2 assists, Uecker 1 solo 1 assist); Warner 1 solo 14 assists (Kamryn Anderson 1 solo 1 assist, Schopp 6 assists, Nilsson 5 assists).

Records: Freeman 21-10; Warner 35-2.