Grand Rapids and Duluth Denfeld take a break from conference play for a test up north Tuesday.
Grand Rapids (9-4, 1-0) won eight of its last nine matches, including 2-0 wins over Farmington and New Life Academy at the North St. Paul tournament on Sept. 8, and dropped only three sets before a 2-0 loss to North St. Paul in the invite — the Thunderhawks' only blemish since Aug. 28.
Grand Rapids is led by senior outside hitter Megan Walsh (a Texas-Arlington commit) and sophomore Claire Walsh, who each posted nine kills in a Sept. 30 sweep of Duluth East. Junior libero Hailee Orhn is a key part of the Thunderhawks’ defensive play.
To counter Grand Rapids' attack, the Hunters (9-2, 2-0) will turn to a pair of seniors who were Lake Superior all-conference selections a year ago in setter Jordyn Maas and outside hitter Caitlin Schneeweis, a University of Mary (ND) commit with 53 kills in the past three matches (Sept. 13 against Superior, Sept. 17 against Proctor and Sept. 20 at Hermantown).