MILLER — Behind 6-foot-1 junior middle hitter Kadye Fernholz and a strong supporting cast, the Miller volleyball team has qualified for the Class A State Tournament for a second straight season.
In fact, the Rustlers are the No. 1 seed for this year’s event, which begins Thursday at the Denny Sanford Premiere Center in Sioux Falls. It is their 10th overall appearance in the state tourney.
“Going in as No. 1 puts a huge target on our backs,” said coach Linda DeBoer, who guided Miller to a seventh-place finish a year ago. “Being No. 1 challenges us to play our best and prove that we earned and deserved that ranking based on our competitive schedule and opponent strength throughout the season.”
The Rustlers carry a 28-2 record into the state tournament and will face No. 8-seeded Rapid City Christian, which is 25-12, in the opening match of the tournament at noon on Thursday.
“We played Rapid City Christian last year in the “Round of 16” so we had an opportunity to see them last year,” DeBoer said. “It appears they have many of the key contributors returning from last year’s team. They are a very consistent team, and they serve very aggressively.”
The Lady Comets, who are making their third state tournament appearance, will need to find a way to accomplish something not many teams have been able to do this season — slow Fernholz, who is a returning Class A first-team all-stater and two-time award winner.
Fernholz has a team-high 471 kills this season and reached the 1,000-kill milestone early this season.
“Kadye is an all-star caliber athlete and volleyball player,” DeBoer said. “She is a consistent, dominant player both offensively and defensively.
“She is a leader on and off the court,” she said. “On the court, she leads in kills, blocks and digs. Off the court and in practices she leads the team in performance. She elevates not only her own game, but the game of all her teammates with her encouragement, fun and attitude.”
Comprising the supporting cast for Fernholz is junior Rachel Oligmueller, junior VonnaGail Schlechter, senior Elise Brooks, junior Madison Wetz, junior Josi Stevens, senior Emma Breland, senior Erin Moncur, senior Kailen Krause and junior Tori Van Zee.

Oligmueller serves as the setter for the Rustlers and has recorded 1,009 of the team’s 1,101 assists this season.
“She has grown in her decision making and leadership,” DeBoer said. “Rachel is closing in on her 2,000th assist.”
Schlechter is second on the team with 251 kills and has 287 digs, which is second only to Fernholz’s 322 digs.
“She plays so much bigger than her 5-7 stature,” DeBoer said. “She plays with fire and determination and  is very competitive.”
Brooks has been the top server this season for the Rustlers. She has converted on 318 of 341 serves with a team-high 52 aces.
“Elise has recently been chosen as a North All-Star player,” DeBoer said. “She has really come on as a hitter, blocker and a great server, being able to place the ball.”
Wetz is a newcomer this season for Miller and has been a welcome addition, according to DeBoer.
“She is a six-rotation player and being new to Miller has really helped our team this season with her talents,” she said.
Stevens has developed into one of the team’s stronger hitters when the ball doesn’t go to Fernholz. She, along with Brooks, each had 122 kills this season.
“Josi Stevens, who is an opposite-side hitter, has worked extremely hard to earn that position,” DeBoer said. “She continues to contribute to our team with her hitting and blocking.”
Breland, Moncur, Krause and Van Zee serve as the defensive specialists for the Rustlers.
“They are responsible for the tempo and consistency of our offense with their control of the serve receive and digs,” DeBoer said.
In the other half of Miller’s bracket at this year’s tournament, fourth-seeded Winner will face No. 5 Elk Point-Jefferson at 1:45 p.m. Thursday.
Winner is one of the two teams to earn a win this season against the Rustlers; the other was Warner from the Class B ranks.
In the other bracket, third-seeded Sioux Falls Christian, which is the defending Class A champion, will face No. 6 Parker at 6 p.m. Thursday; second-seeded McCook Central/Montrose plays No. 7 Aberdeen Roncalli at 7:45 p.m.
“Sioux Falls Christian is probably a favorite to win based on their team personnel and strength of schedule and experience,” DeBoer said. “McCook Central/Montrose returns almost everyone and has had a very successful season. These two teams have state tournament experience also, which may propel them to a championship.”
The losers of Thursday’s first two matches will meet in the consolation semifinals at noon on Friday, with the losers of the final two matches of the opening round meeting in a consolation semi-final match at 1:45 p.m. Friday.
The semifinals are scheduled for 6 and 7:45 p.m. Friday.
The tournament will conclude on Saturday with the seventh-place match beginning at 9 a.m. The consolation championship match is at 10:45 a.m., followed by the third-place match at 12:30 p.m.
The Class A championship match is slated for 6 p.m.