ABERDEEN - For the Warner Monarchs, the long, hard journey to the state volleyball tournament prepared them for the challenges of winning a championship.

Volleyball powers Warner and Northwestern are both in the same district, so the competition is fierce at that level. In the past 10 seasons, either Warner or Northwestern has appeared in the state championship match nine times and come away with eight state titles.

The Class B all-state volleyball team, selected by the South Dakota Volleyball Coaches Association, reflects the success of those two programs. First-team selections include Kelli Wiedebush and Kelsey Rozell of Warner, Ashlee Arthurs of Northwestern, Kylee Lamb of Sully Buttes, Stephanie Hofer of James Valley Christian and Allison Boeck of Arlington.

A key element in Warner's state title run was the relationship between setter and hitters. The Monarchs, who are coached by Kari Jung, featured an experienced senior setter and a strong young hitter.

Wiedebush, a four-year starter, averaged 28.2 assists per match or 9.6 assists per game. She also connected on 94 percent of her serves and 71 aces. Wiedebush was also proficient at the net with 1.1 kills per game.

The recipient of many of Wiedebush's sets was Rozell, a junior hitter. When the two players were clicking, the end result was a lot of kills. Rozell averaged 12.3 kills per match or 4.2 per game to go along with 1.3 blocks per match. She totaled 83 service aces and made 87 percent of her serve attempts.

Losses were rare during Arthurs' high school career. Northwestern, which is coached by Nora Groft, posted a 125-9 record with Arthurs as the setter. Over her career, she made 98 percent of her serves and only missed a total of 25 in 1,185 attempts. This season was no different. Arthurs averaged 25.1 set assists a match or 8.5 per game. She was credited with 178 digs and 69 serving aces to go along with 703 set assists this season.

A multi-sport athlete, Lamb turned in another solid season for Sully Buttes, which lost to James Valley in the region finals. Lamb averaged 17 kills per match or 5.3 per game. She piled up 100 service aces, 197 blocks and 327 digs. The Chargers are coached by Randy Pool.

Hofer was a big contributor in James Valley's first trip to the state tournament. The Chargers, who are coached by Tim Nihart, finished 26-3 and in sixth place at state. Hofer averaged 8.2 kills per match or 2.7 per game. Her other totals included 50 ace serves and 210 digs.

The youngest member of the first team is Allison Boeck, whose mother, Anita Boeck, is the Arlington coach. Allison, a versatile sophomore, had 100 ace serves, 168 kills, 278 digs and 400 set assists. With an eighth-grader and freshman both listed at 5-feet-11, Arlington could be lining up for many more successful seasons in the coming years.