For the first time in more than 20 years, the Gopher Conference could have a new champion — and it’s likely the winner of Thursday's match between Medford and Waterville-Elysian-Morristown.
After Watertville-Elysian-Morristown (18-1, 3-0) upended longtime conference ruler Bethlehem Academy 3-1 on Sept. 6, snapping the Cardinals' conference winning streak dating to the 1990s, the Gopher title went up for grabs, and the No. 3-1A Buccaneers have stayed in the chase.
Although they haven't been able to claim a league crown in two decades, the Buccaneers aren't pushovers. They won the Class 1A title in 2015, and to regain the conference throne, turn to a cast that has rolled through opponents — they’ve only dropped seven sets this year — and boasts an athletic collection of hitters: Alexis Morsching, Toryn Richards and Delaney Donahue, and a do-everything player in MaeLea Harmon, who has 36 service aces.
Medford has also eyed winning the league this year. It is a program on the rise the last few years, having climbed from a six-win season in 2015 to winning 14 matches in 2016 and 18 last year (including a five-set loss to the Buccaneers). The Tigers' only conference losses the last two seasons were to the Buccaneers and Bethlehem Academy.
Emma Kniefel was all-Gopher last year and Rachael Luebbe and Kinsey Cronin help give Medford (14-1, 4-0) a group of dangerous attacking options.