Volleyball Game Preview: Prairie Mustangs vs. Merino Rams

Prairie is 0-4 against Merino since October of 2019 but things could change on Thursday. The Mustangs will be playing at home against the Rams at 5:00 p.m. After the two teams made easy work of their previous opponents, one won't be so lucky on Thursday.

Prairie hadn't beaten Weldon Valley on the road since September 23, 2022 but that history sure didn't bother them on Tuesday. The Mustangs put the hurt on the Warriors with a sharp 3-0 win.

The match finished with set scores of 25-15, 25-18, 25-13.

Prairie found their leader in sophomore Kali Sutter, who had 17 digs and two assists.

Prairie was lethal from the service line and finished the match with 13 aces. They easily outclassed their opponents in that department as Weldon Valley only served two.

Meanwhile, Merino faced Fleming in a battle between two of the state's top teams on Tuesday. The Rams were the clear victors by a 3-0 margin over the Wildcats. The victory was nothing new for the Rams as they're now sitting on four straight.

Merino walked away with the win (and looked especially good in the first set). The final score came out to 25-15, 25-22, 25-23.

Prairie's victory bumped their record up to 16-5. As for Merino, their win bumped their record up to 19-2.

Here's a few offensive stats to keep an eye on ahead of Thursday's match: Prairie has really dialed in their serving this season, having averaged 11.8 aces per game. However, it's not like Merino struggles in that department as they've been averaging 6.9 aces. Given these competing strengths, it'll be interesting to see how their clash plays out.

Prairie suffered a grim 3-0 defeat to Merino in their previous matchup back in October of 2024. Will the Mustangs have more luck at home instead of on the road? Check back here after the action for a full breakdown and analysis of the contest.