Top-ranked Harrisburg Tigers volleyball will put its 81-match win streak on the line Tuesday, Sept. 9, when it hosts the Mitchell Kernels at 6:30 pm.
The Tigers (3-0) enter the match as the three-time defending state champions and the clear frontrunner for a fourth straight title. Led by senior outside hitter and two-time Gatorade South Dakota Volleyball Player of the Year Gabi Zachariasen, Harrisburg has opened the 2025 season with dominant performances in wins at Brandon Valley, at Yankton and at Tea Area. Tuesday match will be the home opener for the Tigers.
Through 10 sets this season, the Tigers are hitting .426 as a team and averaging 13.3 kills per set. Zachariasen leads the attack with 43 kills and a .529 hitting percentage, while sophomore setter Josalyn Samuels has posted 99 assists and 5 aces.
Harrisburg hasn’t lost a match since the 2022 state tournament and completed an undefeated 31-0 season last fall. The Tigers defeated Sioux Falls Washington 3-1 in the 2024 state championship, with Zachariasen recording 28 kills and Samuels adding 51 assists.
Mitchell Looks for Breakthrough
Mitchell (4-2 on the season) comes into the matchup looking for its first signature win of the season. Senior outside hitter Audrey Miller leads the team with 47 kills and a .259 hitting percentage, while senior setter Addy Siemsen has 95 assists and 16 service aces through 15 sets played. The Kernels are hitting .202 as a team and average 9.7 kills per set.
Defensively, senior libero Kenna Soulek has been a steady presence in the back row with 55 digs, while junior Kenzie Hetland leads the team with 10 total blocks.
The Kernels have already surpassed last season’s win total of three with a pair of victories vs. Sturgis and wins vs. Brookings and Pierre.
Mitchell will need a near-flawless performance to challenge a Harrisburg team that has not dropped a set since the opening weekend of the season.
Key Matchups to Watch
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Zachariasen vs. Mitchell’s Blockers
Can Hetland and Kambyl Wede slow down the best outside hitter in the state? -
Samuels vs. Siemsen (Setter Battle)
Samuels’ efficiency versus Siemsen’s versatility will dictate the tempo. -
Back Row Defense
Langner and Kokenge for Harrisburg have been stellar in serve receive. Mitchell’s Korzan and Soulek must match that consistency.