Gayville-Volin Entered State Volleyball Top Five

The South Dakota Prep Media poll shifted this week as Gayville-Volin secured the fifth spot in Class B.

Updated on Sept. 21, 2026 in Volleyball

Expressive sports illustration of a volleyball player mid-air hitting a ball over a net in navy and gold colors. — Gayville-Volin surged into the top five of the South Dakota Class B volleyball rankings following the latest state media poll. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Gayville-Volin surged into the top five of the Class B volleyball rankings following the latest South Dakota Prep Media poll. They narrowly edged out Northwestern to claim the fifth position.

Why it matters

Regular media rankings offer a snapshot of team performance throughout the season, helping define the competitive landscape for state tournament qualification. These polls reflect the consensus among statewide observers regarding which programs are currently playing at a high level.

Gayville-Volin secured the No. 5 spot in Class B with 17 total votes, while Northwestern fell out of the rankings after receiving 16 votes. In Class AA, Harrisburg holds the top ranking with 75 points and 15 first-place votes.

The players

Gayville-Volin

This is a South Dakota high school volleyball program that is based in Gayville.

Northwestern

This is a competing South Dakota high school volleyball program that dropped out of the Class B rankings.

Harrisburg

This is a South Dakota high school volleyball program currently ranked first in Class AA.

The details

The rankings are determined by media members who cast votes based on total points and first-place tallies. Chester currently holds the No. 1 ranking in Class B, followed by Warner at No. 2, Colman-Egan at No. 3, and Bennett County at No. 4.

September 21, 2026: The current South Dakota Prep Media poll was released.
September 22, 2025: Gayville-Volin last appeared in the top five rankings.
September 16, 2024: Gayville-Volin previously replaced Northwestern in the top five.

Season Trajectory

The shifting rankings reflect the ongoing competitive volatility as teams fight for favorable positioning before the postseason bracket is finalized. Similar to the 2024 South Dakota Prep Media poll cycle, these media-driven adjustments provide a historical benchmark for tracking top-five status.

The jump into the top five signals that Gayville-Volin is gaining momentum toward a higher seed in the upcoming state tournament. Northwestern now faces a harder path to reclaim its position as the season enters its final stretch.

The takeaway

Media rankings provide a valuable look at which teams are considered favorites as the season progresses. Coaches and players often use these polls as extra motivation to maintain consistency during tough conference stretches.