SIOUX FALLS – Hamlin faced a tall task in the Class A semifinals of the State Volleyball Tournament Friday night.

The size and experience of Dell Rapids proved to be a tough task for the Chargers as the Quarriers defeated Hamlin for the second time this season, the latest decision a 25-11, 25-9, 26-16 setback at the Sanford Premier Center.

“They got a lot of veterans. Clearly, some huge hitters,” said Hamlin coach Ashley Heinrich. “I just think we’re young, and a little inexperienced with all that, and unfortunately just had a hard time keeping up with their hitters for the most part.”

The average height of the six Quarriers that recorded a kill in the match: 5-foot-11 and a half inches. The average of the three Chargers that recorded a kill: 5-foot-7. Not to mention that Sophi Randall, the Quarrier setter who accounted for eight kills, is headed to the University of Illinois to continue her volleyball career.

Dell Rapids not only took advantage of its height at the net, the Quarriers were aggressive from the service line racking up 18 aces through three sets, something that Hamlin normally does to its opponents.

“They’re also really tough servers. And we just don’t see a lot of that as far as serving,” Heinrich said. “Unfortunately, we weren’t able to keep them out of system as much as I would have liked, which would have helped us out a lot.”

The Dell Rapids height not only impacted the game on its offensive side, it also hindered the Chargers’ offense with a strong presence at the net in the block game.

Hamlin tried to use whatever kills it could manage to build momentum.

“We all knew coming into it that it was going to be a tough game. We knew they have big hitters, big blockers. So, we practiced hitting high hands,” said Hamlin’s Addison Neuendorf said. “When we get a kill, we had to use that as momentum and try to push forward because we knew they wouldn’t fold. They weren’t going to give up.”

After being down two sets going into the third and all the momentum on the Quarrier side, Hamlin found a way to keep energy up and start off strong in the third set holding the lead until the 10th point.

“I thought they responded. We talked about that in the huddle, like let’s see what we’re made of. Let’s get gritty,” Heinrich said. “I was proud of them.”

During that lead, Hamlin freshman Addelyn Jensen saw an opportunity to send the ball back quickly at the back line where no Quarriers were located. It was something that the Chargers practiced, and she saw the opportunity and took it.

“We practice that stuff a lot in practice, and it’s stuff like that. You do it over and over, and it kind of becomes habit,” said Jensen. “That’s why you practice, ‘cause then you can learn to recognize those things. I took my opportunity and Heinrich tells me to do it every day in practice, and I just did it.”

Although the match didn’t end the way the Chargers wanted, Heinrich is still proud of her team and where they’re at.

“Regardless of the loss, I mean we’re here right. We’re still one of the top four teams, so I’m proud of them regardless of how that was going to turn out, because I think they’ve worked their buns off all year, and did a really good job,” Heinrich said. “At this point, we’re 25-2, and that’s not a bad season. And the two losses come to the same team.”

The Chargers still have a chance to finish out the season with a win when they take on Sioux Falls Christian for third place at 5 this evening. In order to do that, they feel as if they just need to play together.

“Heinrich told us that we can either respond to this one of two ways. We can either give up, or we can use this as motivation,” said Neuendorf. “We’re going to come in tomorrow, we’re going to play as one, and we’re going to hopefully come out with a win.”

Jensen feels the same way.

“When we play together as a team, we play so much better and just stay positive with ourselves, and know what we’re playing for,” Jensen said. “We’re playing for a lot, and we have a lot to represent, and I think that we’re going to go out there and try our hardest, and see what happens.”

Serving: Hamlin 3 aces (Addie Steffensen 1, Jo Steffensen 1, Issie Steffensen 1); Dell Rapids18 aces (Clara Justice 7, Karlie Ingalls 5, Madelynn Henry 3).

Hitting: Hamlin 13 kills (A. Steffensen 6, Addison Neuendorf 4, Talayna Opdahl 3); Dell Rapids 34 kills (Henry 10, Sophi Randall 8, Ingalls 5, Lauryn Kloth 5).

Setting: Hamlin 12 assists (I. Steffensen 10, A. Steffensen 2); Dell Rapids 30 assists (Randall 20, Alaina Wolff 4, Ingalls 3).

Digs: Hamlin 26 (Jayci Trowbridge 8, A. Neuendorf 6, J. Steffensen 4); Dell Rapids 34 (Wolff 9, Randall 8, Justice 6).

Blocks: Hamlin 1 solo 2 assists (Kayde Nebel 1 solo, A. Steffensen 1 assist, Opdahl 1 assist); Dell Rapids 1 solo 10 assists (Kloth 1 solo 4 assists, Justice 2 assists).

Records: Hamlin 25-2; Dell Rapids 31-3.