JOHN SHERMAN john. sherman @ apgecm. com

During tryout week of the 2024 girls tennis season, Edina High had very few openings, with nine of the top 10 players returning.

The situation is vastly different as the 2025 season begins.

Seniors Raya Hou and Lauryn Schenck and ninthgrader Bella Loucks are the only returning starters from last season’ s state runner-up team. The only team Edina lost to all of last season was state Class AA champion Rochester Mayo.

Surprisingly, even with the lack of experience, the Hornets have not altered their goals for the season. As is the case just about every year, the Hornets are shooting for a berth in state – and, ultimately, the championship.

At a 7:30 a. m. session the week of tryouts Hou, Schenck and Loucks talked about the season ahead.

“ It has been a lot different with only three returners,” Hou said.“ We have 97 girls out for the team and there are a lot more people to meet this year.”

What are the immediate effects of inexperience

( SUN PHOTO BY JOHN SHERMAN)

Edina High has only three returning varsity players this year. They are, from left to right: Senior Raya Hou, ninth-grader Bella Loucks and senior Lauryn Schenck.

on Hou and Schenck, the senior leaders?

“ Fewer returners make leadership even more important,” Hou said.“ There are a lot of traditions in the program – like cheering and the gift exchange – that the new players don’ t know about.”

The players trying out this year range from seniors

to one seventh-grader.

Loucks knows first-hand what it’ s like to be a young player in the program. She made varsity as a seventh-grader.

“ To be on varsity as a seventh-grader, you have to be a starter,” she said. Going into her third varsity season, Loucks seems to be a perfect mentor for

seventh- and eighth-grade hopefuls.

“ I have never thought about my age,” Loucks said.“ We are all members of the same team.”

Schenck is in her fifth season on varsity. She came up as an eighth-grader and immediately earned a starting doubles assignment.

“ Because of our

inexperience Lauren is probably going to play more singles than doubles this year,” Edina head coach Jaime Gaard Chapman said. Hou was a second or third singles player last season and is vying for the No. 1 spot this year.

Last season’ s co-No. 1 players are gone. Astrid Kerrman graduated as one of the best players in program history. Rashi Singh, who could have come back this season, decided to train individually.

Schenck, a captain who smiles easily and makes friends easily, said,“ I tell the new girls to relax. We are all here to have fun and enjoy every moment together.”

With tryouts in progress, Hou explained how the process works:“ We do some drills and we play some full matches. It’ s a good experience watching the new players.”

The 7:30 a. m. tryout time is new this year. Hou explained how the early sessions affect her:“ I know I have to sleep earlier. And I get my things ready the night before.”

Edina’ s veterans are pleased to have coaches who care.

Head coach Gaard

Chapman was a state doubles champion during her playing career at Edina High and was named to the school’ s athletic hall of fame.

“ Our coaches remind us that we are on a team with high expectations,” Schenck said.

“ They understand what we’ re going through because they went through this themselves,” Loucks observed.

Once the varsity and JV teams are finalized, Hou wants every girl to be important within the group.“ We will all bond and become friends,” she said.

Since Edina is low on varsity experience going into the new season, some of the other teams in Section 6AA might think that they have a chance to upset the Hornets. To compound the possibility, Wayzata has been moved from Section 5AA to 6AA.

Edina has long held serve over Wayzata in Lake Conference dual matches and Hou sees no reason that would change.

“ Wayzata is one of our rivals,” she said.“ We’ re going to be good enough to take them on.”

From page 5

coaches recognizing and complimenting good play.

“ We are building strong communication,” Mueller said. The libero is often at the center of that communication and often has the first touch on the volleyball.

In Section 6AAAA the past few years, Edina has had to fight through Burnsville, St. Louis Park, Minneapolis Southwest and Apple Valley to win the state berth. The Edina program has steadily earned respect, and the other teams know they have to be on their‘ A’ game to get past the Hornets.

The Hornets’ home

matches are played at one of the finest facilities in the state – spacious Edina High Fieldhouse. There is plenty of seating with room for more than 3,600 fans.

Edina opened the season Saturday, Aug. 23, at the New Prague Invitational.

The Hornets return to New Prague for a 7 p. m. dual match Tuesday, Sept. 2.

The next evening, Edina has a big section-seeding match against Burnsville at 7 at Edina High Fieldhouse.

Edina faces a big Lake Conference test at 7 p. m. Tuesday, Sept. 9, at Wayzata.

Other Lake dates circled on the calendar are St. Michael-Albertville at 7 p. m. Thursday, Sept. 25, at Edina and Minnetonka

vs. Edina at 7 p. m. Tuesday, Sept. 30, at Minnetonka’ s West Gym.

With tryouts completed last week, coach Nelson said,“ We have 65 girls in the program and quite a few of them are seniors.

“ There are two younger players who are pretty dynamic – ninthgrader Ellie Bowen and

eighth-grader Flora Clark.”

Bowen, who plays frontrow middle, had her first varsity volleyball experience last season.

As is the case most years, the Hornets are not blessed with towering hitters. However, there is good overall height with Bowen 5-11, Koeppen and Meyer 5-10 and Peterson 5-9.