Breck versus Blake. What comes to mind? Hockey? Tennis? Volleyball?
Blake hasn't had enough on-court success recently to cause many opponents a lot of worry, let alone build or strengthen a rivalry. But with three victories in their first four matches, the Bears have already exceeded their win total from the previous two seasons combined (one in each of the last two years) and have started to develop a taste for winning.
Blake (3-1, 0-0) hosts Breck (5-2, 0-0) in its first Independent Metro Athletic Conference match on Tuesday.
One of Blake's best players is a junior transfer, Maya Hardy (32 service aces, 37 digs and 12 kills), who played on the Benilde-St. Margaret's B squad a year ago.
Sophomore setter Rilee Winters, another transfer, has 35 set assists, 12 service aces and seven kills. Junior outside hitter Emily Carlisle has 13 kills and 26 digs and junior libero Eva Lemke has 41 digs.
Breck is led by outside hitters Riley Walsh (50 kills) and Akshaya Mouli (42 kills, 12 service aces), and setter Sophia Ylinen (125 set assists and 15 service aces).