BISMARCK, N.D. (newsdakota.com) – The good news is the Jamestown Blue Jays volleyball team (15-5) made its seventh WDA title match appearance all time.

The bad news is the Jays are now 0-7 in those matches after a four set loss against Bismarck Century (20-0) on Saturday. It’s a bitter-sweet, perhaps more bitter, stat for Jays Head Coach Sara Hegerle.

Out of the gates on Saturday, Jamestown hung with the top seeded Century Patriots holding the opening set to an 11-10 Jays lead. The lead evaporated quickly as Century used a 9-0 run to pull away and eventually take the first set 25-19.

Before Century overpowered the Jays in the 3rd and 4th sets, Jamestown controlled the second set handedly. The Jays led by as much as eight points before Century made it a closer set on the scoreboard. Jamestown won 25-21.

Century cruised in the last two sets to capture their 7th straight WDA championship.

More good news popped up for the Jays in the award ceremony following the title match. Jamestown senior Grace Hegerle was named WDA Senior Athlete of the Year, an award that coach and mom said was well warranted.

Along with Hegerle, senior Ella Roaldson was named to the conference’s 1st team and libero Rachel Schiele was named to the 2nd team. Accolades that were earned according to coach Hegerle.

Saturday’s mixed bag of good and bad has been put behind the Jays. Jamestown will compete in its 5th consecutive state tournament. This year’s tournament, like everything else in life, is different. The West takes on the East without any inter-conference play this season. Hegerle and the Jays take on West Fargo Sheyenne Thursday at 7:00 from the FargoDome without playing Sheyenne or any East team all year. An ambiguous obstacle for the Jays and any team in the state tournament.

The Jays and Mustangs will close out day one of the tourney Thursday night at 7:00. Coverage can be heard on JIM 107.1 and newsdakota.com.

Here’s the rest of day 1’s lineup:

10:00am – E4 Valley City VS W1 Bismarck Century (20 match win streak on the line)

2:00pm – W3 Mandan VS E2 Fargo Davies (Defending State Champions)

4:00pm – W4 Bismarck Legacy VS E1 West Fargo

7:00pm – E3 West Fargo Sheyenne VS W2 Jamestown

Full interview with Coach Hegerle found below.