The Emmaus High School girls volleyball team was under a first-year head coach during the 2024 season in Jessica Olang. Even in a new regime, it was the same successful results as the Green Hornets won enough matches during the regular season to qualify for both the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference and District 11 4A tournaments.

Emmaus ended the year 14-7 overall and 12-4 in the conference.

The Hornets fell to rival Parkland in the quarterfinal round of the EPC tournament and then won their district quarterfinal over Northampton before ending their season in a five-set thriller against the Trojans in the semifinal round on October 29th.

“I thought that the season was a successful one,” said Olang. “I came in as the new head coach and the girls really took to my teaching and worked really hard all year. Our goals are always to win championships, but it’s also for them to continue to get better and learn.”

The good news for Olang and the program is that they will return some talented players next season that were major contributors this season. Junior Maleya Hinds led the attack with a team-high 92 kills and added 19 digs. Classmate Amanda Rivera tallied 60 kills, 20 digs, three blocks and seven aces. Fellow junior Cirrae Cuffy recorded 32 kills, six blocks, four digs and 12 aces. Sophomore Rosalia Landino finished with 18 kills.

“We had a great senior group and they are special to me because it’s my first senior class I’ve coached here,” Olang said. “These underclassmen coming back have so much talent and now a lot of varsity experience for next season.”

Perennial power Parkland did not win any championships this season and District 11 champion, Liberty, will graduate a lot of talent this season. The Hornets will enter next season as one of the top contenders in the league and district.