By Chad Koenen

Publisher

Despite coming off a down season in which the Eagles won just four games, there is a renewed sense of energy inside the Sports Center walls at New York Mills High School. Seven seniors and a new coaching staff have been hard at work throughout the summer and fall as they look to get the Eagles back to the top of the always competitive Park Region Conference and Section 6A.

New head coach Steve Dunrud brings a wealth of experience after collecting 454 wins at several schools in North Dakota and will be joined this season by assistant coaches Jennifer Lohmiller and Alli Bauck. 

Among the key returning players from last year’s team will be Alise Schornack, Aubree Salo, Chloe Costin, Alivia Preuss, Talli Schmitz, Julie Seim, Ellyanna Ruther and Sawyer Anderson. The group will look to fill the void left by middle hitter Annika Dunrud and libero Gabi Vaden who both graduated from last year’s team.

Other players who could make an impact on the varsity level this season will be Mia Maunumaki, Aria VanOrsdel, Autumn Salo, Addy Johnson, Esne Lien and Channing Frost.

As the team looks to improve on last year’s 4-24 record, Dunrud said the Eagles will need to do the little things well and not give away easy points to their opponents.

“As always we need to serve and serve-receive well. We need to do the little things well. Also, make the opponent earn their points by keeping our unforced errors to a minimum,” he said.

Among the goals for the team this season, Dunrud said he hopes the team improves every day in some aspect of the game and has fun. He is also hoping the team will be playing their best in the second half of the season.

“We couldn’t be any happier with the work ethic and attitude of the girls that we’ve seen thus far in practice,” he said.

The Eagles hosted Frazee on Tuesday night in their regular season opener and will host Brandon-Evansville on Tuesday, Sept. 8 in another non-conference game.