The Emmaus High School girls volleyball 2023 season saw some positives, but then also faced some adversity as well along the way.

The Green Hornets finished with a winning record, going 11-9 overall and 10-6 in the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference. They also qualified for both the conference and District 11 4A tournaments but were unable to win a match in the postseason.

Head coach Jessica Hamati-Attieh, finishing her second season at the helm, was pleased with how the season went as a whole. And taking away the wins and losses, she saw growth on and off the court from her team. And at this level, that is what coaches hope for.

“This season had a lot of highs and some lows,” said Hamati-Attieh. “Though I think we continued to fight through the lows to come out with a successful season. There was a lot of growth both physically and mentally.”

Emmaus lost in four sets to EPC runner-up Central Catholic in the conference quarterfinal round and then fell just short in the district quarters, losing in five sets to Southern Lehigh in the final match of the year back on October 26.

“Toward the end of the match is when our inexperience was more noticeable with multiple unforced errors, which ultimately gave Southern Lehigh the win,” Hamati-Attieh said. “We fought hard to come back from a 0-2 deficit but were unable to finish the game in our favor.”

The Green Hornets will graduate six seniors from this season’s team, including Isabela Cavalheiro, Olivia East, Carly Forsythe, Gwyneth Magida, Samantha Spiro and Rowan Stephens.

“This group of girls have been playing together for four years and some even six,” said Hamati-Attieh. “They have made their mark on the program and will be missed next year.”

Emmaus will have some talent returning though from the underclassmen, especially EPC West Division Second Teamers in junior Lauren Horvath and sophomores Cirrae Cuffy and Amanda Rivera-Ayala.

“I’m excited most for developing this young team and to use their varsity experience from this past year to only get better,” Hamati-Attieh said. “There is so much talent and willingness to learn.”