Volleyball state tournaments: Brackets and Strib Varsity predictions

Volleyball state tournaments: Brackets and Strib Varsity predictions Reporter Marcus Fuller forecasts every round of the competition from Class 4A through Class 1A. Comment Gift Share By Marcus Fuller The Minnesota Star Tribune November 11, 2026 at 5:15 AM Strib Varsity writer Marcus Fuller offers his predictions on which girls volleyball teams will advance to the semifinals and championship games and which will become champions in Class 4A through Class 1A this week at Grand Casino Arena in St. Paul. Here are the tournament brackets : You can find scores and more coverage from the state tournament on Strib Varsity’s Girls Volleyball Hub . Class 4A Marcus says … In the quarterfinals: Two of the state’s best outside hitters — Chanhassen junior Ella Zieske and Champlin Park senior Rylee Inman — will go head-to-head in what should be the most intriguing matchup of the quarterfinals. Zieske is the most electric offensive player in Minnesota and leads the state with 538 kills. Inman reached double digits in kills in her last five matches, including 18 kills in an upset over top-seeded Maple Grove in the section finals. Zieske had 28 kills Oct. 1 when Chanhassen played Champlin Park, but the Storm lost in four sets to the Rebels. Top seed and defending champion Lakeville South should be heavily favored to beat No. 8 seed Alexandria, but the Cardinals won the Class 3A title the last time they reached state in 2024. Two of Eagan’s three losses this season came in five sets. One of those was to Lakeville South at the Eagle Invitational on Sept. 26. The Wildcats survived a five-setter vs. East Ridge in the section finals to reach state for the first time since 2023. Apple Valley and Roseville, in the No. 4 vs. No. 5 match, meet in a rematch of last year’s third-place match that went in favor of the Eagles. All-state outside hitter Sophia Cowan likely has a big match, but that won’t be enough to get past the Raiders this time. In the semifinals: Lakeville South will beat Roseville, as they did in the state semifinals in 2024 and 2025, but it won’t be in a sweep. The Raiders had an impressive season going undefeated in the Suburban East, but their senior class will have to settle for third. Eagan beat Champlin Park in straight sets during the regular season in the Eagle Invite on Sept. 25. The Wildcats had a scare in the section championship when star junior Mesa Jameson limped off the floor, but it was just a leg cramp. Jameson will dominate on the big stage to send Eagan to its first state title match since 2019. Eagan last won state titles in 2015 and 2016. The champion: Lakeville South defeats Eagan in the second five-setter in three meetings this year to win its third straight Class 4A title. The Cougars suffered their first home loss since 2024 when falling to the Wildcats behind Jameson’s 39 kills on Sept. 29. But Lakeville South was playing without leading hitter Elleora Utecht , who is back healthy. Utecht and senior setter and Miss Volleyball finalist Kaelyn Bjorklund were key pieces to the previous titles. Championship experience will be the difference for Lakeville South, the first program to win three consecutive big-class titles since Wayzata won four straight state tournaments from 2019 through 2023. ADVERTISEMENT advertisement Class 3A Marcus says … In the quarterfinals: Marshall has been the gold standard in Class 3A for as long as Dan Westby has been coaching the team — and that’s a long time. The Tigers’ quest for their fifth title in six years and 11th overall under Westby won’t be deterred in the opening round vs. Totino Grace, which is making its first state appearance since 2002. No. 3 seed Princeton is making its first state appearance, but a lack of experience won’t hold it back. The Tigers defeated quarterfinal opponent Sauk Rapids-Rice once this season. But that’s as far as their first state run goes. Top-seeded Benilde-St. Margaret’s has arguably the most talented trio, regardless of class, with junior right side and Michigan commit Avery Minor and senior twins Sydney and Sailor Friedly. Sydney, an all-state setter, is headed to Creighton. They’ll be too much for Hill-Murray, which hasn’t been to state since 2015. Cretin-Derham Hall and Stewartville, the No. 4-No. 5 seed matchup, is a rematch of last year’s third-place match, which the Tigers won. Not this time. Recent Coverage Strib Varsity Athletes of the Week: Meet seven high achievers Football Meet Kaelyn Bjorklund, the 2026 Strib Varsity All-Minnesota Girls Volleyball Player of the Year Girls Volleyball Meet the 2026 Strib Varsity All-Minnesota girls volleyball team Girls Volleyball Watch: Meet 15 Minnesotans set to make their Division I commitments official Strib Varsity In the semifinals: CDH beat Benilde-St. Margaret’s in five sets at the end of the regular season. The Red Knights will get revenge in the 3A semifinals. Marshall has lost only one set since back-to-back losses to Eagan and East Ridge in the Milan Mader Invitational on Oct. 10. The Tigers shouldn’t have any problems with newcomer Princeton and will advance to Saturday’s final. The champion: Benilde-St. Margaret’s lost in four sets to Marshall in last year’s 3A final. The Red Knights will return the favor this season. The Friedly sisters were part of a four-peat for the BSM girls basketball team last year. They will carry that championship pedigree over to the volleyball court. Minor will be unstoppable with her big swings from the right side. BSM coach Michael Becker’s group will bring the program its first state title after two runner-up finishes. Class 2A Marcus says … In the quarterfinals: New Life Academy, the No. 1 team in the final 2A coaches poll, rolls into its fifth straight state tournament with only one loss and marquee wins vs. BSM and Southwest Christian. The Eagles won’t slip against East Grand Forks, which is making its first trip to state. Southwest Christian won the consolation 2A title last season, but it has bigger plans in its fourth straight state appearance. The second-seeded Stars won’t have any issues with their opener vs. Watertown Mayer. No. 3 seed Minnewaska Area, though, is new to Grand Casino Arena. The Lakers, who got 23 kills and 43 digs from Berlynn Green in a five-set win in the section final, will need another huge performance from Green to survive No. 6 Rush City, which is led by all-state senior Abigail Telander. The only opening-round upset is No. 5 Dover-Eyota surprising No. 4 with New London-Spicer, which is making its first trip to state. advertisement In the semifinals: Southwest Christian had signature wins this year against 4A schools like Maple Grove, Wayzata and Chanhassen, so its players know how to raise the level of play when needed. Another program familiar with winning at a high level is Minnewaska, which has a record of 57-2 over the last two seasons, but the Lakers’ lack of postseason experience shows up in the semifinals. New Life Academy’s third-place finish last season motivates it to take care of Dover-Eyota and advance to the program’s first state championship match. The champion: Southwest Christian over New Life Academy 3-2 to avenge the loss from earlier this season. Southwest Christian’s Avery Beckering outduels New Life Academy’s Ryleigh Schelhaas in the battle of hard-hitting attackers. There will be a new state champion after two-time defending champion Hawley failed to reach the state tournament. The Stars, who were runners-up in 2024, win their second state title to add to their 2013 Class 1A title. Class 1A Marcus says … In the quarterfinals: The best storyline in the smallest class bracket might be two-time defending champion Mayer Lutheran. The Crusaders, the No. 3 seed, were able to overcome a poor 2-5 start this season to make their sixth straight state appearance. No. 6 Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa finished third last year, but it will fall for the second straight year to Mayer Lutheran.