Thanks in part to a young lineup and a set of very tough Section 2-3A teams, Chaska did not complete a 'three-peat' of state volleyball titles last season.

But the Hawks are a year older, and, based on the first coaches' association poll, are the team to beat.

The Hawks are the No. 1-ranked team in the pre-season Class 3A poll, receiving five of the seven first-place votes.

Fellow 2-3A team and defending state champion Shakopee is No. 2. Other 2-3A squads in the poll include Waconia at No. 7 and Eden Prairie, which received votes.

All former Chaska High School varsity soccer players are invited to come and play in the annual varsity vs. alumni game.

The event is scheduled for 10 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 30 at the varsity soccer stadium at Chaska Middle School West.

D.J. Weil and Mac Miller are the captains of the Hawk varsity team this season.

Chaska High School has hired a couple new head coaches for the upcoming prep sports seasons.

Baseball players will need no introduction to the Hawks’ new head coach, Eric Welter.

Welter grew up playing ball in Chaska, and starred for the Hawks before moving on to the University of Minnesota.

A Social Studies teacher and assistant baseball coach for 10 years at Chaska, Welter currently is a top player for the Chaska Cubs amateur baseball team.

Catie Ladner and Danielle Williams

Welcome to the Minors, Mr. Hand.

Chaska’s Brad Hand got in his first minor-league game on July 8 for the Gulf Coast Marlins, against the Gulf Coast League Dodgers.

Hand started the game and pitched two innings. He gave up two hits, three runs (two earned), walked one and struck out two.

He also uncorked a pair of wild pitches and recorded four ground-ball outs.

The GCL Marlins, based in Jupiter, Fla., won the game 5-4.

Chaska High School had a big crop of fine young golfers that took the team to the state tournament in June. They are still golfing very well.

Chaska's Alex Robb shot an even-par round of 72 Tuesday at The Pines in Nisswa to finish in second place at the MGA state Junior Boys Golf Championship.

Robb, an incoming Chaska High School senior from Chanhassen who golfs at Chaska Town Course, teed off at 12:52 p.m. in the second round today (Wednesday). He trails Robert Bell of Baker National in Medina.

How’s this for a long-range forecast?

There will be a storm in Victoria on July 7.

That is, the Chanhassen High School’s booster club, the “Storm Chasers,” host its inaugural fundraiser on Monday, July 7 at Deer Run Golf Club.

Lunch and driving range session begins at 11 a.m., with golf – scramble format with no handicaps – beginning at noon with a shotgun start.

A dinner, awards and silent auction is set for 6 p.m.

How’s this for a long-range forecast?

There will be a storm in Victoria on July 7.

That is, the Chanhassen High School’s booster club, the “Storm Chasers,” host its inaugural fundraiser on Monday, July 7 at Deer Run Golf Club.

Lunch and driving range session begins at 11 a.m., with golf – scramble format with no handicaps – beginning at noon with a shotgun start.

A dinner, awards and silent auction is set for 6 p.m.

The Anaheim Ducks dropped "Mighty" from their moniker last year.

But they picked a mighty good Minnesota player on Friday.

Anaheim selected Minnetonka High School' defenseman Jake Gardiner with the 17th pick of the National Hockey League Entry Draft.

The Ducks' general manager is Brian Burke, who is from Edina.

Gardiner has comitted to play for the University of Wisconsin this winter.

Minnetonka went 24-4 in Gardiner's final season, and reached the section finals before falling 3-2 to Benilde-St. Margaret's.