The Northwestern vs. Warner volleyball rivalry has developed into one of the best in high school sports.
That rivalry continues at about 8 tonight in Mellette. Top-rated Warner (5-0) already has one win over Northwestern (7-4), which is unrated but also getting votes in the poll. The Monarchs defeated the Wildcats 25-13, 25-13 in the Sioux Falls Christian tourney on Saturday.
Tonight's match can be seen live online with my teammate Will Elkins providing commentary.
Things to know
- Northwestern leads the all-time series 46-25.
- Since 2005, Warner has won 21 times and Northwestern 15 in the series.
- Northwestern started volleyball in 1985-86 with Kathy Graves as its coach. She coached Northwestern to a 338-134-1 record in 17 seasons.
- Warner started volleyball in 1994-95 with Langford native Paula Stolsmark as coach.
- Warner has five state tournament appearances with three state titles.
- Northwestern has 16 state tournament appearances with eight state titles.
- Northwestern has won 14 Lake Region Conference championships and Warner six. Both shared the title in 2002 with Doland-Conde.
- Northwestern won the first match in the rivalry on Jan. 16, 1995, in Mellette 15-5, 15-2 and 15-2. Tascha Swanhorst had seven aces and Teresa Swanhorst three kills for Northwestern.
- Warner defeated Northwestern for the first time on Feb. 2, 2002, beating the Wildcats 15-10, 15-5 for the championship of the Sully Buttes tourney in Onida. Warner was led by Amanda Nilsson with 26 set assists and Kelsey Reiss and Carrie Simon, who combined for 19 kills. Northwestern had won the first 17 matches in the series.
- Northwestern and Warner have played each other in the district volleyball championship for 16 of the last 18 seasons. The other two times, the teams played each other in the semifinals.
- Either Warner or Northwestern has been to the state tournament 21 of the last 22 years. In 1995, Lake Preston defeated Northwestern for the region title and the right to advance to the State B tournament.
Warner vs. Northwestern
1994-1995: Northwestern wins all three matches.
1995-1996: Northwestern wins all three matches.
1996-1997: Northwestern wins the one match.
1997-1998: Northwestern wins the one match.
1998-1999: Northwestern wins all three matches.
1999-2000: Northwestern wins both matches.
2000-2001: Northwestern wins all three matches.
2001-2002: Northwestern wins the first match, Warner the next three matches.
Fall 2002: Northwestern, Northwestern, Northwestern, Warner, Northwestern.
2003: Northwestern wins all five matches.
2004: Northwestern wins all five matches.
2005: Warner, Northwestern, Northwestern, Northwestern, Warner, Northwestern.
2006: Northwestern wins all four matches.
2007: Warner, Northwestern, Warner, Warner
2008: Northwestern wins all three matches.
2009: Northwestern wins the first match, Warner the next three matches.
2010: Warner wins all four matches.
2011: Northwestern, Warner, Warner, Warner, Northwestern.
2012: Warner wins all five matches.
2013: Warner. Other scheduled meetings: Tonight (Sept. 12) in Mellette; Sept. 26 in Warner.
John Papendick is the managing news-sports editor for the American News: jpapendick@aberdeennews.com.
Twitter: @jpapendick
Northwestern vs. Warner to be live-streamed online
What: Area high schools Warner and Northwestern continue their volleyball rivalry tonight.
Where: At the 650-seat Northwestern High School gymnasium in Mellette.
Varsity: About 8 p.m., 20 minutes after the completion of the Junior Varsity match.
Junior Varsity: 6:30 p.m.
C Match: 5:15 p.m.
Seventh-, eighth-grade match: 4:15 p.m.
Watch it live: The varsity match will be live-streamed at aberdeennews.com/sports with Will Elkins of the American News providing commentary, beginning with a pre-game show 15 minutes prior to the start. Fans can Tweet scores and updates of the games they are watching with the hashtag, #ANscores, so they can be seen on AberdeenNews.com and the American News sports app.