Kenyon-Wanamingo vs. Stewartville
7:15 p.m., Tuesday, Sept. 19

The Hiawatha Valley League could be one of the top conferences in the state this year, and these two teams are main contenders.

Kenyon-Wanamingo posted a huge 3-2 victory over No. 2-1A Hayfield last Thursday, which showed the Knights aren’t in a rebuilding mode after all. The Knights (7-4, 2-0) lost a strong senior class that led them to their first state tournament appearance last fall. They finished third and weren’t expected to be a top program this fall, but no one told Maddie McCauley (59 set assists), Madi Luebke (45 set assists), Ally Peterson (54 kills, 43 digs), and the rest of the Knights, who shocked Hayfield to stay unbeaten in the conference.

Stewartville is also unbeaten in the Hiawatha Valley League and has lost only once, to No. 4-3A Stillwater in the second day of the Aerie Challenge in Apple Valley two weekends ago. The No. 2-2A Tigers (9-1, 3-0) have a great serve-receive game, anchored by all-state libero Emily Rinken, and a balanced hitting attack with sophomores Kaitlyn Prondzinski and Lily Welch, and freshman Erin Lamb.