While Spring Grove (16-3, 12-3) has made good on its preseason potential, it collides with Caledonia (13-6, 7-1), one of the top teams in Class 1A, Section 1, in a match with section seeding implications.
All of Spring Grove’s losses came against Mabel-Canton (on Sept. 1, Sept. 6 and Oct. 2), another of the section’s top teams, but the Lions have otherwise cruised through the year, only dropping two sets in their 16 wins.
The Lions’ dominance has been thanks, in part, to Mariah Edgington. Her 25 kills and 21 digs helped topple Grand Meadow on Sept. 27, while setter Kailee Olerud — who started the season with 23 assists in a 3-0 win over LeRoy-Ostrander on Aug. 30 — continues to feed the offense.
Spring Grove offers itself as another challenging opponent for No. 10-1A Caldeonia, which has lost to teams ranked in Class 2A — No. 4 Concordia Academy (2-0, Sept. 8) and No. 7 Kenyon-Wanamingo (2-0, Sept. 15).
But the Warriors went 2-0 against the Lions last year, winning 3-1 in the regular season and 3-0 in the playoffs.
Lydia Lange posted an 18-kill, 17-dig effort against Winona Cotter on Oct. 4, while Katie Tornstrom and Alexis Simpson each had 14 kills in that match.