MARYSVILLE — The Lady Chargers volleyball team has been improving every year since they began in 2011. As their third season of varsity volleyball, the Chargers are determined to make 2013 their year for success.

This year, 57 girls came  for tryouts, which is an increase over last year when 40 girls came,  and the first year when only 27 girls tried out.

“We have eight returning players,” said Kara Veach, head coach. “More than anything, my goal for this year is for my girls to compete. They have already proven that they are ready to compete, and they have the attitude for it and the volleyball skills.”

In 2012, the Chargers didn’t win a single game, and the girls are definitely ready for a change.

“Varsity didn’t win a single game last year, and it’s like night and day, the difference this year,” said Veach. “Even though we have so many returners, it’s a different atmosphere.”

The team held volleyball practices throughout the summer and an average of 25 girls attended each day.

“They are more experienced. For a lot of these girls it’s their third year on varsity, and we have a whole new group of freshmen who are very competitive and changing the level of competition.”

Part of the process in growing an athletic program for a new high school is getting past the initial loss of players — and Veach believes that MG is ready to make their own identity on the court.

“A lot of the scariness of going to the ‘new’ school is going away and there is a lot more known about MG,” she said.

There are two seniors who will be helping to lead the younger talent in the right direction.

“Meka and Kendra bring two different leadership styles to the court,” said Veach, of Mekalani Echevarria and Kendra LaCoste. “Meka, just by the way she plays and the amount of intensity that she brings to the court, she brings up the level of the whole team. Kendra is a fighter and a leader on the court. She always brings her ‘never give up’ attitude to everything she does.”

The team hasn’t developed any specific goals for the season, other than showing that they can hold their own in the Western Conference.

“I know that a lot of what they want to do is compete with these teams,” said Veach. “They want to fight, they want to win games and they want to turn this program into a competitive program.”

The Chargers will face Glacier Peak at home in their first game on Tuesday, Sept. 10, starting at 7 p.m.