Blaine coach Natalie Thienes has learned her lesson. In just her second year as the Bengals' boss, Thienes lamented her lack of scheduling savvy following a three-set loss last week to No. 3-4A Champlin Park.
Blaine opened the season with four consecutive victories, losing just one set along the way. But the nonconference opponents (Robbinsdale Armstrong, Chisago Lakes, Coon Rapids and Cambridge-Isanti) did not prepare the Bengals for the level of play they faced at Champlin Park, which had played more than twice as many games.
Thienes' squad played in its first in-season tournament last weekend and has another nonconference opponent this week. But Hutchinson (12-4, 1-0 Wright County East) is an opponent that will give the Bengals the greater level of intensity Thienes is looking for.
Blaine has a strong front line led by 6-foot-1 senior middle Natalie Schmitz and junior outside Clara Brown. Opposite Ella Kapus and setter Evelyn Thormodsgaard give the Bengals a solid core.
Hutchinson has played the kind of schedule Thienes understands will make a team better. The Tigers' losses have come against No. 1-3A Marshall, No. 4-4A Bloomington Jefferson, No. 3-1A Canby and Class 4A St. Michael-Albertville. Victories have come against respected Class 4A teams such as Lakeville South and White Bear Lake.