By Chad Koenen

Publisher

Experience will be on the side of the Henning Hornet volleyball team this season. After losing no starters due to graduation from last year’s team that went 10-20 overall and 4-3 in the Park Region Conference, the Hornets return seven seniors, one junior and five sophomores who all made an impact on last year’s volleyball team.

Back for the Hornets this season will be seniors Myiesha Antoni, Emmalynn Bergstrom, Cambrie Johnson, Lillian Moench, Jenna Domier, Breanna Bunkowski and Isabelle Godding; junior Callie Thompson; sophomores: Alivia Emter, Addison Bode, Bella Olson, Brynn Reinbold and Abby Godding.

In addition to the returning starters and letter winners, head coach Kristy Finck said a pair of eighth graders could make an impact at the varsity level this season, including Hailey Fiskum and Lily Grieger. Other seniors on the team include Maddie Buchanan and Macie Oseien.

Finck, who is entering her 16th season as head coach for the Hornets and has won 304 games during that time, said the strengths for Henning will be experience, physical and mental growth. 

In order to find success this season she said the Hornets will need to pass the ball well and communicate on the court.

“Passing is a must, along with great communication. We need to be in control of the game, and in order to do that, we need to be able to pass the ball every time it comes over the net,” she said.

As the team heads into conference portion of their season, Finck said the Park Region Conference should be solid from top to bottom this season. 

“I feel all the teams in our conference are going to be good and on any given night any team could win,” she said. “If I had to pick the top two, I feel Wadena-Deer Creek and Bertha-Hewitt are going to be at the top.”

As far as the section tournament, Finck said there are a number of teams who will be bringing back some talented players. She said Parkers Prairie, Park Christian and Hillcrest will all be very good this season, but she also said Battle Lake could surprise a lot of teams this season as they have a lot of athletic players who have been playing together over the years.

The Hornets opened their season on Tuesday night in Menahga, before they travel to Breckenridge next Tuesday night to take on the Cowgirls in non-conference action. Henning’s first home game will be on September 16 when they host Battle Lake in non-conference action.