The Valley City Hi-Liners shook off an early scare in the first set to defeat Wahpeton in straight sets, 25-20, 25-15, 25-12, and secure a home game in the play-in round of the EDC Tournament.

Valley City looked to be in control early, jumping out to a commanding 16-6 lead in the opening set. However, Wahpeton chipped away at the deficit, closing the gap to 18-17. After a key stop made it 19-17, sophomore Morgan Larson stepped up, delivering a pair of aces to push the Hi-Liners’ lead to 22-17. The teams traded points down the stretch before Kadie Kocka sealed the set with a kill to give Valley City a 25-20 victory.

The second and third sets followed a similar pattern. While both teams struggled to create separation early on, the Hi-Liners steadily increased their lead as each set progressed. Larson’s serving, along with solid defensive work from libero Georgia Zaun, helped Valley City gain the necessary momentum to close out the match with decisive 25-15 and 25-12 victories.

Next up, the Hi-Liners will face Grand Forks Central in a Saturday afternoon showdown at 1:00 PM in the play-in round of the EDC Tournament. The game will be broadcast on 1490 AM/96.3 FM KOVC and streamed live on the KOVC TV YouTube Channel.