THE HORNETS start their 2024 season on Thursday at Georgetown before their home-opener on Monday, 5:30 p.m. against Essex Tech. (Eric Evans File Photo)
By STEPHEN MARTELLUCCI
NORTH READING — It was a tough season for the North Reading High volleyball team last year as they went 6-14 overall and 5-11 in the Cape Ann League coming in fourth place in the CAL Kinney Division.
The Hornets lost three seniors from that team to graduation including middle hitter Kaitlin Murnane. Murnane led the team in digs (131), service aces (62) and blocks (13) as she was named to the Cape Ann League First-Team All-Stars for the second consecutive year.
When fall practice opened on Aug. 19, Hornets’ 15th-year head coach Mike Milone welcomed back nine veterans.
The two captains this year are seniors Madison Hopfer and Taila Ranieri. Hopfer is a setter while Raneri is out for the year with an injury as she will be the team manager.
Three other 12th-graders also return: Sami Mutti (middle hitter), Allie Newbury (libero) and Julia Mulik (outside hitter).
Amelia Yeakel (outside hitter), Ella Maier (outside hitter) and Emery Cordero (outside hitter and libro) are the three juniors back.
Another junior on the roster this year is outside hitter Lucy Wells who was on the Hornets’ junior varsity team last year.
The two 10th-graders back are Sydney Scholz (middle hitter) and Willow Koepke (setter).
Two other sophomores also made the roster: setter Ali Simard and outside hitter Ella Yeakel who is Amelia’s younger sister.
The Hornets had their lone scrimmage on Aug. 29 as they hosted Arlington Catholic.
“We ended up winning three of the five sets,” pointed out Milone. “The girls have made strong progress since the start of camp and we have filled some of the holes from last year.”
Milone was also impressed with the offensive showing.
“We are going to be a strong serving team and our offense, overall, looked good,” he said.
North Reading will play 18 regular-season matches as they will play the CAL Kinney schools twice and the Baker Division teams once.
They also have a pair of non-league matches against Salem and Wilmington.
The Hornets will open the season on Thursday as they visit Georgetown at 5:15 p.m. They then have their home opener on Monday, Sept. 9 when they host Essex Tech at 5:30 p.m.
