BREAKING: Malayna Syverson’s power play propelled the Ada-Borup-West Cougars to a decisive victory over Red Lake Falls in the Minnesota Section 8A semifinals, held on July 15, 2025. The Cougars swept the match with scores of 25-17, 25-10, 25-12, showcasing their dominance right from the start.
The Cougars relied heavily on Syverson, a 6-foot-4 middle blocker committed to North Dakota State, who delivered an impressive 22 kills during the match. The victory confirms Ada-Borup-West’s place in the section championship this Friday at 7 p.m. in Crookston, where they will face East Grand Forks Sacred Heart.
Earlier in the season, Ada-Borup-West handed Sacred Heart their only loss, making this upcoming match a highly anticipated rematch. “We just have to put a lot of effort in,” Syverson stated in a post-match interview on Your Live Event. “We’ve built as a team since the Sacred Heart matchup, and so have they. We’ll lock in, practice, and get ready for the game.”
With this win, the Cougars improved their record to 22-8, having navigated a challenging regular season. In contrast, Red Lake Falls, who had previously upset defending section champion Kittson County Central, ends their season at 24-7.
The match was intensely competitive, with the first set seeing nine ties before Syverson’s contributions allowed the Cougars to break away. “I think right away we came out with some nerves,” Syverson reflected. “If you’re not nervous, something’s wrong. We pulled it together and built some momentum.”
Alongside Syverson, teammate Morgan Engel, also committed to NDSU, contributed significantly with 14 kills, underpinning the Cougars’ offensive strength. The team took an early lead in the second set, never looking back, and swiftly secured victory in the third set after another tie early on.
As excitement builds for the championship match against Sacred Heart, fans are eager to see how the Cougars will perform in this critical showdown. Will Ada-Borup-West continue their winning streak? Stay tuned for the latest updates on this thrilling journey!
