Northfield has picked up a couple of impressive victories on its way to a 10-0 start this season, but none will have the same satisfaction that would come with a potential victory at Rochester John Marshall on Thursday.
Raiders coach Tim Torstenson said he and his team, which plays in a media no-man's land between the Twin Cities and Rochester, sometimes can feel overlooked. And both he and his junior-dominated roster are keenly aware that the Rochester Post-Bulletin tabbed John Marshall as the Big 9 Conference favorite in season previews.
It's easy to understand Torstenson's frustration. Northfield (10-0, 1-0) has beaten No. 3-3A Wayzata (2-0 on Sept. 7) and No. 4-3A Lakeville North (2-0 on Sept. 7). John Marshall (8-2, 1-1), meanwhile, is unranked and has not played a ranked team this season.
So the No. 2-3A Raiders, led by junior outside hitters Megan Reilly and Rachel Wieber, and senior setter Lida King, hold a bit of a grudge. They want to show they belong with the best, and Torstenson said he thinks this team is capable of doing that on a level higher than conference play.
Northfield's championship victory at the Southwest Minnesota Challenge in Marshall made believers out of both coach and players. The semifinal victory over Lakeville North, a Class 3A, Section 1 rival, was the Raiders' first in Torstenson's tenure.
That doesn't mean Torstenson is overlooking John Marshall. He knows the Rockets got the Rochester newspaper's preseason nod for reasons other than proximity.
Junior Chayse Paulson controls the offense, with 184 assists, while senior Katilyn Steffes has 105 kills and senior Madalyn Helvig has 98 digs.