Hannah Larson demands the attention of opposing defenses.
Unfortunately for Fargo Davies, Bismarck Century's senior outside hitter wasn't the only one producing offensively for the Patriots on Thursday.
Larson and three of her teammates compiled at least six kills each as the Patriots swept the Eagles (25-10, 27-25, 25-18) at the Minot State University Dome and breezed into the Class A state semifinals.
"Our team does a really good job of mixing it up and having really good ball control," Patriots co-coach Sara Bohrer said. "Our setter (junior Shay Bense) and our passers, everybody's confident in anybody to hit the ball."
The confidence was evident from the beginning of the match, when the West Region champions scored 15 of the opening set's first 18 points. The Patriots saw offensive production from every hitter on the floor during the frame. Larson had five of her 12 kills and recorded two blocks. Sophomore outside hitters Jordyn Jossart and Ali Hasche combined to produce eight kills and a blocked shot during the set.
Defensively, Century didn't let up either, digging ball after ball throughout the match.
"Defense is the biggest part of the game," Larson said. "If you can't get a dig up, then you can't get the set and the kill. I think our defense played really well and we pursued every ball."
Davies, the East Region's No. 4 seed, wasn't as easily handled in set two. The Eagles went on a 9-2 run to take a 23-21 lead. Davies eventually had a game point, but couldn't put the Patriots away.
Kills from Hasche and Larson put Century up 25-24. After a Davies point, another Hasche put-away and an Eagles error gave the Patriots the set.
"We were letting a lot of things go," Century co-coach Jamie Zastoupil said. "We weren't being aggressive after the ball. One thing that we talk about all the time is pursuing the ball, pursuing every ball. And the girls did a good job and came back from being down."
The Patriots trailed 16-14 in the third before rattling off 11 of the match's final 13 points.
In addition to her 12 kills, Larson had two aces and a team-high six blocks. Jossart tallied 10 kills, while Hasche tallied eight. Senior Mikaila Wax led Century with 15 digs and Bense had a team-high 30 assists.
Senior outside hitter Kali Erickson had 10 kills to pace the Eagles.
Century plays Dickinson in the semifinals tonight at 8 p.m. Davies plays Fargo Shanley in a 2 p.m. consolation match.