Morris Area/Chokio-Alberta vs. Sauk Centre
7:30 p.m., Tuesday, Sept. 19

Just a month into the season, it looks like a three-team race in the West Central Conference, as these two teams — along with Melrose — boast a combined 14-1 league record. Last year, Morris Area/Chokio-Alberta and Sauk Centre tied for the conference title with identical 13-1 records, so the winner of Tuesday's matchup should be set up in a good spot to capture another league crown.

Morris Area/Chokio-Alberta (5-1, 4-1) had won its first five matches before being swept at home by Melrose last Thursday. As expected, the Tigers’ “big three” of libero Riley Decker (84 digs), setter Karly Fehr (125 set assists) and hitter Jenna Howden (62 kills) lead the team in each of those respective categories. All three were key figures in the Tigers’ back-to-back state tournament appearances each of the last two seasons.

Sauk Centre (9-5, 5-0) has won all five of its conference matches thus far, but it's just 4-5 outside the league. The Mainstreeters’ Kenzie Schmiesing and Kelsey Peschel have been strong thus far in all rotations, with Schmiesing posting the most kills in both of the team’s tournaments.