Top-seeded ORCS (32-7) got the best of No. 2-seeded Des Lacs-Burlington (28-9) by set scores of 25-12, 25-22, 25-18.

“I’m proud of the girls,” ORCS and District 12 co-coach of the year Kara Nunziato said. “It’s not so much pride in winning in three sets, I’m just proud of this team, the character and people that they are. They made a decision at the beginning of the summer that they wanted to be the best team that they could be by districts, and I think they proved that tonight.”

The opening set quickly got out of hand. A DLB timeout just 23 points into the match had the Lakers trailing 17-6. DLB did manage to double its score before Knights senior Karolynn Winger capped the set with a kill, 25-12.

Winger finished with a match-high 16 kills.

Alex Eisen/MDN DLB's Alyea Casavant (4) dives, but is unable to get the ball while senior teammate Caitlyn Vogel (10) watches on Monday in the District 12 championship game.

“With Our Redeemer’s, they’re kind of in our head before the game even starts,” DLB coach Tarra Hysjulien said. “District and regional defending champions, so it’s just one of those teams that we need to find a way to overcome what they have built.”

A scrappier DLB team held with ORCS in the second set. Tied at 21-21, ORCS senior Ryleigh Popinga went off for two kills, followed by one from senior Karlee Zablotney and sophomore Annie Folden.

Popinga, who finished with nine kills and 18 digs, was named the District 12 tournament Senior Athlete of the Year.

DLB junior Kyley Lauf also had a kill in that sequence to make the final second set score 25-22. Lakers’ Caitlyn Vogel finished with a team-high nine kills followed by Lauf with five. Libero Kali Lucier had 15 digs.

“We stay composed quite a bit,” Hysjulien said. “After the first (set), it would have been easy for us to roll over and give up. But, we fought back in the next couple of sets. There were a couple times we thought we had them thinking a little bit and on their heels, but we just didn’t capitalize.”

A 3-0 Lakers lead to start the third set was quickly washed away by a kill from Winger to even the score at 4-4. The Knights maintained roughly a five-point cushion throughout the rest of the set and went on to take it 25-18.

Setter Zablotney had a double-double with 21 assists and 10 kills. Libero Tessa Olson collected 18 digs.

“We are well balanced,” Nunziato said. “We have such a strong defense that allows us to run a consistent offense. We are very team orientated. This is a very unified group and because of their ability to play well together, that is what has made them consistently good.”

The Region 6 Tournament at the Minot Auditorium begins next Monday. Both ORCS and DLB qualified by reaching the district championship.

In the regional qualifiers before the title match, District 12 tourney hosts Lewis & Clark beat Glenburn 3-1 and Bishop Ryan went the distance in an instant classic 3-2 marathon victory over Surrey (17-25, 25-20, 26-24, 22-25, 20-18).

Alex Eisen covers Minot High School, Minot State athletics and high school sports. Follow him on Twitter @AEisen13.