Minneapolis Washburn coach Mark Nelson has the Millers ready to defend their Minneapolis CIty Conference title Thursday against rival crosstown rival Southwest. Photo by Brian Nelson, SportsEngine
The rivalry between Minneapolis Southwest and Minneapolis Washburn is rooted in the history of continued competition.
The schools have squared off for years in a variety of athletic endeavors, and the volleyball programs have seen their budding back-and-forth blossom into a full fledged tug-of-war.
The teams have traded Minneapolis City Conference titles for the past five seasons, with Washburn carrying the most recent crown after a sensational 27-0 regular-season campaign a year ago.
The Millers (7-3, 2-0) appear to be a conference favorite again, with junior outside hitter Lizzy Stark (105 kills) and junior setter Julia Welch (191 assists) leading the way.
Southwest (6-4, 2-0), however, cannot be overlooked with its offensive arsenal, led by senior middle hitter April Houston (92 kills) and junior setter Lily Landis (131 assists).
The duo has sparked the Lakers’ impressive six-match winning streak, in which the team has lost just two sets.
There may be matchups between ranked teams this week that seem better on paper, but a rivalry game featuring two exceptionally talented lineups is hard to ignore, which is why Washburn versus Southwest is our Top Game of the Week.
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