Page 6 Edina Fall Sports Preview • Thursday , August 22 , 2024 current . mnsun . com
Key players return for state VB Hornets
By JOHN SHERMAN john . sherman @ apgecm . com
Edina High ’ s girls volleyball team , a State Class AAAA Tournament qualifier last season , is loaded at the skill positions going into the 2024 season .
Not only that , the Hornets had their biggest turnout ever for summer captains ’ practice . More than 60 girls came to Edina Activity Center for an evening workout the week before official practice began .
“ I think we ’ re going to have a great season ,” setter Greta Granberg , a senior second-year captain said . “ Everyone but one or two girls are returning from last season . A lot of people are stepping up and want to succeed . Now that we are a year more experienced , we know what we ’ re doing .”
“ With the success the team had last season , more players are attracted to the program ,” junior captain Liv Peterson said . “ Everyone gets along well .”
New captain Emmie Bireley , one of the Hornets ’ experienced hitters , said , “ It is different for me this year now that I am a captain and one of the leaders . It ’ s fun to have the younger players looking up to me . Going to state last year was a really cool experience and super fun .”
“ Last year we had a bunch of new girls on the team and everyone worked really hard ,” Granberg said . “ We didn ’ t expect to go to state , but it worked out . We ’ re doing what we can in captains ’ practice to prepare for the season .”
Skill position players returning from last season are Granberg as the lead setter , junior Caroline Banks as a hitter and setter and fast-moving libero Paola Contreras-Diaz , who joins Granberg as a third-year varsity starter .
Other letter winners returning for the Hornets are Ellie Casebolt , Addie Eaton , Miklayne Koppen and McKenna Simmons .
The Hornets aren ’ t as tall as some of their Lake Conference rivals , Wayzata and Minnetonka , in particular . However , there is a group of six-footers ready to jump and spike .
Banks , who stood 5-11 last season , is now 6-1 and a quick-jumping outside hitter .
Contreras-Diaz is a libero whose court coverage amazes fans along with her coaches and teammates .
“ With one state tournament behind us , we are more prepared this year ,” Banks said .
Edina ’ s challenge is a tough schedule . Wayzata returns four key varsity players from last year ’ s rotation and won all 33 of its matches in 2023 , including all three in the state tournament . Wayzata head coach Scott Jackson has more than 500 career wins and a system that his hard to beat . Minnetonka is never down with coach Karl Katzenberger as a motivating force . St . Michael- Albertville is another Lake Conference team with state tournament potential .
( SUN PHOTO BY JOHN SHERMAN )
Emmie Bireley of the Edina girls volleyball team dives on the floor to keep the ball alive as the Hornets near the end of a preseason workout at Edina High Activity Center .
( SUN PHOTO BY JOHN SHERMAN )
Edina High ’ s girls volleyball captains for 2024 are , from left to right : Emmie Bireley , Liv Peterson and Greta Granberg .