Aug. 24—PARKSTON, S.D. — As a new season of high school volleyball tips off this week, the preseason edition of the South Dakota Prep Media poll was issued on Monday.
Defending state champions Harrisburg and Chester open as the No. 1-ranked squads in Class AA and Class B, respectively. The Tigers garnered all six available first-place votes as the unanimous team to beat in Class AA, while the Flyers got four top votes to come in ahead of Warner, which nabbed the other two in Class B.
Dell Rapids, a state runner-up from last season, was tabbed as the top team in Class A in a close race with Sioux Falls Christian and defending champion Dakota Valley. The Quarriers received three of the six first-place votes and 26 points, with the Chargers at No. 2 with 24 points and one top vote, while the Panthers came in at No. 3 despite two top votes with 22 points.
The Mitchell area was represented in the preseason poll by Parkston at No. 5 in Class B. Behind Chester and Warner were Northwestern at No. 3 and Bennett County at No. 4. Wagner received one vote in the Class A poll.
The South Dakota Prep Media preseason volleyball polls released Aug. 24 are listed below, ranking the top five teams in each class, record and total points. First-place votes received are indicated in parentheses.
Class AA
1. Harrisburg (6) 30; 2. O’Gorman 21; 3. Brandon Valley 20; 4. Sioux Falls Lincoln 8; 5. Sioux Falls Washington 7.
Others receiving votes: Watertown 3, Sioux Falls Jefferson 1.
Class A
1. Dell Rapids (3) 26; 2. Sioux Falls Christian (1) 24; 3. Dakota Valley (2) 22; 4. Clark/Willow Lake 8; 5. St. Thomas More 7.
Others receiving votes: Hamlin 2, Wagner 1.
Class B
1. Chester (4) 28; 2. Warner (2) 26; 3. Northwestern 14; 4. Bennett County 13; 5. Parkston 4.
Others receiving votes: Colman-Egan 3, Gayville-Volin 1, Harding County 1.
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