The Auburn Mountainview volleyball squad might have lost six seniors to graduation last year, including South Puget Sound League 3A MVP Megan McBride, but don’t count on the Lions to lose a step as they swing into their fifth year as a program.

This year the Lions will field a younger squad, with just four seniors gracing the team’s roster – Alexi Morton, Melissa Arias, Kylie Olenick and Tricia Patton.

Last year the team finished 19-4 overall, 12-2 in league, and earned a spot in the state 3A volleyball tournament.

According to coach Momi Bowles, expectations are still high, if not as lofty as last year.

“It’s less expectation, and I think that’s a good place for us to be this year,” said Bowles, who has guided the Lions to three consecutive trips to the state tournament in her five years with program. “The girls will decide how much of a role they want to take on.

“The new leadership of this program will emerge, it won’t be assigned by me,” Bowles added. “That creates a much more competitive environment in practice. These girls are really focused.”

With the loss of McBride – as well as middle hitter and all-league second-team selection Tara Patton and honorable mention Krystle Hansen – the Lions will look to their core of seniors to step up.

“It’s great to have Lexi Morton back in the middle,” Bowles said. “We lost her last year to an ACL injury. She actually missed volleyball and all of gymnastics, so it’s great to see her back for her senior year.”

The team also will look to Tricia Patton to lead the squad, on and off the court.

“Tricia Patton is coming back as a senior,” Bowles said. “She’s our outside hitter.”

Despite the hit from graduation, Bowles said she is pleased with the team’s progress in the offseason.

“We’ve done a lot work, so some players have come along real well,” she said. “The key is just going to be getting the kids in the right spots that will help us win.”

Bowles singled out sophomores Kelsey Fausko and Caitlin Carr as players who have improved.

“Kelsey Fausko was our third middle last year and got limited playing time,” Bowles said. “But boy, did she put some time in during the offseason and is blocking and hitting really well. And Caitlin Carr played right side for us and she is really hitting well. So with Lexi coming back and Kelsey, Caitlin and Tricia, it’s slowly starting to come together. And we’ve got second-team (SPSL 3A all-league) libero Alex Odren out there.”

“At this point, we’re pretty good and set up with a really good team,” Patton agreed. “Coach always sets up really good drills, and if we’re focused and do what we’re supposed to do, we’ll be at the top again this year. All the girls really want to win, all of them have that same determination and come in and work hard. That’s a really big strength that will help us.”

Already the squad is displaying a toughness and determination to succeed that has Bowles confident about her team’s fortunes this year.

“They’re tough, they definitely are” she said. “They just seem very focused in practice. And they love instruction. They are just soaking it up. They are very coachable and just tough kids. I think we’ll be very competitive in the SPSL 3A. I definitely see postseason for these kids, but it’s really going to be up to them and how hard they work.”

For Patton, who has already stepped into a team leadership role, the key to success this season is simple.

“We just need to come out and not be afraid,” she said. “We’re here to get better. We need to not look into the long run, just focus on where we’re at now, and that will help us.”

“If we keep doing like we’re doing right now, we should grow and we’re only going to get better,” Patton continued. “We don’t want to have a rocky start. We just need to keep a steady pace, and hopefully that will lead us to the top.”

The team will open its season 7:15 p.m. Tuesday at Clover Park and play its first home game against White River at 7:15 p.m. Wednesday.