The Bismarck Century High School volleyball team will get its title rematch with Grand Forks Red River.
The Patriots used a first-set rally and two dominant frames after it to sweep Dickinson (25-23, 25-15, 25-18) at the Minot State University Dome on Friday and advance to the Class A state championship.
Century rallied from down 17-11 in game one. From there, the Patriots dominated the Midgets, attacking relentlessly on offense and committing few errors defensively.
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Daniel Allar/MDN
Bismarck Century junior setter Shay Bense bumps the ball during a match against Dickinson in the semifinals of the Class A state tournament Friday at the Minot State University Dome.
"Winning that first set after being down, our girls had that killer instinct in them after that," Century co-coach Sara Bohrer said. "They took that momentum into the next two sets. They knew what they needed to do. They became scrappy, they started blocking the ball really well and we just kept playing to win."
Entering the match, West No. 3 Dickinson was the region team that gave the Patriots the most trouble. The Midgets are the only West team to beat Century this season and lost another match in five sets.
But after the first-set comeback, the Patriots' familiarity with their opponent was apparent, and there was little Dickinson could do about it.
"We knew that they were going to come out really strong," senior outside hitter Hannah Larson said. "We played each other enough times that we both know each other as teams."
The Patriots' last test is the defending champs and the team that has knocked them out in two of the last three title games. Century beat Red River 2-1 in a tournament early this season.
"We know we have to come back and we know what we're going to expect," senior outside hitter Tyler Bulawa said. "They know what to expect, too, but we want this as much as anything."
Ali Hasche had 14 kills to pace the Patriots, while Larson chipped in 11. Junior setter Shay Bense had 35 assists. Dickinson's Abby Grove had a match-high 15 kills.
The title game is set for 6 p.m. today. Dickinson will play West Fargo for third place at 2 p.m.