BISMARCK, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) The 2022 North Dakota State High School Volleyball Tournament kicked off on Thursday with both Class A and Class B held at the Bismarck Event Center. Class A quarterfinals were played in main arena, while Class B quarterfinals were played in the Exhibit Hall. On the Class B side of things, the Rockets of New Rockford/Sheyenne are making their first state tournament appearance in program history, they also made their first Region 4 championship match appearance in program history at the Region 4 tournament held in Devils Lake, November 7th-10th. The Rockets defeated Langdon Area/Edmore/Munich 3-1 in that championship match to punch their ticket to state. Langdon Area/Edmore/Munich was the seven-time defending region champions.

In the State quarterfinals on Thursday afternoon, Linton/Hazelton/Moffit/Braddock dominated set one, but the Rockets came out strong in sets two, three and four, taking set three for their first ever set victory at state, but the Lions were to much in the end winning 3-1 (25-15, 25-19, 21-25, 25-19). The Lions dominated set one, leading at one point 19-6. NRS regrouped in set two, taking the lead early on 3-2, tied the score seven times and kept it close till the end. In set three, the Rockets were led by Kelsey Belquist with six kills, Lora Wobbema with three, Kaiya O’Connor with two and Ava Peterson with one to help them win this set by four points. But in set four, the Lions used their experience after some early ties to get the victory and the match win and move into the semifinals of the State B for the third consecutive year. No. 2 seed and No. 1 in state LHMB improves to 37-1 overall, NRS drops to 23-12 overall.

Junior Kelsey Belquist led the Rockets with 16 kills, Senior ShayLee Bosch led the Lions with 19.

Next up for New Rockford/Sheyenne will be on Friday, Nov. 18th in the consolation round at the Exhibit Hall at 5pm, they will meet the Garrison Troopers. Thunder Country 98.3 and newsdakota.com will have the match starting about 445pm.