LYNNWOOD

The Meadowdale volleyball team is ready to make a serious run at a state tournament berth.

The Mavericks lost only a pair of starters from last year’s squad, which advanced to the district tournament for the first time in eight years.

“I think this is the year. I think this is our breakthrough year for us,” second-year coach head Machen Shrum said.

All five 3A Western Conference teams automatically advance to the district tournament. So the regular season takes on a little different meaning.

“Our plan is we want to make sure we earn our way there,” Shrum said. “So we want to be, out of the five, we want to be in the top three.”

Senior Katie Cowen, who returns as setter, not only leads the offense but also is a steadying influence for the Mavericks. Cowen earned second-team, all-league honors last year.

“She is just a quiet confident leader who does not get rattled,” Shrum said. “I have emotional kids. When they’re excited because they win, she’s able to calm them down and keep us at a nice calm, even level. She can put the ball up from anywhere on the court. She’s an absolutely amazing setter.”

Cowen sees where the holes are and is able to exploit the other team’s weaknesses, Shrum added.

Other key players include senior middle hitter Florence Dalos, junior middle hitter Anna Molitor, senior outside hitter Danielle Gilbertson, junior libero Mara Eberth and junior Lynsey Rohrbach, who is switching from the middle to the right side opposite.

Dalos is 6-foot-2, Molitor is 6-1 and Rohrbach is 5-10.

“We’re finally getting a little bit of height in our front line,” Shrum said.

Gilbertson (5-7) actually has been the team’s most consistent outside hitter so far. Dyson finished strong last season and should continue to be one of the team’s top offensive threats. Dalos was brought up from junior varsity last season. She came into 2007 much stronger, Shrum said.

The experience of playing at districts and winning a pair of matches boosted the confidence of the returning players.

“This year we expect to go farther because we realized how we could actually make it into districts,” Cowan said. “Last year we were really close (to making it to state) … I think we can pull it out and make it all the way this year because now we know what we’re up against.”

Shrum was pleased to see that the Mavericks came into the season with that expectation of success. Last year’s postseason success definitely had an impact.

“Mentally we’re a lot stronger this year at the beginning,” Shrum said. “Last year was that questioning of how good are we? We are a good team this year. We’re starting off where we ended last year. … They have come in with the attitude they know that they can win every match.

“It’s just a matter of them staying confident and consistent, which is one of our themes this year — to stay consistent.”

As talented as Meadowdale is, what stands out to Shrum is the team’s heart.

“They are bound and determined this year that they’re going to be a force to be reckoned with,” Shrum said.