Minnetonka started the season broken. Four of the team’s starting seniors - outside hitter Taylor Kowalski, right side hitter Madeline Wilson, middle hitters Maxine Marion and Lauren Mershon - were sidelined with injuries.

Despite a bunch of new faces to the varsity court, the Skippers have found a way to win.

Minnetonka battled back from a seven-point deficit to win Set 3, propelling the Skippers past Orono 25-16, 13-25, 26-24, 25-19 in a nonconference match at Orono High School on Thursday night.  

“It’s been an unusual season,” senior outside hitter Jenna Weidner said.

Weidner, along with senior libero Samantha Melin, are the only veterans on the court.

“We’re so fortunate that we have Jenna and Sam on this team, (they) are used to doing the heavy lifting,” Minnetonka coach Karl Katzenberger said.

Weidner has typically played either libero or defensive specialist for her club team and for the Skippers the past few high school seasons. But with a majority of her teammates out of the lineup, she’s been forced to play all the way around and the 5-foot-6 Weidner enjoys the opportunity to hit. 

Against Orono, Weidner led Minnetonka with 19 kills and 18 digs.

“She played with heart and led by example, and I’m really proud of her effort tonight,” Katzenberger said.

Weidner doesn’t like having to watch her fellow seniors sit on the bench, but she said they are still a major part of the team.

“All of the seniors are bummed, but they’ve all been really positive and there is not one player who doesn’t cheer after every point,” Weidner said.

Next fall, Weidner will continue her family’s tradition of playing college volleyball. Weidner’s mother Angie played volleyball at Memphis, while her father Kirk played at Carleton College and competed in professional beach volleyball. Weidner fell in love with North Carolina and will be playing at High Point University.

Being at High Point is also a bonus because Weidner’s older sister Hannah is a right side hitter at Liberty University, a member of the Big South Conference with High Point.  

“Yep. I get to play against my sister,” Weidner said.

Senior outside hitter Jenna Weidner finished with 19 kills and 18 digs in Minnetonka’s 25-16, 13-25, 26-24, 25-19 win over Orono in a nonconference matchup at Orono High School on Thursday night.

The Skippers led a majority of the way in winning Set 1, but a tough serving game by the Spartans kept Minnetonka at bay in Set 2. Claire Turnham went on a five-point serving run and finished the night with three of her team’s 13 aces.

Minnetonka (9-3) found itself with a seven-point deficit in Set 3, but four back-to-back kills from sophomore middle Katelyn Lannom helped bring the Skippers back to tie the score at 23-23. Minnetonka took the set 26-24, causing a major shift of momentum. Lannom finished the night with 17 kills.

Junior setter Isabelle Aragon-Menzel had 47 assists for the Skippers.

Orono adjusted its game by throwing balls to the middle of the court, but Minnetonka senior libero Samantha Melin ended the Spartans’ game plan with her digs. Melin finished with 16 digs.

Senior right side hitter McKenna Rice and junior outside hitter Naomi Byrne each finished with nine kills for Orono (8-2).

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