John Yunker and Amy Fonoti were the two coaches in the Lakeville North gymnasium Thursday night probably the most familiar with Champlin Park volleyball.

The odd part was that Yunker and Fonoti were on opposite sidelines.

Yunker, a longtime Champlin Park coach and 2018 state champion, was replaced by Fonoti, his former assistant, when he left this year to take over the Lakeville North program.

In their first match in their new positions, Yunker and his Lakeville North team, ranked second in Class 4A, won their opener 25-22, 19-25, 25-16, 25-4 against Champlin Park.

During warmups, Yunker got the awkwardness out of the way by exchanging handshakes and hugs with his former team.

“I talked to Amy a bit and the other coaches and saw the players, too,” Yunker said. “We knew it was going to be an interesting night. They were going to come with energy. There are still a lot of good players there.”

It was the eighth meeting between the two schools to open the season, a tradition started by Yunker and former Lakeville North coach Jackie Richter, who is now a college assistant at St. Thomas.

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A year ago, Yunker lost to Richter in five sets in the season opener at Champlin Park, but the two teams split the regular-season series 2-2.

The Rebels, who won the last two meetings, finished 30-4 and as Class 4A state runner-up to Lakeville South. The Panthers went 26-4 but fell to the rival Cougars in five sets in the Class 4A, Section 1 championship.

Last year, Yunker coached Star Tribune Player of the Year and current Gophers freshman Carly Gilk. Creighton recruit and Lakeville North senior setter Rayna Christianson is a leading Miss Volleyball candidate and Yunker’s top player this year.

Christianson finished a team-high 12 kills and 21 assists Thursday as the Panthers adjusted to a new coach and the loss of six players from last season.

“We tried to focus on our side and away from the distractions,” Christianson said. “We had to focus on our team and how we had to win each point.”

The Rebels had only four returning players, but they more than held their own early, taking a 19-18 lead in the first set. Lakeville North rallied to win after five straight points fueled by senior middle blocker Annika Swenson.

Champlin Park jumped to a 9-4 advantage in the second set. Lucy Howe’s back-to-back aces gave the Rebels a 17-11 advantage, and the margin never got closer than two points before the match was tied 1-1.

In the third set, Lakeville North trailed 5-1 but scored 10 of the next 12 points to take control. Christianson finished things off for a nine-point victory that got her team back on track.

Seniors Remy Hoyt and Brynlee Major combined for six service aces in the final set, which the Panthers dominated following a 12-1 start.

“We really tried to focus on our serves because the second set didn’t go the best,” said Major, who finished with 10 kills and three aces.

Yunker passed his first test with his new squad in an emotional opening match, but he knows the schedule, which includes hosting No. 8 Stillwater next week, only gets tougher.

“We have a lot of good teams coming up,” he said. “It’s nice to start at home to get into a groove with lineups and everything else.”

Champlin Park also proved in Fonoti’s debut as coach that it still has enough talent to compete at a high level.

“It’s a legendary program,” Fonoti said about the Rebels. “It’s such a privilege and not an opportunity everyone gets to do. John was there for many years and established a great foundation.”