The Emmaus High School girls volleyball team was the district runner-up last year, playing in the championship match. The Green Hornets are looking to get back to that stage this season, and their first step in achieving that feat was a successful one.

They jumped all over Pleasant Valley in the first two sets, winning in straight sets by scores of 25-7, 25-7 and 25-17 last Thursday evening at Emmaus High School in the District 11 Class 4A quarterfinal round.

“We’ve been working really hard at practice this week just to have positive energy,” said Hornet junior Mia Pickering. “Making it to districts is really exciting for us and we’re proud to be here. We just came in trying to work hard and play our game and see where that can take us.”

Bears head coach John Gesiskie was impressed with the Green Hornets and is hoping to mold his program into what Emmaus has.

“They’re a great team with some athletes,” said Gesiskie. “They were in the district final last year and have some girls back from that team. So, they have players that know how to win in the postseason. They have six seniors, so they are experienced. We hope to be in that same position next year when our players get a year older and more experienced on the varsity level.”

Emmaus’s six seniors this season are Isabelle Huzar, Natalia Williams, Jaya Bhagat, Lily Johnson, Phoebe Lingold and Makenzie Krasley. The program wants to send them out on top during this difficult year.

“This season has been crazy,” Pickering said. “This whole year has just been playing for our seniors. We’re so happy we were able to have a season and play, no matter what it looked like.”

Now after the opening match victory in districts, Emmaus does not want to stop there. It is looking to continue playing volleyball during the 2020 campaign.

“We’re looking forward to moving on and continuing to play together,” said Pickering. “We always want to play as one team. We want to continue to play with this energy and just win.”

The Green Hornets were in complete control in the first two sets, leading from start to finish. But the Bears did not go down easily, battling in the third set and, trailing 22-11, went on a 5-0 run to bring the score to 22-16. Emmaus, however, was able to hold on for the victory.

Emmaus takes on Pocono Mountain West in the district semifinals. The winner advances to the final against either the second seed Parkland or the third seed Freedom.

Jaya Bhagat had a team-high 13 kills, Kassidy Hallman recorded 23 assists and Pickering added eight digs.