Thursday's prep volleyball playoff game

Carlton (27-5) vs. Mayer Lutheran (18-15)
What: Class A state tournament quarterfinal
When: 3 p.m.
Where: Xcel Energy Center, St. Paul
Outlook: Carlton enters its fourth state tournament on an eight-match winning streak that includes six sweeps. Macy Belich (242 kills), Grace Macor (210), Jessica Stanslaski (185) and Amanda Groth (140) are the big hitters in the Bulldogs’ 6-2 offense. Those four players, with setters Hannah Benson and Brianna Walton quarterbacking the attack, have shown a knack for wearing down opposing teams all fall. Belich’s 39 ace serves and Stanslaski’s 90 blocks are tops on the team. Carlton, unseeded despite its 27 wins, is looking to become the first Northland team to win a state tournament match since Esko in 2011. The Bulldogs hung with Mayer Lutheran in a Sept. 20 tournament contest before falling in three games. … The third-seeded Crusaders are young, with five freshmen and just two seniors on the roster. Nonetheless, they are making the program’s 11th state tournament appearance. Maria Kuntz (230 kills, 81 blocks), Rachel Roepke (195, 54) and Maddy Hucky (176 kills, 42 ace serves) lead the way. Mayer Lutheran, with an enrollment of 199, is located about 45 minutes west of the Twin Cities. This afternoon’s winner will take on either Tracy-Milroy-Balaton or Browerville in Friday’s semifinal round.
Quotable: “We’ve played Mayer Lutheran and we know we can play with them. The girls have confidence that if they play hard they can succeed down there.” - Carlton coach Barb Soukkala
Radio: WKLK-FM 96.5