Hill-Murray at Cretin-Derham Hall
7 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 4

Hill-Murray (No. 10 in Class 2A) surprised many observers by not only qualifying for last year’s state Class 2A tournament but advancing to the championship match where the Pioneers lost to Marshall. Hill-Murray (2-0) has carried that momentum nicely into this fall, winning its first two matches against Class 3A programs Centennial and Mounds View. Junior setter Hannah Angeli and senior defensive specialist Natalie Cote provide a veteran start to the serve-receive game.

Cretin-Derham Hall is also 2-0 after defeating Burnsville and Minnehaha Academy in its first matches. The Raiders will have a distinct size advantage at the net with 6-foot-1 junior Chloe Dousette, 6-foot-2 sophomore Brynn Carlson and 5-foot-11 sophomore Frances Patt. Dousette had nearly 300 kills in her sophomore campaign last fall.