RAPID CITY - For local volleyball fans, the South Dakota State Volleyball Championships beginning today offer a rare treat. Not only are the three class championships being contested at the Rushmore Plaza Center Arena for the first time since 2003, but three Rapid City high schools are in the title chase.

In Class AA, Rapid City Stevens (26-6 overall) comes in as the defending state champions having captured the crown last year in Sioux Falls. Stevens head coach Josh Lien likes that role for his third-seeded Raiders.

"We like to hear that we are the defending state champs. That title is important to our continued success. We want to be thought of as a team that is always good and deserving of respect," Lien said. "Last year, we were small, quick and very focused. This year we are a younger, bigger and stronger team that probably doesn't have the same sense of urgency, but really enjoys getting out there and playing the game."

Rapid City Central head coach Shelly Wolfe, who is in her first year at the helm at Central after coming over from St. Thomas More, leads the eighth-seeded team in Class AA, the Cobblers (20-15) will meet top-seeded Aberdeen Central (20-2) in the very first game of the tournament at noon.

"I guess I'm happy to play them right off the bat," Wolfe said. "We need to start our tournament strong and ready to go so I'm looking forward to it."

St. Thomas More (27-7) makes its second straight appearance in the Class A state tournament having finished fourth last year. First-year head coach Brandon Kandolin is excited about his team's chances.

"When I first took the job here, I knew a lot of the girls from my time as the basketball coach, and I knew the athleticism and talent that I had. I also knew that I had a great coaching staff," Kandolin said. "Angela Estes, my assistant, is extremely knowledgeable about volleyball so it has been exciting to watch this team come together as the season progressed. To be successful our four seniors will have to step up, but they have done that all season and deserve everything they have accomplished."

The fifth seeded Cavaliers - Wagner is the No. 1 seed - will play Sioux Falls Christian

(22-8), the No. 4 seed and defending Class A champion at 2 p.m.

The state tournament runs through Saturday with the Class B championship game scheduled to begin at 3 p.m. The Class A title tilt follows at 5 p.m., and the Class AA finale is set for 7 p.m.