By STEPHEN MARTELLUCCI
NORTH READING — Mike Milone is back for his 14th-year as the head coach of the North Reading High volleyball team. Last season, the Hornets ended up losing, 3-1, at Hudson in the MIAA Division 3 Round of 32 game to end the year at 7-13 overall.
In the Cape Ann League, they went 5-9 as they finished in second place in the CAL Kinney division behind Newburyport.
North Reading lost five seniors from that team to graduation: Abby Gerber (setter- outside hitter), Izzy Milone (libro), Maddy Koenig (outside hitter), Yasmin Farias (outside hitter) and Mia Pittore (defensive specialist).
Gerber was a CAL First-Team All-Star for the second consecutive year as she led the team in kills, assists and service aces. She was also named to the Top 50 in the state team.
When fall camp opened on Aug. 21, Milone welcomed back seven veterans but only three of them saw significant action last year.
The three seniors this year are the tri-captains: Shayla Alley (middle- hitter), Kaitlin Murnane (middle-hitter) and Grace Terranova (outside-hitter).
Madison Hopfer (setter), Samantha Mutti (opposite-hitter), Julia Mulik (outside-hitter) and Talia Ranieri (outside-hitter) are the 11th-graders back.
Ranieri had to miss all of last year due to an injury.
During the pre-season, the Hornets had one scrimmage where they beat guest Medford on Aug. 31.
“Things have been great,” said Milone. “We have a good freshman class and two of them are going to see a lot of time.”
Another new addition to the team is junior libero Alex Newbury. She was on the Hornets’ junior varsity team as a freshman and then she went to Austin Prep last year before transferring back to North Reading High this year.
Milone feels that Newburyport, Lynnfield and Ipswich will be the teams to beat in the CAL this year. Ipswich was the CAL Baker Division champ last year while Lynnfield was in second.
The Hornets host Pentucket on Friday and then visit Georgetown on Sept. 12.
They then host CAL newcomer, Essex Tech, on Sept. 13.
All three matches will start at 5:30 p.m.