Maple Lake vs. Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted
7:15 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 21

Can anyone in the Central Minnesota Conference knock off the defending state champions?

So far, No. 1-2A Maple Lake (10-0, 2-0) has looked unbeatable. The Irish have lost just one set all season and it came more than three weeks ago (a 2-1 victory over Sauk Centre in the Albany Tournament on Aug. 25). They’ve also won their past 14 conference matches, dating back to the 2015 season. It starts up front for coach Marty Kiebel, who returned two all-state hitters in Linsey Rachel and Amber Klug, who also sets.

Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted takes the next swing at the Irish with a home match on Thursday. The Lakers (9-2, 1-1) counter with their own all-state hitter in senior Camden Schank, who had 486 kills and 345 digs last fall, and top setter Lanney Loebertmann.