MOSES LAKE - In a hostile environment against a strong Wenatchee front line, Moses Lake volleyball was within two points of a state tournament berth.

After a 10-day stretch early last season that saw the Chiefs lose five matches in a row, it was unclear if Moses Lake would even make the district tournament.

However, the Chiefs rallied around first-year head coach Michael DeHoog and qualified as the No. 3 seed.

The Chiefs closed the 2013 season with two wins against Davis - who was battling the Chiefs for district seeding - and an upset against league champion Eisenhower in the season finale.

So there Moses Lake sat. On the road in Wenatchee two points away from the state tournament.

The Panthers would eventually go on to eliminate the Chiefs, but the foundation for next year had been laid.

"Last year truly was a work in progress," DeHoog said. "The kids coming in, they didn't know everything that I expected of them but they never questioned it, which was nice.

"They bought into everything I was asking them to do. We had some bumps along the road, but we always fought back and it really culminated at the end of the season beating Eisenhower who was undefeated in conference."

In his second year at the helm of the Moses Lake volleyball program, DeHoog is more comfortable with his team and more knowledgeable of each girl's skill set.

Something that was unfamiliar to him entering his first year.

"Last year I really didn't know any of the kids very well coming in," DeHoog said. "I had very limited contact with them before the season started - just a couple open gyms here and there - and this year I was able to go through last season and seeing kids develop.

"You get to know them a little bit, develop relationships with them. The biggest difference is I know the kids better than I did last year - personality-wise, ability-wise, what they can do skill-wise."

This year, West Valley (Yakima) joins the Columbia Basin Big 9 from the Class 2A Central Washington Athletic Conference.

The Rams have been a powerhouse and placed third in last year's state tournament.

The addition of West Valley should make the competition for the final district playoff spot crowded.

"It's going to be interesting for districts," DeHoog said. "For districts we take our top four. We finished third last year. I haven't seen any of the Yakima schools yet, but Eisenhower should be strong, Wenatchee's going to be strong, Eastmont is a lot better than they were last year. West Valley is perennially strong."

Despite graduating Carina LeFave - who now plays volleyball at Wenatchee Valley College - the Chiefs still have a wealth of returning talent.

All-Conference players Kylee McKay and Greta Hammer return to the squad, as well as seniors Marissa Strickland and Ashley Sampson.

"All the kids got stronger," DeHoog said. "They worked out this summer. It's nice because both Marissa and Greta are playing faster and thinking and reacting faster in this first two weeks of the season than they did at the end of last season. That's been a real exciting piece for me."

Other key returning players include Paula Clements, Rylee Cranston and Maddie Tudor.

Moses Lake competed in a jamboree over the weekend and will open its season today on the road against Post Falls.

The Chiefs will play another nonleague road match against Lewis and Clark Sept. 11 before opening Big 9 play at reigning league champion Eisenhower Sept. 16.

Moses Lake's first home match is Sept. 18 against Sunnyside.