ALGONA — The St. Edmond girls open their season against Bishop Garrigan, the defending two-time Class 1A state champions, here Tuesday night.

Tip is set for 7:30 p.m.

The Gaels return six players with starting experience including seniors Michaela Leiting, Silvia Heldorfer, Kaili Henning and Maya Neverman. Junior Josie Harvey and sophomore Anna Lursen were also key members of the rotation a year ago.

Juniors Payton Bradley and Braelynn Rees along with sophomores Maggie Flaherty, Ava Underberg and Ava Andrew all saw action in at least 15 games.

Leiting, Henning, Harvey, Bradley, Flaherty and Andrew were all part of the St. Edmond softball team that reached the state tournament this past summer, with Leiting and Lursen running at state cross country in the fall.

The Golden Bears will have a vastly different look after standouts Audi Crooks and Molly Joyce graduated. Crooks is now at Iowa State and Joyce Truman State, leaving the lead to returning starters Abbie Capesius and Zoe Montag.