With their first game underway, the Edina Girls’ Volleyball team is preparing for yet another season. After making it into the semi-finals last year, the team feels the pressure to live up to such an impressive season this year, especially having been ranked ninth in preseason polls.

“Last year, our team finished with a winning record including a conference win over Eden Prairie, and an upset at sections beating Hopkins in five games,” said senior Anna Larson who is a captain this year.

The dedicated team trains every day after school from 3:45-6:00 p.m.

“Practices are intense, competitive, and demanding,” said senior team member Isabella Meyer. “They force us to make ourselves better and learn to work better as one team instead of individuals.”

Meyer explained that players begin practices working on lineouts and plays with emphasis on variety. Then players end their practices with a scrimmage each day and intensive conditioning.

“As the coach always says, ‘practice like you play’,” said Larson.

The team especially hopes to beat their rival Hopkins, and beat their record from last year. With four new teammates this year, the team hopes to be better and closer than ever.

“We focus on making not only ourselves better but the team as a whole,” said Meyer.