Photo by Samantha Davis: The Russell-Tyler-Ruthton volleyball team celebrates after winning the Section 3A Championship, securing its spot in the state tournament, on Nov. 1 against Minneota at Southwest Minnesota State University. The Knights recieved the two seed, and will take on No. 7 Nevis today at the Grand Casino Arena in St. Paul at 7 p.m.

ST. PAUL — Returning back to the Class A State Tournament on an 18-match win streak after sweeping its way throughout the Section 3A Tournament, all but one set, the Russell-Tyler-Ruthton volleyball team is looking to bring home its second state title in three years. This is the Knights’ second appearance at state, who won their first state title in 2023 in the program’s first state tournament berth. 

RTR (28-5) enters the tournament as the second seed, and will take on No. 7 Nevis (23-7) at Grand Casino Arena today in St. Paul at 7 p.m. on Court 2. The winner from there will play on Friday at 3 p.m. in the semifinals, while the losing team will play in the consolation bracket also on Friday afternoon.  

“The girls are feeling great. Just being back here, having that fun, bonding as a team, also all these experiences, because there were a bunch of them that were on that ’23 [state] team, but there was also a part of them that weren’t,” RTR head coach Daynica Brown said. “They now get to have that first-time experience up here. For the leaders and the older ones to kind of share it with everybody else, I think everybody’s been just having fun and enjoying it, and just very excited.” 

The Knights’ journey back to the big stage 

Similar to RTR’s 2023 state tournament berth, the Knights defeated Minneota in the Section 3A championship to punch its ticket. Both the Knights and Vikings met in the championship as the one-seed from the North and South subsection brackets, setting up the rematch. 

As two of the more dominant teams in a talent-heavy 3A section, RTR came away with a 3-1 win in a match that went point-for-point for a majority of the night before controlling the game-winning fourth set. 

Prior to the postseason, RTR made it evident early on it was on a mission to avenge its early postseason-ending loss in the 2024 section tournament to eliminate its chance of defending its state title. Westbrook-Walnut Grove took down the Knights in the subsection championship to reach its first-ever section championship. 

Although dropping their first two games of the season back-to-back, to Class A top-seeded and ranked Mayer Lutheran and Class A No. 2 ranked Minneota, the Knights won their next four straight to get their season back on track in a hurry. 

Mayer Lutheran is returning as the one-seed in this year’s state tournament, who will be looking to defend its 2024 championship. 

From there, RTR picked up regular-season wins over No. 5 state-ranked Canby, Class 4A Chanhassen and has not lost its last match in over a month on Sept. 19 to Class A No. 8 Kenyon-Wanamingo at a weekend tournament. 

“We had a very tough schedule, and so we were really tested. The first 10 games of our season, they were all top-ranked teams between the four classes. You go through it and you got Chanhassen, you got Champlin Park, you got Minneota twice, you had Canby, you had Mayer Lutheran,” Brown said. “So, it allowed us to really step up our game, really work hard, and also know where the bar is at early in the season … That allowed us to keep pushing our level of play and to keep growing … We’re a whole different team at this point in the season, and there’s been a lot of growth. The girls, they’re in a great position.” 

Of the Knights’ last 18 consecutive wins, 15 have been sweeps. 

RTR has also spent the entire season ranked in the state in Class A, finishing ranked No. 3 behind No. 2 Minneota and No. 1 Mayer Lutheran. 

Over the course of the season, Brown has credited her team’s success to all-around talent and well-balanced effort on the offensive and defensive end. 

“Our team is truly a full team effort. That’s where our communication and energy has to go. We have to talk a lot, we have to have high energy, because we feed off of each other as a team,” Brown said. “Even though we have great players that could get 20 kills a game, there are amazing players, or same thing with the defense, or same thing that on the setting side, they all know how to do it well and do it together. As I’ve said over and over, this year especially, is the year that the motto, ‘Together, everyone achieves more,’ that team motto really shows.” 

RTR has a roster of talent that is spread across the team, such as powerful hitters in Paisley and Sara Thooft, Dru Ellefson, Brynn Borresen, Ava Karbo, a pair of setters that continue to pace the offense in Ellefson and Brezlyn Buchert, while Mekenna Hesse and Laken Baartman protect the back row defensively. The Knights also have a strong showing at the service line, along with tough blockers at the front of the net that often trouble opposing teams, including Karbo and Borresen. 

RTR returns a large group of players who were a part of the 2023 state team, including the starters, that has now led the Knights back to St. Paul for a second team. 

“It helps on the nerve side [having state returners], because it’s a little bit of ‘been there, done that,’ in some sense. So now, it’s just you got to finish your mission. The goal is obviously to win the title. You have three wins to do that, but it’s first take on Nevis, who obviously made it to state. They’re going to be a great team,” Brown said. “First, focus on that, but it just allows you to already know some of the unknowns … It really helps a lot of them to already know what’s going on. It’s a great situation for us to have, with it being only two years since we were here.” 

Nevis began its season on a seven-match win streak, four of which were sweeps. The Tigers won the Section 5A Tournament, and was seeded first in the West subsection. 

Coming in on a five-game win streak, this is Nevis’ fourth state tournament appearance and first since 2013. 

Looking at the big picture 

Following the section championship win, Brown mentioned that beyond representing and competing for the RTR community, she also wants to represent Section 3A in good fashion, noting how talented the southwest Minnesota area is in volleyball and how a handful of teams could be competing for a state title out of 3A. 

Section 3A includes Minneota, Canby, WWG, Wabasso, MACCRAY and more, all of who spent time this season ranked in the top-10 in the Class A coaches poll. Brown said after the win that she, along with the team, is excited to return to state, but will compete with pride in representing the section as a whole. 

“We want to approach the first game [by] just getting your nerves out, just going after it and setting the tempo for the tournament,” Brown said. “Also, just having fun. That’s one of my big things as a coach, you want to make sure you’re having fun out there. Then lastly, just play your game. Just go and play your game. That’s what I want [us] to focus on. You’re at the state tournament, you got here off your ability, just play your game and have fun.” 

Where to watch 

Those attending the state tournament can purchase tickets on the MSHSL website. Adult tickets are priced at $17, and student tickets at $11. MSHSL will also broadcast live stats online of all matches, and a live stream of the games can be found on NSPN.TV.