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SIOUX FALLS — After the Dakota Valley High School volleyball team defeated Sioux Falls Christian in the Class A state tournament semifinals, Claire Munch’s voice was so horse it was barely audible. Her game speaks volumes by itself, but the junior outside hitter’s voice was a casualty of spending the match trying to pick her teammates up. Time and time again this season, it seemed as if the bigger the hole DV found itself in, the more the team was capable of overcoming. The Class A championship match, however, presented No. 4 Dakota Valley a bit of a different challenge. While the Panthers spent the quarterfinals and semifinals overcoming double-digit deficits and lopsided set losses to reach the title match, No. 3 Dell Rapids gave DV a series of speed bumps that, in the end, proved too much for the Panthers to overcome as Dell Rapids seemingly held a one-point lead all match to capture the Class A state championship in four sets ( at the Denny Premier Center in Sioux Falls on Saturday. “These girls have given it their all since the beginning of the season,” said DV head coach Erik Krenz. “They’ve gone all a coach could ever ask for. That’s what meant the most to me. They were willing to do whatever it took on the court, and they did that tonight.” Claire Munch finished the match with 24 kills, tied with Dell Rapids’ Madelynn Henry for the match high. The DV junior was a star all season for the Panthers and shined even brighter on the state’s biggest stage as she and younger sister Madelyn, a sophomore setter for Dakota Valley, were named to the Class A all-tournament team. During DV’s stay at the tournament, Claire had 79 kills and Madelyn had 110 assists in 13 sets played in Sioux Falls. Claire ended the season with well over 500 kills for the campaign, and Madelyn went over 1,000 assists for the Panthers in her first season as the team’s primary distributor. The runner-up finish was DV’s best since winning its last second-place finish in 2020, and the Panthers end the season with a record of 31-6. Dell Rapids (32-3) opened Set 1 of the championship with a 5-1 lead but that was quickly closed to one as Claire Munch’s first kill made it 5-4 Dell Rapids, and the set was played with a four-point margin until the Quarriers scored five of the last six points. That would provide Dell Rapids a template to win the second set, too. True to form, DV bounced back and took the third frame as Claire, junior Samantha Kimbell and senior Cameryn Sommervold registered kills to put away the set win. DV got the set rolling with a block by senior Emersen Mead and an ace by senior Reagan Granstrom. Sommervold, Mead (the team’s two starting middle blockers) and Granstrom (the starting libero) represent the biggest holes that DV will suffer to graduation. All three were multi-year starters. The DV senior class also includes setter Jacee Squier and hitter Hailey Severson. Set 4 was tight early, but Dell Rapids put too many hurdles in front of the Panthers after Henry and the Quarriers’ other hitters became more and more effective. Dell Rapids setter Sophi Randall finished with 40 assists. The Quarriers were also successful at the net as they went for nine total blocks to DV’s three — an area that largely went in favor for much of the season behind the play of Mead and Sommervold. For the season DV’s pair of senior middles each finished with over 100 kills for the campaign and Granstrom notched over 350 digs. “Losing our two middles and our libero is going to be really, really big and difficult to replace,” Krenz said. “The senior class on this team has not only shined in their individual roles as well as their ability to embrace the team game.” As the season’s accomplishments for the Panthers include winning the Dak XII conference tournament and spending a few weeks of the season ranked No. 1 in Class A, ending with a state title game appearance provided an inspiration for the next generation of Panther volleyball stars. And the future is certainly bright as the Munch sisters stand to head into the 2025 as two of the state’s top at their positions. DV’s other set of siblings, junior Samantha Kimbell and sophomore defensive specialist Coryn, also emerged this season as major contributors. Samantha finished with the second-most total kills on the squad this season with over 300 while Coryn registered nearly 200 digs. Mead’s serving was also a huge asset for the Panthers. The four Munch and Kimbell sisters, Mead and Granstrom combined for over 250 aces this season, and the club also has an asset in freshman hitter Aubree Worden, who had over 150 kills this season. “We have a lot of young players,” Krenz said. “Throughout the year, we had matches where some players were on or off, but during (the state tournament) everyone was in the zone and really played their best. “It’s all about inspiration. There’s a trickle-down effect. The younger kids were here and saw these girls rocking the house, and now they’ll want to be just like them and hopefully that inspires them to stay in the sport, stay with the program and get here too, someday.”Romanian voters have delivered a split decision in the country's presidential race, with Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu and centre-right challenger Elena Lasconi emerging as the top contenders. Exit polls indicated Ciolacu, representing the social democrats, secured around 25% of the votes, establishing a slight lead. Elena Lasconi, from the centre-right, captured approximately 18% of the vote, positioning both candidates for a competitive run-off. The second round of voting is set for December 8, promising a fiercely contested race between the two political factions. Experts suggest the outcome could significantly impact Romania's political landscape, as the nation prepares for a decisive electoral face-off between these leading figures. (With inputs from agencies.)
A pair of new celebrities are in the Jungle Junkyard on I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here - but it won't be as grim as first feared. The ITV show is in full swing with ten famous faces taking on the gruelling Australian jungle, including WAG Coleen Rooney, N-Dubz singer Tulisa and TikTok sensation GK Barry on its lineup. However, two new campers entered the jungle and didn't get the welcome they expected. Tonight’s episode saw Love Island star Maura Higgins and Reverend Richard Coles dumped into the rundown Jungle Junkyard but an unexpected twist revealed that it was kitted with hidden luxuries. As the stars entered the jungle, they complained about their rough living situation. But Ant and Dec beamed in on the intercom and told them "All is not what it seems." Maura Higgins and Reverend Richard Coles looked closer at their surroundings and realised that the junkyard had a luxurious double bed, a hidden large sofa, a large bathtub with bubbles, bath salts and hot water, a gas cooker and a hidden fridge door stocked with fruit smoothies and a fruit platter. The hosts finally laid the law for the junkyard. Over the next few days, Maura and Richard must keep their living situation a secret and successfully convince their fellow campmates that they are slumming it. If they are successful, they will win food at the Jungle Junkyard buffet. Maura said: "I’m a great liar" while Richard quipped: "I’m gonna learn fast." In true I’m A Celeb fashion, the first challenge came straight away. The new campers had to swindle the main camp into sacrificing one of their beds, in order to win three portions of food. GK and Coleen were the first victims as they were tasked with bringing dirty dishes to the junkyard for Maura and Richard to clean up. The late arrivals committed to their roles and showed GK and Coleen around the junkyard, pretending that they were having a terrible time. Their crocodile tears paid off as the main campers reported back to the other celebrities that the junkyard is "like a jail" and Dean later agreed to sacrifice his bed for the newcomers. The duo have kicked off to a victorious start, but will they claim the ultimate crown? Despite entering as a late arrival, Maura is already one of the favourites to win, with Grosvenor Sport putting her odds at 7/4. Simon Kew, spokesperson for Grosvenor Sport said: "In 2019, Higgins made a splashy late entry on Love Island and looks to shake things up again as a last-minute bombshell addition to the jungle!" I’m A Celebrity...Get Me Out Of Here! returns tomorrow at 9pm on ITV1 and ITVX.Asia-Pacific markets are set to open lower on the penultimate trading day of 2024
