Photos by Samantha Davis: The Russell-Tyler-Ruthton volleyball team crashes to the court after winning the Section 3A Tournament Saturday night at Southwest Minnesota State University, clinching its return to the state tournament. The Knights defeated the Vikings 3-1. Below: RTR seniors Ava Karbo and Brezlyn Buchert bring the section trophy to the team.

Story will be updated with quotes and stats

MARSHALL — Making its return to the Class A State Tournament after a two-year hiatus, the Russell-Tyler-Ruthton volleyball team defeated Minneota 3-1 in the Section 3A championship in a battle between the section’s top-seeds Saturday night at Southwest Minnesota State University. The Knights prevailed in sets of 25-21, 25-23, 21-25 and 25-15. The Vikings finish their season 27-7 overall.

Saturday was a rematch of the 2023 section championship, where RTR also defeated Minneota in five sets, and went on to win the Class A State Tournament in its first-ever state appearance.

Minneota and RTR made their way to the championship with a near-identical path following another impressive regular and postseason run for the two, foreshadowing the competitive fight for the state ticket. The Vikings entered with a 27-6 overall record and ranked No. 2 in the state by the Class A coaches poll, winning the North’s subsection championship in their ninth-straight appearance, while the Knights came in 27-5 and ranked No. 3, taking the South’s subsection title. The two teams were both given the No. 1 seed in the section tournament between North and South.

RTR entered the fourth set with a 2-1 lead on the night, and made its statement evident early on, bolstering a 7-2 lead after a few Minneota errors paired with a Paisley Thooft and Ava Karbo kill.

Jaylyn Coequyt continued to help lead the front of the net for the Vikings to cut into a 7-4 deficit, yet Karbo stopped the potential run early on with another kill.

The Knights got several contributors involved on the offensive end, along with a strong back row, to withhold the Vikings’ aggressive comeback attempt, who came within 2 points, down 9-7.

Paisley Thooft recorded her 16th kill of the night to give RTR a 13-7 lead, which extended to 19-12 following kills from Bynn Borreson, Dru Ellefson and Karbo. Senior setter Brezlyn Buchert continued to find the looks to open up the offense.

After a Minneota receiving error, Elleson put the Knights up by 10-point, 22-12, when RTR began to feel within reach of the section title.

RTR’s final 3 points, officially clinching its return to state, came from a Sara Thooft kill before Paisley Thooft ended the night with back-to-back kills off the left side of the net.

The Knights’ entire team and coaching staff crashed to midcourt, followed moments later with receiving the section trophy.

Minneota and RTR went point-for-point nearly the entire night through the first three sets, with neither able to break away to a comfortable lead, supported by a crowded and energetic crowd on both sides of the bleachers.

Both teams traded points to begin the opening set up to a 10-10 tie, with Minneota’s Jaylyn Coequyt and Eden Meagher getting the offense started while RTR’s Karbo and Paisley Thooft did the same.

The two also set the defensive tone from the jump as well, with the back row on both sides making numerous diving saves.

RTR was able to break away on a 15-12 lead with a Karbo block, yet Meagher responded with a kill, along with a Knights’ hitting error and a Jaylyn and Leah Coequyt block to give Minneota three straight points, again tying the set up 15-15.

The Knights gained back a 19-16 edge after a Jaida Fricke service ace, forcing Minneota to call a timeout.

Minneota made a push to comeback behind a Meagher kill and Sarah Gruenes’ ace, but the Knights were able to secure the first set following a Sara Thooft kill for match point.

After another back-and-forth start to begin the second set, the Knights again pulled a 3-point lead, 9-6, after two straight blocks between Ellefson, Brynn Borresen and Paisley Thooft.

Gruenes again ended the run with a kill, followed with a hit from Sophie Gillund, to trail 9-8.

The set eventually tied 16-16, and again at 22. A hard kill from Paisley Thooft put RTR up a point, to which Meagher responded with a kill of her own.

The Knights took a 2-0 lead on the night following a Sara Thooft kill and Vikings’ hitting error.

The Vikings caught fire in the must-win third set, sparked and controlled by Jaylyn Coequyt’s strong left-arm swing. Minneota embarked on a 7-1 lead to start, with Jaylyn Coequyt accounting for five of the points with kills.

Paisley Thooft and Ellefson put a halt to the run with kills, along with a Minneota net violation and attacking error to immediately tie the score 7-7.

The Vikings earned their largest lead of the night at 11-7 after a Gruenes kill, yet the Knights again returned the favor, taking the next 4 points to tie the score back up.

Meagher, Jaylyn Coequyt and Gruenes continued Minneota’s offense, with the help of Abby Rolbiecki, Autum Anderson and Madison Minnehan in the back row, to gain a 23-17 advantage.

Although RTR continued to hit, the Vikings took the set following a pair of Knights errors to force the fourth set.

Both RTR and Minneota have swept their way to reach the section championship, with the exception of the Vikings defeating MACCRAY 3-1 in the subsection championship.

Minneota graduates its senior duo in Gruenes and Rolbiecki.

RTR (28-5) next prepares for the Class A State Tournament, which is set to begin on Thursday at the Grand Casino Arena, formerly known as the Xcel Energy Center, in St. Paul. The Knights will either play at 5 or 7 p.m. depending on seeding, which is to be released shortly.