Northern Minnesotans should be ready to root for the underdog, with five Northland teams set to compete in the state volleyball tournament.
The tourney is Wednesday through Saturday, Nov. 5-8, at Grand Casino Arena (formerly Xcel Energy Center) in St. Paul.
Esko and Ada-Borup-West are the highest-seeded at No. 6 in Class 2A and 1A, respectively.
No. 7 Grand Rapids in 3A and No. 7 Nevis and No. 8 North Woods in 1A round out the Northern qualifiers.
All five teams will have a challenge advancing past the quarterfinals, as all play one of the top four teams in their class, per the Minnesota Volleyball Coaches Association.
It’s been over a decade since three of the teams last qualified for state.
Esko last made an appearance in 2012, and this will be the fourth in school history. North Woods last competed in 2012, the first year the school was open. And Nevis last qualified in 2013, this being its fifth qualification in school history.
Ada-Borup-West is technically making its first appearance in district history, as Ada-Borup and Norman County West consolidated in 2021. The co-op of the two districts last advanced in 2018.
Grand Rapids last qualified in 2023.
Quarterfinals for classes 1A through 3A will be Wednesday and Thursday. The 2A and 3A semifinals and 1A consolation are Friday, with the rest of the tournament to follow Saturday.
All matches will be streamed by NSPN. A subscription is required to watch.
Quarterfinals schedule
No. 7 Grand Rapids v. No. 2 Benilde-St. Margaret’s, 7 p.m. Wednesday
No. 6 Esko v. No. 3 Chatfield, 3 p.m. Thursday
No. 8 North Woods v. No. 1 Mayer Lutheran, 5 p.m. Thursday
No. 6 Ada-Borup-West v. No. 3 Fillmore Central, 7 p.m. Thursday
No. 7 Nevis v. No. 2 Russell-Tyler-Ruthton, 7 p.m. Thursday
