Tracy-Milroy-Balaton at Minneota
7:30 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 10
Tracy-Milroy-Balaton return nine letterwinners from a team that finished as the Class 1A state tournament runner-up, and the No. 2-1A Panthers are back to their winning ways with a season-opening win over Windom Area.
Sophomore outside hitter Sydney Lanoue has been a starter since the eighth-grade and racked up 362 kills last season. Junior setter Gabbie Gervais was named all-state honorable mention and finished the year with 280 digs and 945 assists.
Minneota won the last three sets to rally for a five-set win over No. 10-1A Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa to start the season. The Vikings won five consecutive Class 1A, Section 3 titles (2009-2013) and could be a dark horse candidate this season. Upsetting the Panthers in this section rivalry game would be an excellent start.