The area volleyball season saved its best for last, as the top two teams in the area traded runs in a back-and-forth Region 8 championship game.

But it was District 15 champions Stanley who prevailed over District 16 champions Ray in four games, and the Blue Jays earned another trip to the state tournament.

Stanley won 25-15, 14-25, 25-20, 25-15.

"I think we played well overall," said Stanley coach Jessica Niemitalo. "We had a little down point, but we came back and pushed it at them."

Stanley looked in control when it went up 20-11 in the first match, but Ray came firing back in the second to cruise to an easy win. The two teams were tied midway through the third game, but from there Stanley pulled away.

Stanley's Shaunessy Dauwalder had another big game, leading the Blue Jays with 13 kills. ReeAnn Mehus had 21 assists and 20 digs, and Jasmin Pappa had three aces.

Ray's Samantha Heier stepped up in her team's biggest game of the season. The senior was excellent at the net and led her team with 18 kills, and also had 14 digs and three blocks. Tricia Liesener had 18 digs and 10 assists, and LeAndra Reinholdt had 15 assists. Olivia Corcoran had eight kills and three blocks.

With the victory, Stanley advances to the state tournament beginning Thursday in Minot.

Divide County 3, Burke County 0

Divide County finished their season by earning third place in the region with a 3-0 sweep past border rivals Burke County, winning 25-17, 25-21, 25-19.

The Maroons were in control early, as Burke County played steadily but just couldn't find many long runs of points. Divide County rallied from down 19-16 in the second game to win 25-21, and that was the Titans' best shot to win a game.

"It was good to end on a win," said Divide County coach Kami Wehrman. "The girls were all relaxed and had a good time, and we got everybody in."

Ray’s Heier was selected as the Player of the Year and Stanley's Niemitalo was named coach of the year.

Stanley 3, Ray 1

Ray 15 25 20 15

Stanley 25 14 25 25

Ray stats

Kills - Samantha Heier 18, Olivia Corcoran 8, Kendra Heier 2, LeAndra Reinholdt 1; Assists - Reinholdt 15, Tricia Liesener 10, Samantha Heier 1, Kendra Heier 1, Corcoran 1; Aces - Reinholdt 4, Liesener 4, Kendra Heier 2, Corcoran 2, Reinholdt 1, Chantel Tracey 1; Blocks - Samantha Heier 3, Corcoran 3; Digs - Liesener 18, Samantha Heier 14, Kendra Heier 13, Kayla Thompson 12, Reinholdt 9, Tracey 7, Corcoran 2

Stanley stats

Kills - Shaunessy Dauwalder 13, Rachel Mehus 11, Jasmin Pappa 8, Bailey Hornberger 3, Brooke Meyer 3; Assists - ReeAnn Mehus 21; Aces - Jasmin Pappa 3, Chai Pappa 2, Rachel Mehus 2, Kali Anderson 2; Blocks - Hornberger 1, Dauwalder 1, Meyer 1; Digs - ReeAnn Mehus 20, Rachel Mehus 12, Karlie Hoherz 11, Chai Pappa 10.

Third place

Divide County 3, Burke County 0

BC 17 21 19

DC 25 25 25

Burke County stats

Kills - Brittney Peterson 7, Morgan Pandolfo 4, Kayla Peterson 2, Molly Aufforth 2, Chelsey Johnson 1; Assists - Kalene Jepsen 8, Johnson 6, Aufforth 1; Aces - Johnson 2, Aufforth 1, Kayla Peterson 1; Blocks - Aufforth 1; Digs - Brittney Peterson 18, Pandolfo 16, Jepsen 10, Johnson 7, Jepsen 4, Aufforth 2, Kayla Peterson 1

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Kills - Ellie Gillund 9, Mariah Jacobs 9, Allie Dhuyvetter 4, Trish Sem 4, Morgan Renner 3, Amber Derring 1, Hanna Gillund 1; Assists - Renner 13, Trina Bogrett 2, Hanna Gillund 1; Aces - Derring 4, Kayla Casteel 3, Renner 2, Trina Bogrett 1; Blocks - Gillund 1, Jacobs 1; Digs - Renner 7, Dhuyvetter 5, Casteel 4, Bogrett 4, Andrea Olson 4, Ellie Gillund 1, Sem 1, Derring 1

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