Langdon Area-Munich wins 3-1 over South Prairie-Max to claim the ND Class B volleyball state championship

FARGO (KVRR) – A special moment for a special team. The Langdon Area-Munich Cardinals are the 2024 North Dakota Class B volleyball state champions after taking down South Prairie-Max 3-1 in the final.

The emotions spilling out for this young squad that beat the odds coming into the season to claim the school’s first title since 2019.

“There’s no better feeling. I’m going to hold onto this for the rest of my life.” said Hilary Haaven, an eighth grader on the roster.

This team has only two seniors on the roster and relied on young stars to win it all. Eighth grader Hilary Haaven led the team with 20 kills, senior Payton Hall had 31 assists and senior Meredith Romfo had a double-double of 15 kills and 14 digs.

“I think today is the day we became a team,” said senior Meredith Romfo. “I mean, we have seventh grade through seniors on our roster but it doesn’t feel like that age gap. We’re so close together. I love them like sisters.” 

The Cardinals had to weather a tough first set that saw the Royals come out on fire and win the frame in dominant fashion. Langdon Area-Munich rebounded pretty well, winning the next three sets to claim championship glory.

Rich Olson had one message for his team after losing the first set. To flush it away and get back to their game.

“We can’t do anything about it. We just had a bad set,” said Coach Olson. “They came out on fire. We just needed to move on. Go out and make the next play and get the next set.”

The Cardinals faced challenges all tournament long. They were taken to five sets against the Dickinson Trinity Titans in the quarterfinals. They went to five sets against the Thompson Tommies in the semifinals. And they took South Prairie-Max’s best shot early on in the title game, but in the end these Cardinals can call themselves champions.

“No better feeling. I’m emotional about it. I never get to play another game of volleyball again but there’s no other team I want to do this with. No better way to go out.” said Payton Hall, a senior on the roster.

The season is over now. The volleyball courts will be quiet until next year. And even though this Langdon Area-Munich team is young, they will have a target on their back as the defending North Dakota Class B volleyball state champions.

ND CLASS B VOLLEYBALL ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM:

Langdon Area-Munich: Hilary Haaven, Payton Hall and Meredith Romfo

South Prairie-Max: Skotti Beck, Delaney Hankel and Azjiah Trader

Thompson: Kya Hurst and Jordyn Tozer

Medina-Pingree/Buchanan: Violet Bohl and Brynn Sorenson

Central McLean: Reagan Kjelstrup

Dickinson Trinity: Annabel Scheeler

Oak Grove: Alayna Foster-DeVold

Kenmare-Bowbells: Taya Aufforth