Photo Gallery: Stillwater vs. Eagan
But when she puts on a Wildcats jersey, Orr’s priorities change, slightly, as she doubles as an outside hitter and a setter.
Early in this high school season, Orr is one of a few Wildcats working at positions they aren’t normally used to and getting those players adjusted resulted in some rough moments for Eagan on Tuesday. In the end, however, the Wildcats left happy as they defeated Stillwater 25-21, 18-25, 25-14, 25-22.
Eagan (2-0) is coming off a 3-1 runner-up finish to Lakeville North at the last year’s Class 3A state tournament. The Wildcats entered this season looking to replace a number of key players, including Gatorade Player of the Year McKenna Melville.
Kathy Gillen, Eagan’s coach, aims to make up for the program’s losses by using a number of different players and substituting constantly. With Tuesday’s match being the Wildcats’ second of the season, things looked rough at times. It started with the officials penalizing Eagan for illegal substitutions that cost the Wildcats points.
On the floor, Eagan, which is ranked No. 3 in the Class 3A coaches’ poll, was out of sorts in the first few sets with unforced errors that came from kill attempts and serves.
“It’s not something we always have, but it can happen early in the season,” Gillen said. “With the team we have, we’re going to sub a lot. It’s a change in our consistency.”
Stillwater (3-2) capitalized on the Wildcats' errors, which helped the No. 5-3A Ponies win the second set. But they are doing their own adjusting this season with the return of junior outside hitter Maddie Whittington, a University of Illinois commit who is back after an ACL tear kept her out last year. Against the Wildcats, Whittington had a team-best 11 kills.
“It’s fantastic to have her back,” Stillwater coach Bob Fisher said. “It was fun to see one of the best hitters in the state out there and rounding back into shape.”
To counter Whittington, Eagan had its own Big Ten-bound outside hitter in senior Ellie Husemann. The Gophers commit is a stable force for the Wildcats and she had 10 kills against Stillwater.
When Husemann was getting the ball, it was often coming from either senior setter Kelley Johnson or Orr. Husemann and Orr have a special bond, however, as they’ve played together on the Northern Lights team the past four years.
“It’s so fun playing all year-round with (Orr),” Husemann said. “We know how to play with each other. It’s great to build that long-term relationship.”
Though Husemann is a grizzled senior veteran, Orr is just a sophomore. It’s something that’s often forgotten by those on the Eagan sideline.
“I never remember she’s a sophomore,” Gillen said. “Her court awareness is just something. Hitting is still new to her, but she’ll continue to get better at that.”
Orr showed some improvement as Tuesday’s match progressed. She was the catalyst for the Wildcats in the fourth set, coming up with six kills.
“She’s always playing at such a high level,” Husemann said of her teammate. “She can do it all.”
Orr’s versatility as a hitter and setter will likely be key for Eagan to succeed this year. She’s one of many players who will need to continue adjusting, though Husemann and the Wildcats are taking these challenges with a calm approach.
“When we focus on our side of the net, we’re so much better,” Husemann said. “We always try to play steady. Never get too high because there’s always a low that will come for you.”