Kindred advances to state volleyball tournament for first time in 10 years

Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.

The Details

FARGO — Kindred’s Taylor Sanders delivered a powerful swing near the left pin early in the third set that went down for her 1,000th career kill. In the stands, the Vikings fans held up papers with 1,000 printed on it.

It was the first of the Vikings’ celebrations Thursday night. The second came when a ball sailed out of bounds to send Kindred to the state tournament for the first time in 10 years.

The second-seeded Viking downed No. 1 Fargo Oak Grove 3-2 (26-24, 21-25, 25-14, 23-25, 15-4) in the North Dakota Region 1A volleyball championship Thursday at Oak Grove.

“Our hard work paid off,” said Sanders, who was named to the all-region team.

Kindred (24-12) advances to the Division A state tournament in Bismarck with quarterfinals slated to begin Thursday, Nov. 19. Next week will mark the third time the Vikings have made the state tournament.

“They wanted it since last year when we lost in the first round,” said first-year Kindred head coach Harlee Bunke. “I knew that them wanting it wasn’t the issue. It was just (us going) to work to go get it.”

Lexi Hills / The Forum

Kindred opened the decisive fifth set with a 7-1 run and never looked back. In the huddle before the set, the Vikings emphasized bringing back their up-tempo pace of play.

“We needed to start off on a good note and that’s what we did,” Sanders said.

Oak Grove (25-10) will play Region 2’s Devils Lake in a state-qualifier at 5 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 14, at Mayville State. Grovers outside hitter Alayna Foster-DeVold was named the Region 1A senior athlete of the year.

“(We need) to think about it tonight,” said Grovers head coach Angie Johnson. “Think about what we can change and then come in with a new mindset tomorrow. We still have a chance.”

Kindred won the first set 26-24. The Grovers rallied from an eight-point deficit with Oak Grove middle hitter Addison Hunt hammering down a kill to tie the set 22-22.

Oak Grove led by seven points midway through the second set. Kindred trimmed the Grovers’ lead 20-19, but Grovers middle hitter Katie Christianson hammered down the set-winning kill to end it 25-21.

The Vikings dominated in a 25-14 third-set victory. Kindred outside hitter Ivy Trenbeath had a pair of kills and middle blocker Kate Odegaard added another kill to cap the frame.

A back-and-forth fourth set ended with Grovers setter Molly Welsch slamming a set-winning kill from the left pin. Welsch’s kill capped a 25-23 set win and forced a fifth frame.

Bunke was an assistant coach at Kindred when the Vikings last made the state tournament.

“I knew they could do it,” Bunke said. “I’m just so proud of them and so happy for them. I’m just along for the ride.”

• Comments
• Share this article
• News Reporting
• News Reporting

Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.

What is this?

• Tags
• Tags
• PREP SPORTS
• GIRLS VOLLEYBALL
• NDHSAA
• KINDRED VIKINGS
• OAK GROVE GROVERS
• By
• Andrew Haugland

After graduating from North Dakota State University, Haugland joined the Forum in January of 2023. Readers can reach him at 701-241-5508 or by emailing [email protected] Twitter Listen to this article Conversation What To Read Next Prep Nuggets golden in MN 2A football state quarterfinal win over Gobblers 34m ago By Jeremy Millsop Prep Kendall Mueller leads Horace into East Region volleyball title match 1h ago By Ryan Spitza Prep Packers prove naysayers wrong on road to Dakota Bowl 11h ago By Andrew Haugland Get Local Must Reads Men's Sports McFeely: From Selke Field to Hawaii, it’s been a journey 9h ago By Mike McFeely Minnesota 'Like a Hallmark movie': Peteyville in Pelican Rapids set to wow holiday crowds 4h ago By Kevin Wallevand Minnesota Court documents: Human remains may be found in 1982 case of missing toddler near Bemidji 4h ago By Matt Henson Men's Sports Kolpack: He married into Bison football frenzy and loves it 4h ago By Jeff Kolpack