RANCHO CORDOVA, CA (MPG) - Coming off a season that saw her team underperform en route to a 2-15 overall record a year ago, Cordova girls' varsity volleyball head coach Kristen Endean isn't shying away from expecting improvement–and more–this fall.

Endean is entering her second season at the helm of the program, and has her sights set on a much different finish to this season than the last.

“I definitely think there's the possibility of taking it to at least the first round of the playoffs this year,” she stated. “I think that with the league that we're in and the team that we're building, I think we have a strong possibility of making it there.”

The team is currently holding tryouts for new players to join the team this season, but Endean feels good about the girls who will be returning to the court for her program. Senior middle hitter Analise Graton and senior outside hitter Emily Arnez are two players who will be relied upon to contribute in roles of invaluable upperclassmen leadership, albeit in different ways. Arnez is coming off an injury and her playing time figures will be monitored this season, so she will be counted as a captain of the team from primarily the sidelines. Graton has impressed Endean this summer with contributions on and off the court.

“She's really stepped up this summer in terms of her aggression and showing others what it means to be a part of the team," Endean said. "I've been really impressed with her desire to want to play.”

With Endean teaching summer school and members of her team in and out of town throughout the summer, the coach said the team has dedicated one day a week to practices over the last two months, but figures to ramp up the intensity in short order with tryouts underway next week and the school year fast approaching.

The Lady Lancers will open up their preseason non-league schedule on August 27 when they host Sheldon at 6:00 p.m.