NORTH READING — The North Reading High volleyball team had its end-of-season team banquet at the Moose Club in town early last week.
The three players awards winners were Julia Mulik, Sami Mutti and Sydney Scholz .
Mulik, a senior outside hitter, won the Unsung Heroine Award while Mutti, a senior middle hitter, won the team’s MVP Award.
Mutti was second on the team in kills, digs and blocks this fall.
Scholz took home the Coaches Award as she was a sophomore middle hitter. She was the team leader in kills (148) and blocks (28).
Ella Maier, led the team in serve-receives with 116 and she also had a 1.76 serve-receive percentage. Maier, a junior outside hitter, also led the team in digs with 150.
Both setters, Madison Hopfer and Willow Koepke recorded over 200 assists this fall. Hopfer is a senior captain while Koepke is a sophomore.
Koepke was also the Hornets leader in service aces with 49.
The team will lose five seniors to graduation. Along with Mulik, Hopfer and Mutti, the team will also lose libero Allie Newbury and Taila Ranieri.
Ranieri, a senior co-captain, missed this year with an injury as she was the team’s manager.
“I enjoyed coaching all five of these girls,” said Hornets head coach Mike Milone, who just completed his 15th-year with the team. “I have seen them grow a ton and they will be tough to replace.”
This season, the Hornets finished at 7-10 overall and were 3-8 in the Cape Ann League.
“With the injuries we had it was a tough year,” admitted Milone. “Despite that, the girls kept a positive attitude and fought hard.”
The Hornets are slated to return eight veterans next season with four of them being starters.
“I think that we can be very competitive next season,” said Milone.