Carly Gilk wore a big smile at the first practice of the fall season, showing her excitement to get back in the gym for her final season of Champlin Park volleyball. The Rebels began practice at 7:30 a.m. Monday at Champlin Park High School, took a break and resumed practice at 1:45 p.m.
“I know a lot of people don’t like two workouts a day,” Gilk said. “But I love them. I think they’re fun.”
Since not all players were able to participate in the preseason open practices, senior Reese Axness was happy to see everyone together again.
“Having everyone in the gym is great. Just being back with the team,” Axness said.
The Rebels are ranked No. 1 in the preseason by the Minnesota Volleyball Coaches Association. Even though some players were returning, the first day of practice was a learning curve for coach John Yunker, who is entering his 14th season as coach of the Rebels. A new Anoka-Hennepin School District rule this year allows seventh- and eighth-graders to participate in tryouts. Yunker had about 80 athletes in the gym Monday, a number that Yunker and his coaching staff will reduce to about 55 girls this season, spread across five volleyball teams.
“It didn’t necessarily feel like our normal tryouts this morning, just because … it’s a larger group,” Yunker said. “Today it was structured differently in smaller groups.”
“They are still excited to be here and we are looking forward to the season.”
The Rebels, who went 24-7 last season, should have a familiar roster, as they only lost three players to graduation. But the Rebels fill out their team with seniors Gilk, Axness and Kathryn Adler. Gilk, an All-Metro first-team pick who has committed to the Gophers, led the Rebels with 410 kills last season. The left-handed Adler is another Division I-level player, and setter Axness has committed to Ball State.
