District 13, 14 tourneys up for grabs

Talk about it

The coaches’ consensus heading into the District 13 and 14 volleyball tournaments this year is all the same.

It’s up for grabs.

With all of the teams at about an even-keel, Dickinson Trinity head coach Rayma Braaten said it’s whoever wants it more is going to win.

“It’s pretty much the team that wants it the most is going to get it,” Braaten said with a smile. “That’s how it was last year. It was unpredictable.”

The District 14 tournament starts on Friday at 6 p.m. at Beulah High School, continues with semifinal round play Monday and concludes with the championship at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday.

District 13 starts at 3 p.m. on Monday and ends on Tuesday night at Hettinger’s Roberts-Reinke Gymnasium.

Beulah is the No. 1 seed in District 14, while Richardton-Taylor is the No. 2 seed. Trinity, the No. 3 seed, plays the No. 6 seed at 6:30 p.m. Friday. Glen Ullin-Hebron, No. 4 seed, takes on No. 5 seed Hazen at 6 p.m. Friday.

“I think it’s going to be a really interesting district tournament,” Richardton-Taylor head coach Kayla Zent said. “There’s not really one standout team. There are a lot of even matches this season.”

Beach has the No. 1 seed in District 13 while Mott-Regent had the No. 2 seed. New England and Heart River kick off the District 13 tournament at 3 p.m. Monday as the Nos. 4 and 5 seeds, respectively. No. 3 seed Hettinger-Scranton plays No. 6 seed Bowman County at 4:30 p.m. Monday.

The winner of New England and Heart River meets Beach while Mott-Regent awaits the winner of Hettinger-Scranton and Bowman County in semifinal matches that will be played later that evening.

The Buccaneers have gone through a barrage of injuries during the last three weeks, but now have everyone back, including one of the top players to watch in 6-foot-1 sophomore middle hitter Channa Clarin.

“We know the other teams in our district fairly well,” Beach head coach Allison Skari said. “We played them a couple times during the season with tournaments and regular-season games. Our district is kind of even. Anybody can take it this year and we just have to make sure we are out there to play.”

Trinity, which reached the Region 7 championship match last season, hopes to put it all together during the time it matters the most.

Braaten said the Titans have the tools to be at the top of Region 7. They just have to be there mentally in the end. Trinity has one of the most feared outside hitters in the region in senior Aly Schieno.

“One of the hardest things as a coach is to figure out how to prepare your players mentally,” Braaten said. “A lot of the times, I want to give them a comfortable, relaxed environment and hopefully they will feel at home.

“If we bring our A-game, we are going to be good. We are probably going to be standing there at the top.”

Eight of the 12 teams will reach the Region 7 tournament that starts at 3 p.m. Monday, Nov. 5 at the Killdeer High School gymnasium. Braaten hopes the team can get over the rollercoaster of up and down play before regionals.

“There are some days where we play great,” Braaten said. “Then there are some days, where we play not so great.”

Tags: high school volleyball, district 13 volleyball, district 14 volleyball, sports, preps