Conference title implications? Check. A top-10 matchup? Check. Big individual performers? Yes, indeed.
The lone unbeatens in the Tri-Metro Conference collide Tuesday when Holy Angels, ranked No. 10 in the Class 2A state coaches' poll from Sept. 23, travels to No. 5-2A Concordia Academy in our Top Game of the Week.
And this matchup has plenty of history.
Holy Angels beat Concordia 3-2 a year ago to secure the Tri-Metro title. In 2016, the Beacons completed an undefeated conference run by toppling Holy Angels 3-1.
This year, the winner can take control of the league and, with three weeks remaining in the regular season, wrangle the title away from the other.
Holy Angels (18-3, 6-0) has been dominant this year, winning 46 of 58 sets its played. Even in two of its three losses — Sept. 21 at Maple Lake and Sept. 22 against Kasson-Mantorville — the Stars kept their opponents close, losing 2-1 in both.
Part of the Stars' control can be tied to Lauren Link and Marie LaFrance, who give Holy Angels a pair of all-conference hitters in the front row. The Stars are good at setting the tone early — they had 10 aces in a 3-2 win over Southwest Christian on Sept. 17.
On Tuesday, Holy Angels will need to find a way to handle a Concordia team built to undo strong defenses.
The Beacons’ Kira Fallert has a state-best 281 kills. Maybe most dangerous is her state-leading 58 service aces and when combined with Brooke Weichbrodt's 34 aces, Concordia (19-3, 6-0) can find ways to put stress on defenses.
The Beacons share the ball, too. Weichbrodt’s 525 assists are fourth in the state, so there are plenty of opportunities to go around, and Sarah McTaggert has made the most of hers with 144 kills.
Taylor Brunn’s 258 digs are sixth in the state, which helps the Beacons take back control of games.