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Fresh off a state sectional berth a season ago, their first time advancing that far in the playoffs since 2016, Morristown West’s volleyball team is looking to build off what they started.

And according to head coach Lacey Price Evans, they’re well on their way.

“Our pre-season has been a real success,” Price Evans said. “We got such a late start last year, it didn’t feel like we had a preseason at all. We have had productive practices and workouts and were even able to attend the Fellowship of Christian Athletes volleyball camp at Johnson University where we competed with some really good teams from several different states.”

As far as returning starters, the Trojans have an abundance.

“I am returning nine players (eight seniors and one junior) that played an important role in our run to sub-state last year,” Price Evans said. “The seniors have played together since middle school and have a cohesiveness that only comes from spending that much time together on the court.”

Among the returning names are Aubrie Messer, Brie Blevins, Bella Forte, Claire Bolton, Emma Miller, Emmah Long and Kenzie Collins, who were all key contributors in their win over Science Hill to clinch the sub-state berth.

They won’t be alone, however. West also has a trio of new faces looking to make an impact.

“I have three juniors who will be playing varsity this year for the first time,” Price Evans said. “They each have put in a lot of productive work to get themselves ready for this opportunity. I expect them to provide our team with solid depth at a variety of positions, and take advantage of the opportunity when they are in the rotation.”

Their schedule won’t make it an easy journey, however. In addition to a tough conference slate, their non-conference schedule will challenge them as well.

“In addition to our conference schedule that includes Cocke County, East, Jefferson, and Sevier County, we have been able to add games with some really strong teams from around the area,” Price Evans said. “Our non-conference schedule will consist of Heritage, William Blount, Grainger, South Greene, Grace Christian, Alcoa, Silverdale, Cherokee and Carter on senior night to wrap up our regular season.”

While the slate will be tough, with their eyes set on advancing far into the playoffs, it will help prepare them for the big moments.

“I would like to see the team build off the momentum that we ended the season with last year,” Price Evans said. “We had the talent and potential to make it as far as we did, but it took us until the postseason to start maximizing that potential. With as many players as we have coming back, I would like to see our team find the continuity that it takes to be successful on the volleyball court early in the season, so that our focus can be on refining our team throughout the season.”

With the reinforcement of an already solid returning group from a season ago, the Trojans have their eyes set on the state championship this season.

“We were 31 points away from making it to the state championship in Murfreesboro last year,” Price Evans said. “This year, our goal is to find those 31 points and play for a state championship.”