Photo: Patrick Irgens, WDA event photographer 
Photo: Patrick Irgens, WDA event photographer 
Photo: Patrick Irgens, WDA event photographer Mandan defeats Williston, 3-2
November 13, 2026 · Volleyball · WDA Sports
JAMESTOWN - When the season is on the line, teams want their difference makers to rise to the occasion. Mandan's AnnaClaire Bugbee answered the call. The junior played a pivotal role in the fifth-seeded Braves' come-from-behind victory over No. 8 Williston in the West Region loser-out match on Nov. 13 on JHS Jerry Meyer Arena. She was particularly at her best in set four, helping the Braves force a fifth, and decisive set, with strong hitting.
Mandan started the match sharp, going on a 12-4 run to take control of the set, eventually prevailing 25-13. The Coyotes had a response, however. Williston would take the lead at 11-10 in set two and never trail, pulling out a 25-22 win. Set three followed a similar path with teams trading points early until the Coyotes would extend its lead to five points at 19-14. The Coyotes used strong defensive play and good sets to string points together. Mandan made a push and tied the match. However, Williston would pull out a 25-23 win, using good sets and finishes at the net. Mandan came out strong in the fourth set, but Williston would stay within striking distance, eventually tying the match at 20-20 and then again at 23-23. However, the Braves would not be denied a set victory. AnnaClaire Bugbee had a match-best 19 kills. Sierra Gustavsson finished with 51 assists. Hadley Harris had 33 digs.
That momentum would carry over into the final set. Mandan started on a 6-0 run behind strong serving by Hadley Harris. The Coyotes couldn't slow the Braves' momentum, falling 15-5 in the set. Williston had several players with big contributions. Alex Austreim had 14 kills, 26 assists and 15 digs. Averi Austreim had 10 kills and 16 digs. Molly Johnson head 18 assists and 10 digs. Rylee Irgens finished with 30 digs.
With this victory, Mandan evened its overall record to 16-16 and advances to a state qualifier on Nov. 14. Williston ended its season at 8-19.
Box Score
| Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Set 4 | Set 5 | Sets | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Williston | 13 | 25 | 25 | 23 | 5 | 2 |
| Mandan | 25 | 22 | 23 | 25 | 15 | 3 |
Williston
| # | Player | SP | Kills | Assists | Aces | Digs | Blocks (BS-BA) | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cady Cabler | 5 | 10 | 1 | 4 | 4 | ||
| 4 | Molly Johnson | 5 | 18 | 10 | ||||
| 8 | Abigale Ferlan | 5 | 10 | 1 | 9 | 3 | ||
| 10 | Alex Austreim | 5 | 14 | 26 | 1 | 15 | 1 | |
| 12 | Maggie Holter | 5 | 1 | |||||
| 15 | Jovi Zander | 5 | 3 | 6 | 1 | |||
| 20 | Averi Austreim | 5 | 10 | 1 | 16 | 1.5 | ||
| 21 | Rylee Irgens | 5 | 1 | 30 | ||||
| 22 | Harper Stundal | 5 | 4 | 1 | ||||
| 23 | Hayden Krieger | 5 | 3 | 1 | 6 | 1 | ||
| 27 | Kambree McIvor | 5 | 2 | 11 | ||||
| 2 | Frances Huelsman | 5 | 1 |
Mandan
| # | Player | SP | Kills | Assists | Aces | Digs | Blocks (BS-BA) | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hadley Harris | 5 | 3 | 3 | 33 | |||
| 2 | Jersey Hammes | 5 | 16 | 1 | 1 | 9 | ||
| 3 | Sierra Gustavsson | 5 | 2 | 50 | 15 | 0.5 | ||
| 4 | Mya Dannenfelzer | 5 | 1 | 1 | 15 | |||
| 5 | Eden Ellersick | 5 | 7 | |||||
| 6 | Skylar Benzinger | 5 | 2 | 9 | ||||
| 10 | Kennedy Keller | 5 | 10 | 1 | 1 | 13 | ||
| 12 | AnnaClaire Bugbee | 5 | 19 | 1 | 7 | 2.5 | ||
| 15 | Kinsley Ulberg | 5 | 5 | 3 | 0.5 | |||
| 18 | Aubrey Karsky | 5 | 7 | 4 | 0.5 |
Match Notes
This was the second five-set match the teams played this season (Mandan won both)...The match was tied 23-23 in set four before Mandan netted two-straight points to force a fifth set.
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