MINOT - When it comes to athletics, you can't beat athletes.

Those true athletes - two-and three-sport athletes, are a big reason Century reigns today as the champion of Class A volleyball.

"They're athletes, multi-sport kids," CHS coach Jeni Walsh said as she considered her roster. "¦ They've played in pressure situations and big competitions before. They love those big games."

In what was probably the biggest for many of them, Century rose to the occasion, blanking archrival Bismarck 3-0 in Saturday's state championship match at the Minot State Dome.

Century took control of the proceedings right out of the chute, surging to a 15-7 lead in the opening game en route to a convincing 25-16 win. In the second and third games the Patriots had to dig out of momentary difficulty to prevail 25-17 and 25-20.

Bismarck led 14-10 in the second game and jumped ahead 16-11 in the finale but couldn't hold off the Patriots.

Carli Peterson had three kills and Hailee Walsh served aces for the final two points as Century outscored the Demons 15-3 to take the second game.

Madi Buck blasted three kills and had a block in the third game to lead the Patriots' closing 12-2 rush. A kill by Buck was the game and match winner.

"We played aggressively all weekend long and that really paid off for us," Walsh said. "¦We were tough at the net today."

Bismarck coach Lisa Krom said playing with a lead against Century is like sitting atop an active volcano. "They are such a powerhouse (offensively)," Krom observed. "No lead is really safe. They have so many options and serve so aggressively."

As was the case in three previous losses to Century, Bismarck was forced to try to stop an array of offensive threats. The bulk of Century's 35 kills came from 6-foot senior Tricia Sorensen (12), Peterson (9) and Buck (7). Buck and Peterson are 6-0 juniors.

Meanwhile, that formidable size kept Bismarck's hitters from establishing themselves.

Annie Assel, a 5-9 junior, was the only BHS hitter to tally more than five kills.

"We have really big girls at the net, and that helps," Sorensen said. "¦ When we get our blockers going, defense becomes a lot easier."

Walsh said Century's primary concern was Twila Moser, Bismarck's 5-11 junior hitter.

"We knew Twila Moser had an incredible second half of the season, and we needed to be aware of where she was. We had to have a double block on her," the Century coach said.

Sorensen said she couldn't imagine a better way to conclude her final year of Century volleyball.

"It's really exciting. I don't know if it's really sunk in yet," she said amid post-match celebrating. "¦ A state championship was a realistic goal with our team. It was just a matter of how we played out the season. We were fifth last year and had a lot of returning people."

Walsh said a 3-0 sweep was more than she could have hoped for in a championship game, but she pointed out Bismarck was playing under a handicap. BHS libero Kaitlyn Sturlaugson suffered a dislocated kneecap in her right leg during Friday's semifinal victory over West Fargo and was unable to play Saturday.

"Kaitlyn is their floor general. She's a steady, heady player," Walsh said.

Krom said Sturlaugson, a 5-6 senior, left too large a void to simply patch up overnight.

"Kaitlyn has been on the varsity for three years. She's one of our top servers and one of our top serve receivers. ¦ and she's our top defensive player," Krom said. "She's one of our strongest players and (her absence) definitely made an impact."

Saturday's matchup was the first championship showdown between Bismarck and Century since 1985. Bismarck won that one and Bismarck's schools have been shut out since. The Patriots won their only other championship in 1984.

"I feel relieved," Walsh said. "It's been 24 years since Century won a state volleyball title. That's a long time."

Bismarck's runner-up finish was its fifth. The Demons took second in 1988, 1989, 1991 and 1992. Century broke a streak of five second place finishes: In 1985, 1994, 2002, 2005 and 2006.

Bismarck 16 17 20

Century 15 25 25

Bismarck: Kills - Annie Assel 10, Anna Hruby 5, Twila Moser 5. Blocks - Hruby 2. Assists - KaSara Rudolph 19. Digs - Hruby 9, Liz Assel 8, Emilee Vetter 7, Rudolph 7, Assel 7. Aces - Moser 2, Hruby 2.

Century: Kills - Tricia Sorensen 12, Carli Peterson 9, Madi Buck 7, Alexis Jacobs 4. Blocks - Buck 1, Morgan Wald 1. Assists - Hailee Walsh 27. Digs - Erika Jossart 15, Buck 12, Jacobs 7. Aces - Walsh 3, Sorensen 2.

Records: Bismarck 28-11, Century 33-5.