Step one is complete. Eden Prairie made it through its nonconference schedule, winning four of five games and climbing into the Class 4A Sept. 12 coaches poll at No. 10.
This week the Eagles (4-1, 0-0) begin a Lake Conference schedule that includes No. 7-4A Minnetonka and No. 1-4A Wayzata. St. Michael-Albertville, at 7-3, is another tough conference opponent as is Edina, which hosts Eden Prairie on Thursday.
The Eagles are coming off a victory over an injury-depleted No. 4-4A Bloomington Jefferson and begin conference play on Tuesday against Buffalo.
Junior setter Cameron Berger sets the pace for the Eagles, who are looking for their first state tournament berth since 2014. Seniors Kendall Minta, a 6-foot-3 middle, and Paige O'Connell, a 5-foot-10 rightside hitter, guard the front line.
Edina (5-1, 0-0) opens conference play against unbeaten and top-ranked Wayzata. Tessa Dubbe, a 6-foot junior hitter, leads the Hornets with 70 kills. Senior Aliya Dahlin has 65 assists and senior libero Sarah Bohrer has 45 digs.
The Eagles swept the 2020 season series with Edina, winning 3-1 and 3-0.