Rebounding from its lone loss of the season — a 3-2 nail-biter against Lakeville North on Sept. 18 — Champlin Park (20-1, 6-0) has won eight straight without dropping a set, as well as reclaiming the No. 1 ranking in Class 3A. But up next the Rebels face a quietly dominant Osseo (17-3, 7-1) team that started the season with 16 straight wins.
Lauren Clark (199 kills) leads a quartet of Rebels with at least 132 kills. Izzy Ashburn has a state-high 687 assists, and libero Kaitlyn Weimerskirch anchors a tough defense with 223 digs.
Champlin Park won 2-0 over Osseo in the St. Michael-Albertville tournament on Sept. 29. The Orioles’ last win in the series came in 2014.
If the Orioles beat the Rebels, they can stake a claim for the Northwest Suburban Conference title run, a race that includes Anoka.
Maybe just as important, an Osseo win would benefit its section seeding. The Orioles are battling Wayzata and St. Michael-Albertville for a top-two or three seed in Class 3A, Section 5. Their oft-dangerous and balanced attack could help contribute.
Three Orioles have at least 70 kills, led by Lindy Oujiri (171) and Kelsie Sealock (129). The offense gets fed by Corissa Furhman (478 assists). Four Orioles have at least 17 service aces, led by Furhman’s 25.