The Emmaus High School girls volleyball team has had a fast start to the shortened 2020 season. The Green Hornets won their first four matches of the year, and after falling to state power Southern Lehigh, went on another four-match win streak.

But in the final week of the regular season, Emmaus met up with defending league and district champion Parkland, and fell in straight sets by scores of 25-16, 25-18 and 25-21 last Monday night in Eastern Pennsylvania Conference action at Parkland High School.

The Green Hornets (8-2 overall) won’t have the sour taste of defeat to their rivals for long, as the two teams square up on the court once again in the regular season finale Wednesday at Emmaus High School.

“I told the team that the way this season is set up, we get another chance to battle on Wednesday,” said Emmaus head coach Brianne Giangiobbe. “We need to go into Tuesday’s practice with a focus on what we need to improve on and what we need to adjust. Then we need to come back Wednesday ready to fight.”

The Green Hornets and Trojans are playing in the Lehigh Division, which also includes Dieruff, Allen, Central Catholic and Whitehall. Each team plays against each other twice, home and away. Emmaus (9-1 overall) had taken care of the four other teams in the division both times with ease, but Parkland (8-0) is a different story.

“Parkland had a very solid serving game and used all of its offensive options,” Giangiobbe said. “We struggled to adapt from set one to set three with the pace of their game. I want to see our net game/blocking improve against their offense, more communication of identifying their hitting options in all rotations and adjusting our defense accordingly. Also, consistency on our side behind the serving line.”

Even with just the second defeat of the season, Giangiobbe is excited for what’s ahead for her team in the weeks to come. She knows how hard her team works every day.

“I feel the girls have been taking every opportunity, practice or game time to get better,” said Giangiobbe. “This season was up in the air for a bit so I feel they really were focused on improving our game from day one to the end of the season. I feel proud of what we have accomplished so far and am excited to see our team continue to grow and progress into districts.”

Giangiobbe is in her second season at the helm after taking over for longtime head coach Gwen Millets before the start of the 2019 campaign. She has adapted well and has taken over the mindset that this is now her program to run.

“Season two has been a whirlwind with COVID-19, but as a second-year coach I feel more comfortable and prepared for the mental and physical challenges this season has presented,” Giangiobbe said. “I feel more connected with the team and they have truly committed to the culture we are creating in the gym. They trust the process and are focused on becoming strong student-athletes and more importantly outstanding young ladies of the community.”