Rogers won the Class 4A, Section 8 championship last fall and played in the state tournament for the first time in school history. The Royals are positioning themselves for a return trip, but first have to get past an Andover team that has put together a sneaky good season.
The Huskies (13-5, 4-2) come into Tuesday's game at Rogers looking to right the ship after a 3-2 home loss to conference rival Centennial. Andover had won four in a row before that.
Seniors Avery Bolles (the team's leader in kills and digs) and Grace Beske (setter) are the Huskies' leaders. Morgan Miller, a 6-2 junior, provides a presence at the net.
Rogers (18-2, 4-1) started the season in the coaches' Class 4A rankings and has remained there all season. The Royals currently are ranked eighth and have won 15 consecutive matches, including six last weekend at a tournament in Rochester.
The Royals have depth and multi-skilled players. A trio of seniors — Hannah Bruskiewicz, Taylor Dawson and Payton Daun — and versatile sophomore Anya Schmidt form the heart of the lineup. Schmidt, a setter and right-side, has 208 assists, 110 kills, 74 digs and 69 service aces.
No. 4-4A Champlin Park (5-0) leads the conference race, but Rogers (4-1) and Andover (4-2) are in a group that includes Maple Grove (5-1) and Centennial (3-2) right behind the Rebels.