FORT PIERRE - The Stanley County Lady Buffs brushed past two higher seeded teams to win the District 12A volleyball tournament Thursday at Parkview Gym.

The Lady Buffs entered the tournament as the No. 3 seed with a modest record of 11-12. But they crushed second-seeded Cheyenne-Eagle Butte in three games and then took down top-seeded Mobridge in four for the third district title in school history, second in the past three seasons.

Stanley County advances to the Region 6A title game Tuesday in Gettysburg.

"We've had our ups and downs this season," said Bobbi Jo Parker, who is in her first year as Stanley County head coach. "We just told the girls to go out there and show your stuff. And they did."

Stanley County had beaten Mobridge (14-12) in the Big Dakota tournament in September.

"They're a scrappy team but we knew we could beat them," Parker said.

The biggest factor for the champions was Sam Ostarello, a 6-foot-2 junior middle hitter. Ostarello had a combined 40 kills, 20 in each game, and 12 ace blocks.

"She is definetley a momentum changer," Parker said. "Nobody can stop her. She's our secret weapon."

Ostarello, the defending state Class A high jump champion and a Division I basketball recruit for Purdue, has never played volleyball before this season. Opponents wished she had never took up the sport.

"It's been a trip," she said. "I never thought I'd get this far. The team has been wonderful."

The Lady Buffs swept Cheyenne-Eagle Butte in the first round, 25-17, 25-12 and 25-9.

Ostarello had nine kills in the first game and eight in the second. Senior Whitney Stoeser had the game-winning kills in two of the three wins and 14 overall. Tiara Maxon led the Braves with five kills.

Mobridge also had an easy time in their first round match with McLaughlin, winning 25-10, 25-13 and 25-17. Ashley Imberi had 10 kills and Kacey Utter nine for the winners.

McLaughlin had only nine total kills in the three games.

In the championship opening game, Stanley County led virutally the entire way. Ostarello got the game winner with an ace block. She had four kills, two blocks and a serving ace. The second game was also all Stanley County as they led at one point 19-9. Ostarello had five kills, including the game-winner to go with two ace blocks.

The Tigers recovered to come from behind and win Game 3 and avoid the sweep. Trailing 14-10, They would score nine of the next 10 points to take the lead. The Lady Buffs would get as close as 22-21, but Mobridge would score the final three points to cut the margin to two games to one.

The Lady Buffs would regain the momentum in Game 4, scoring the first five points and were never headed. Ostarello scored four of the final five points, including the game winner. Stoeser had 10 kills in the win. Kristen Wilcos had seven serving aces. Emily Bauer led the Tigers with 10 kills. Imberi had eight kills and two ace blocks.

Miller, who entered postseason at 24-4 is the expected winner out of District 11A. If that holds true, this will be the fourth meeting between the two teams. The Lady Rustlers have won all three, but Stanley County took them to five games in the last meeting on Oct. 4.

"We've played with them and we can beat them," Parker said. "We just have to get over that hump."