In last year's regular-season matchup, New Life Academy beat Maranatha Christian in three sets, 25-23, 25-19, 25-16, and swept them again in the Class 1A, Section 4 quarterfinals. But if the Mustangs can build off last year’s overall success — starting with a regular-season conference win over the Eagles — they might set themselves up for a deeper postseason run.
Maranatha's 7-3 finish was on par with the upper-echelon teams of the Minnesota Christian Athletic Association last year, just a game and a half behind New Life Academy. And in every season since 2014, the Mustangs (1-1) have added more wins to their totals — an optimistic trend for Maranatha's returning cast.
Three all-conference players will try to lead the way for the Mustangs, with libero Kennedy Burquest (50 digs this season), setter Abbi Harker (58 assists) and hitter Julia Lavelle (36 kills).
New Life Academy (5-2, 2-0) brought back all but one player from last year’s state tourney team. Elli Wiertsema is both a skilled attacker and strong defender, and the Eagles, ranked No. 3 in the Class 1A coaches' association poll, have a veteran setter in senior Bethany Breiholz.
If the Eagles want to claim another conference title, the road continues Thursday in our featured Top Game of the Week.