The Tahoma High volleyball squad made it to state in 2009 for the first time in more than 30 years.

But that may have just been the beginning for head coach Sally Eager, now in her second year with the Bears.

More than 60 girls tried out for the team and Eager had to cut more than 20. The turnout was up from 47 in 2009.

She has four returning players — seniors Morgan Murrey and Tayler Schroeder, junior Miranda Grieser and sophomore Rachelle Fretz — who are hungry to do more than just get back to state.

“I’m excited about this season,” Eager said. “I’ve got some good JV (junior varsity) players that moved up that are doing well. We’re going to hit the ground running.”

Eager, who won three state championships when she played at Renton High in the early 1980s, said neither she nor the girls will be satisfied with just getting to state this year. They want to win when they get there and Eager would like the team to bring home some hardware.

What will get them there, Eager explains, “is going to be consistency.”

“In volleyball in general, you have to play as a team, and you have to be consistent,” she said. “That’s my No.1 thing, consistency.”

Murrey, a 6-foot-1 left outside hitter, said that even though the team lost eight seniors from last season, the squad of three sophomores, three juniors and six seniors this year has potential.

“It’s still good because we have a lot of talent,” Murrey said. “This year we’re going to do this goal setting system. We want to have a competitive practice every day and go all out.”

And Murrey echoes Eager’s sentiments about what the Bears need to do in order to build on last year’s success.

“We need to be able to work as a team,” Murrey said. “It involves a lot of communication and trusting your teammates.”

Schroeder, the team’s libero, said this season the girls are focused on getting along both on and off the court by working on team unity as a key factor toward accomplishing their team goals.

“We need to bond and get our chemistry back together because it’s practically a brand new team,” Schroeder said. “Our team didn’t come together (last year). We need to come together as a team and pick each other up. I think we have a lot better chance of coming together this year.”

Beyond that, Schroeder added, they need to work on getting the little things right on the court both at practice and during matches.

“Last year we were an underdog team. I think we’re also an underdog team this year,” she said. “We need to focus on the details and not on winning.”

The Bears opened the season Sept. 7 beating Spanaway Lake 3-1 from the South Puget Sound League South.

Tahoma hosts Beamer Tuesday, Sept. 14.