Valley City Isn’t Done Yet After a State Runner-Up Finish

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em><a href="https://prepdig.com/subscribe/"><strong>More than 150 college coaches shared this article.</strong>&nbsp;<strong>Join PrepDig with 30% off using code "digdakotas30."</strong></a></em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em><a href="https://www.instagram.com/prepdigdakotas/?hl=en">Follow on Instagram@prepdigdakota</a></em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Valley City played its way into the Division A state championship match last November, including knocking off top-seeded South Prairie-Max in the semifinals. The Hi-Liners will look different this fall, but plenty is coming back.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Six seniors return. [player_tooltip player_id='953722' first='Layni' last='Bakalar'] is back at setter, three senior middles give Valley City experience across the net, and [player_tooltip player_id='838327' first='Skye' last='Nielson'] enters her junior year after already producing on the outside. Add in a few younger players who have spent time with the varsity group, and Valley City has a lot to watch in 2026.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["838327"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a824b676a352"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='838327' first='Skye' last='Nielson'] could see a lot of swings this fall. The 5-foot-10 outside hitter had either eight kills against South Prairie-Max in the state semifinal or back-to-back kills that gave Valley City its first lead of the fourth set. (According to ndhsaanow.com.)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>That's a sophomore doing it with a trip to the state championship at stake.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Nielson brings size on the pin, can score, and has a serve that puts teams in trouble. She's already handled some big moments. Now she heads into her junior season with a chance to become an even bigger part of this offense.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["953722"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a824b676a3b1"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Having a senior setter who has already been through November volleyball is a solid foundation.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='953722' first='Layni' last='Bakalar'] knows this offense and has plenty around her. Nielson is back on the outside, while [player_tooltip player_id='724995' first='Katie' last='Burchill'], [player_tooltip player_id='839915' first='Nora' last='Pederson'], and [player_tooltip player_id='953724' first='Tessa' last='Anderson'] give her three senior middles to work with. Bakalar can also cause problems from the service line, something we saw during Valley City's postseason run.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"className":""} --> <p>They have experience running the floor, which should help early on.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["724995"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a824b676a3ed"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='724995' first='Katie' last='Burchill'] gives Valley City size right through the middle. The 5-foot-11 senior had seven kills and three blocks in one of her better matches against Central Cass last season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Burchill can really make things difficult with the block. She has the size to take away space, and offensively, she's already familiar with Bakalar. Getting Burchill involved through the middle gives this offense another place to score.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["749991"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a824b676a41f"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='839915' first='Nora' last='Pederson'] brings another 5-foot-10 senior into the middle. She's been in this offense, knows Bakalar's tempo, and has the varsity experience behind her.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"className":""} --> <p>With three seniors in the middle, Valley City has some choices. Pederson provides them another body at the net who can work in transition and help close the block.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["724946"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a824b676a451"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='724946' first='Morgan' last='Larson'] can help this team in a few different spots. She's listed as an outside/libero and has experience in the back row and at the service line.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>That server has already changed the set. Against Wahpeton last season, Larson was behind the line during a 10-0 run that opened up the first.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>She can pass, defend, and make teams uncomfortable from behind the line. That versatility gives Valley City options depending on how the lineup shakes out.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Other players we should be tracking this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='953724' first='Tessa' last='Anderson'] gives Valley City a third senior middle, while [player_tooltip player_id='953723' first='Ella' last='Sather'] returns on the outside. Both have varsity experience, and I'm not going to guess at their roles before the season starts. There is court time to earn, and both are part of a senior group that has already been through a long postseason.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='883400' first='Brynn' last='Lueck'] gives the Hi-Liners another setter behind Bakalar and has already been used on the service line in postseason play. [player_tooltip player_id='930177' first='Kinslee' last='Glandt'] returns on the right side. Both have varsity experience and give Valley City depth outside a senior-heavy group. We'll get a better idea of where each fits once the season gets moving.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='922266' first='Jaye' last='Potratz'] comes back after spending her freshman season with the varsity group. She's listed as a defensive specialist/outside and gives Valley City another young option who can work in the back row or on the pin. She already knows the varsity pace. Her sophomore season will tell us how much more she's ready to take on.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I'm not moving Valley City very far down my Class A list for making it to state. They will have a tough road, as Region 1 in Class A will have some of the best teams in the state. Then if you have to cross brackets into Region 2, it's stacked with some of the best players! </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The lineup may look different. The expectations shouldn't. I'm keeping the Hi-Liners right in the Class A conversation, and you should be too!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->