ROYAL CITY - Last year was a building season for the Royal high school volleyball team, and it appears this year will be the same.

Coach Paul Olsufka has welcomed 28 candidates for this year's team, and nine of them are freshmen.

There are five returning seniors, Kayla Smith, Seila Jenks, Rebecca Lee, Allie Janett and Hailey Worsham. Smith, Jenks, and Lee are the only the only returners with varsity experience.

"We are looking to continue building and getting stronger as a team," Olsufka said. "Our goal as a team would be to make it to districts and beyond. The girls worked hard this past summer to reach that goal."

The Knights will be somewhat young, with three sophomores getting playing time on the varsity. At least one freshman will swing between the varsity and the junior varsity.

"We have been working hard to improve defensively to give ourselves an opportunity to put the ball back on the other side of the net and score points," Olsufka said. "I look for our seniors to lead us toward our goal of districts."