Jimmy Lafakis/MDN The Our Redeemer's volleyball team celebrates after winning the Laker Invite in Des Lacs. The Knights defeated the Carrington Cardinals 25-19, 25-17 in the championship.

When the Our Redeemer’s Christian School volleyball team took the court at the Laker Invite, head coach Kara Nunziato understood the forthcoming competition level.

The Knights took the tournament championship, capturing a 25-19, 25-17 victory over Carrington in the final game. ORCS earned six victories and one tie over the course of the two-day tournament, which was split between Burlington and Des Lacs.

“Everyone who plays in this tournament is incredibly competitive,” Nunziato said. “It’s a great tournament to have at this point in the season, to really fine-tune all the things that we’ve been working on all season.”

After Friday’s four games of pool play, ORCS swept the field in Saturday’s tournament play. The Knights defeated Rugby (25-19, 25-22), Thompson (25-13, 25-16) and Carrington in Des Lacs.

In the championship, senior middle hitter Annie Folden led the Knights with 10 kills and three blocks. Folden also led the Knights in total tournament kills (49) and blocks (11).

“A lot of the teams who were in state last year were here,” Folden said. “It felt really good to come out on top. Whenever we made a mistake, we made sure we encouraged that person and the whole team.”

Another ORCS standout was sophomore setter Eden Olson, who posted 22 assists and 10 digs in the championship. Olson finished tournament play with a team-high 112 assists.

“We’ve played together a lot so far this season,” Olson said. “We’re definitely learning how to work out some errors and get better every day.”

After the Cardinals and Knights worked out some early kinks, ORCS dictated the engagement’s terms. Five Knights posted at least six digs in the championship.

Sophomore outside hitter Cheyenne Lang was a key contributor during the tournament. Lang tallied nine kills and eight digs in the championship, while her 47 total kills clinched the team’s second-highest total.

“When stuff got hard, we just communicated with each other,” Lang said. “We didn’t let each other look down, and we picked everyone up. Communication really helps us be who we really need to be for each other on the court.”

The Knights’ endurance was tested, but they outlasted Carrington with a mix of timely assists, solid kills and stalwart defense.

“It’s definitely conditioning for the girls,” Nunziato said. “It’s something that we really enjoy, those long rallies and seeing the girls push through to the end.”

ORCS will not get much of a break, as a date with District 12 foe Glenburn awaits on Tuesday, Oct. 8. The contest will begin at 7 p.m.

Jimmy Lafakis covers Minot High School sports and Class B high school sports. Follow him on Twitter @JJLII30.