When it comes to volleyball success in the fall, it is all about what a team does in the summer these days.

Teams from Seneca Valley to Freeport to A-C Valley are branching out, trying to expose their players to bigger and better competition.

Winning, forged from grueling tournaments.

“You can't replace the experience you get from playing bigger and better schools,” said 10th-year A-C Valley coach Doug Knox, who had his Falcons square off in a tournament this summer against teams like Butler and Knoch.

“We competed,” Knox said. “We held our own. There wasn't a team we didn't beat.”

Freeport took a similar approach, playing in a tournament at Penn State without all-state hitter Zoe Pawlak and still won the championship.

“There were 16 teams from all over the state and we ended up winning the tournament without Zoe,” said Freeport coach Tom Phillips. “We played really strong. We played really well and when you play at a high level like that with one of your strongest players out, it shows the others that they can do it.”

Seneca Valley will run its gauntlet at the beginning of the season when the Raiders head east to Garden Spot and a 20-team tournament.

“I like to do it because you get a lot of looks at different teams,” Seneca Valley coach Karen Martini said. “You also get to see your team chemistry. We don't really care if we place. We just want to see what lineup is the best. You just have so many matches and you play such good teams, it makes you better.”

Here is a look at all Butler County area volleyball teams this season:

Butler

•Coach: Dan Mountain, third year

• Last year: 7-9 overall, 5-7 in the section

• At the net: Paige Lambermont (senior), Autumn Rodgers (senior), Alexis Schmieder (junior), Emily Archer (junior), Caitlin Martin (junior)

nSetting up: Mady Lawrence (junior), Erin Fullerton (junior)

• Digging it out: Taylor Stein (junior), Kelly Kabay (senior)

• Outlook: Butler has been pounding on the door of the playoffs in recent seasons. This could be the year the Golden Tornado break through.

“Many players have improved tremendously over the past few years,” Mountain said. “We look to continue on that track as we try to qualify for a playoff berth.”

Seneca Valley

• Coach: Karen Martini, 10th year

• Last year: 19-5

• At the net: Melissa Carter (senior), Madeline Poirier (senior), Kate Davis (senior), Tatum Poirier (junior), Maria Alfano (junior)

• Setting up: Maddie McDonough (sophomore), Madison Chapman (senior)

• Digging it out: Bella Seman (junior), Lauren Vokes (senior), Bethany Cowden (junior)

• Outlook: The Raiders came a mere point away from reaching the PIAA finals last season, losing to Baldwin in a grueling five-set match.

Martini believes she has the team to make another state run.

“I'm excited, but we're still trying to figure it all out,” Martini said. “I actually like where we are right now, still trying to figure out where everyone fits. It means we won't peak too early.”

Mars

• Coach: Tami Caraway, third year

• Last year: 9-8 overall, 6-6 in the section

• At the net: Cassie McKernan (junior), Julia Frye (junior), Sydney Amell (sophomore), Kayla Mitchell (senior), Hannah Ryan (senior), Maddie Schlegel (sophomore), Mikayla Tiller (junior)

• Setting up: Julia Zimmer (junior)

• Digging it out: Alyssa Fenton (senior), Alecia Zika (senior), Rachel McKernan (junior)

• Outlook: The Planets are still trying to adjust to life in Class AAA in a section with Butler, Seneca Valley, Pine-Richland, Hampton, North Allegheny and North Hills.

Mars, though, has a well-rounded roster to compete in the well-rounded section.

“There will never be an easy night in the gym and we know we have to bring our best game each time we step on the court,” Caraway said. “Our roster is very deep this year and every player is going to be capable of contributing at some point.”

Knoch

• Coach: Diane Geist, 30th year

• Last year: 13-5

• At the net: Sarah Armahizer (junior), Abbie Fissore (junior), Jessie Jack (junior), Katelyn Schwab (junior), Abby Kopac (sophomore), Bethany Nulph (sophomore)

• Setting up: Julie Zilka (senior), Abby Pospisil (sophomore)

• Digging it out: Alley Kerkan (junior), Carly Bozzo (sophomore), Taylor Lesseski (senior), Celia Knappenberger (sophomore)

• Outlook: Geist is in her 30th season and has been adept at rebuilding on the fly, as the Knights did last season.

This year, there is depth to go along with a bit of uncertainty.

“Our goal is always to get to the playoffs,” Geist said. “I think we have a team that will get better as the season goes along.”

Freeport

• Coach: Tom Phillips, 15th year

• Last year: 23-2

• At the net: Zoe Pawlak (senior), Morgan Ruppersberger (senior), Hannah Mason (sophomore), Jenna Manke (sophomore)

• Setting up: Maggie Ward (junior), Maddie Christy (junior)

• Digging it out: Meredith Turdel (senior)

• Outlook: The Yellowjackets haven't lost a regular-season match in two years and have a fierce, all-state hitter at the net in Pawlak.

It certainly helps that Freeport has a roster full of volleyball junkies.

“Of the 21 players, 20 played (Junior Olympic) volleyball,” Phillips said. “My practice (last week) was so intense, I had to call the dogs off.”

Slippery Rock

• Coach: Laura Franklin, third season

• Last year: Sub-.500

• At the net: Kortney Schaum (junior), Lexi Romeo (junior), Kaci Brandenburg (senior)

• Setting up: Kayla Broad (senior)

• Digging it out: Katie McClymonds (senior)

• Outlook: The Rockets have held their own in a difficult region with perennial power Conneaut.

“I think we're going to be pretty scrappy,” Franklin said.

Grove City

• Coach: Dawn Haggart, sixth year

• Last year: 7-7

• At the net: Bailey Risch (senior), Carla Cintron (senior), Ashley Jackson (junior), Khalidah Muhammad (junior)

• Setting up: Hannah Santom (junior), Maguire Grubba (sophomore)

• Digging it out: Halle Culmer (junior), Alaina Cunningham (sophomore), Emma Lowers (sophomore)

• Outlook: The Eagles lost dynamic hitter Jordyn Wyllie to graduation, but Haggart said her team may be more dangerous because of their balance in 2015.

“Last year the opponent gameplan was easy: 'Block Jordyn,'” Haggart said. “Now we can really mix it up.”

A-C Valley

• Coach: Doug Knox, 10th year

• Last year: 15-4

• At the net: Katie Stumpner (senior), Halee Wetzel (senior), Morgan Cratty (senior), Josey Terwilliger (sophomore)

• Setting up: Alyssa Babcock (senior), Kiersten Roethen (senior)

• Outlook: The Falcons are always in the mix in District 9 and this year should be no different.

“I'm looking for a great year,” Knox said. “The girls have been working real hard all summer.”

Karns City

• Coach: Pam Preston, second year

• Last year: 9-3

• At the net: Emily Hegedus (sophomore), Brody Whited (senior), Mackenzie Craig (junior), Claudia Kamenski (junior), Michael Bailey (junior)

• Setting up: Brooke Moore (junior), Lindsey Duespohl (junior)

• Digging it out: Alyssa Slagle (senior)

• Outlook: The Gremlins quietly enjoyed a solid season last year and are looking to build on that with talent all over the court.

“I have a very good outlook for this season,” Preston said. “We have some great athletes and I have some juniors, sophomores and even some ninth-graders who we are going to use. We have a very athletic team.”

Moniteau

• Coach: Jamie Martino, third year, and Kenzie Timblin, first year

• Last year: 2-11

• At the net: Brittany Lindsay (senior), Sara Hull (junior), Meghan McKinney (senior)

• Setting up: Sydnie Mershimer (junior)

• Digging it out: Kelsey Ripley (senior)

nOutlook: The Warriors should be able to score more consistently than last season, said Timblin, who played for Moniteau and graduated in 2007.

“I think we'll have a much better offense than we had last year,” Timblin said.

Union

• Coach: Julie Parks, second year

• Last year: 9-7

• At the net: Kali Flick (senior), Frankee Remmick (sophomore), Amy Henry (sophomore), Taylor Adams (junior), Bryn Davis (freshman).

• Setting up: Emily Rankin (senior), Hannah Atzeni (sophomore)

• Digging it out: Lexey Shick (junior), Marli Hawk (freshman)

• Outlook: The Damsels have their sights set high this season with a roster stocked with talent.

“Every year we always set the goal of going to the playoffs, and for the last three years we have met that goal,” Parks said. “But this year, my goal isn't just making it to the playoffs. My goals are to be seeded higher than we have been in the past, and be more successful in the playoffs.”