On-the-rise Hawley hits the peak, tops Southwest Christian for the Class 2A volleyball state title

When asked how Hawley would celebrate its first volleyball state title, junior libero Hannah Stotts grinned and answered realistically: “A 3½-hour bus ride.”

The No. 3 Nuggets will get to haul a trophy back on the bus after beating No. 4 Southwest Christian 25-22, 20-25, 26-24, 25-22 in the Class 2A championship at Xcel Energy Center.

Making their second trip to state after finishing third in 2021, the Nuggets (29-5) played scrappy defense to unseat No. 2 Chatfield in the semifinals, then the Stars in the title match.

Stotts led the Nuggets with 25 digs. Sophomore outside hitter Katarina Vetter added another 20, plus a team-high 16 kills. The Nuggets also outblocked Southwest Christian 10-5.

“We were so disciplined,” said Stotts, giving credit to head coach Kathleen Rustad.

“My next career might be a preacher,” Rustad joked. “Man, when people play good defense, [matches] are thrillers. They keep them on the edge of their seats.”

The Nuggets are the first Section 8 team to win a volleyball state tournament since Wadena-Deer Creek in 2010. A sizable supporters section traveled from near Fargo, some clad in gold sequin jackets, others bearing hand-drawn signs. Among them: “If you want soft serve, go to Dairy Queen.”

“They’ve been behind us all season,” said junior middle blocker Annaka Johnson, who had 11 kills. “It feels really good to look up and see that they followed us down here.”

Hawley rallied from down 18-13 in set one and 14-9 in set four to take decisive sets as junior Sella Fleming and senior Ingrid Rustad split setting duties, varying the Nuggets’ attack.

In its sixth state tournament, Southwest Christian (21-13) was vying for its second title, though its first in 2A after winning the 1A championship in 2013.

“[Hawley] was picking up everything that we were putting over on their side, which is something we hadn’t really seen throughout the first couple games,” said Stars senior libero Lauren Paradise. “No matter the outcome, we’re proud of how far we got in the tournament.”