When Strib Varsity chooses matches to stream, we hope for good competition, evenly matched teams.

We hit that mark with the girls volleyball game streaming Thursday at stribvarsity.com. Find the replay of the match here.

The matchup: Byron, ranked No. 6 in Class 3A by the Minnesota Volleyball Coaches Association, at No. 5 Stewartville.

Stewartville is 4-1, but that loss was to Lakeville South, ranked No. 1 in Class 4A and in Strib Varsity’s Minnesota Top 25. Byron is 4-0.

Both teams played for third place at the state tournament within the past two years.

Stewartville has a long history at the state tournament, with 25 appearances, five runner-up finishes and five championships. The Tigers reached state last season and last won in 2019.

Byron is working its way there. The Bears won the third-place game in 2023, their second trip to state; the other was in 2009.