Several area high school volleyball teams will have a lot to live up to this season.

Here's some of the accomplishments they turned in last season:

• Freeport went 18-0 and was the section champion.

• Mars was 19-3 and won the section.

• Grove City was 17-3, and its only losses came against the three state champions in each class.

• Union went 17-5 overall and 11-1 in the Keystone Shortway Athletic Conference.

That's some tough acts to follow, but the high achievers from last season figure to do so again.

Freeport has lost much of its core, but also returns a talented team spurred on by a junior high program that has gone undefeated for the last three seasons.

"Athletically, this may be the most talented team I have had," said Yellowjackets coach Tom Phillips. "The thing we have to look for is leadership. How quickly we mature will determine how well we do this season."

Mars lost its coach, Karen Martini, who left to take the job at Seneca Valley, but her longtime friend, Kevin Walters, takes over the program.

Walters' goal is a lofty one: win the section again.

It won't be easy, though, with always tough Knoch and Ambridge lurking.

"Knoch will always have a very good program," Walters said. "There aren't too many slouches in our section. Our first goal is to win the section and get deep into the playoffs."

Grove City suffered a big loss when senior hitter Jenna Kelly went down this spring with a knee injury. That will wipe out her volleyball and basketball seasons.

But the Eagles are loaded with talent at every position and are one of the best defensive teams around.

"We have a real nice team this year," said Grove City coachShawnee Denbow, no stranger to nice teams in her 15 years with the Eagles. "With Jenna being out, we're still a good team. With Jenna, we would have been an amazing team.

"I'm looking for a great season."

So is Union, which also is loaded with senior talent. But the KSAC is quickly turning into a tough league with improving Moniteau and Karns City to go along with perennial power Clarion-Limestone.

Perhaps Union coach Barry Divins summed it up best.

"It's going to be an interesting season," he said.

Butler•

Coach: Meghan Lucas, fourth year•

Last year: 5-11 overall, 2-8 in the section•

They're gone: Abby Herrit, Kelley Crater•

They're here: Amy Achesinski (senior), Yuki Schaper (senior), Katie Willison (junior), Ashley Grenet (junior), Sam Harris (junior), Becky Smith (sophomore), Stephanie Mock (sophomore)•

Outlook: If there is a dark horse in Section 3 of Class AAA, the Golden Tornado are it."Last year was disappointing, but it was sort of expected with a young team," Lucas said. "We're definitely looking for an improvement this year. I definitely think the pieces are in place. Things are looking up."

Seneca Valley•

Coach: Karen Martini, first year•

Last year: N/A•

They're gone: Chelsey Pavlik, Danielle Diamond•

They're here: Angela Hagey (senior), Kaylin Noch (senior), Justine Carrow (junior), Jennifer Boyd (junior), Lauren Balmer (junior), Liz Dorogy (senior), Emily Hannon (junior), Elaina Sabatine (senior)•

Outlook: Martini takes over a program just two years removed from an appearance in the PIAA championship tournament."Ithink it will be a very productive year," Martini said. "I think the girls here are willing to spend the hours to win."

Freeport•

Coach: Tom Phillips, fifth year•

Last year: 18-0, section champs•

They're gone: Stephanie Leslie, Dana Turley, Katelyn McCurdy, KellyAcre,Marissa DeSalvo•

They're here: Ashley Stover (senior), Samantha Campbell (junior), Brittany Turley (junior), Amanda Zahumensky (sophomore)•

Outlook: Gone is much of the core that made the Yellowjackets the team to beat in the section last season. But don't think just because Freeport had some graduation losses that it won't compete again for a title."We're very young," Phillips said, "but very talented."

Knoch•

Coach: Diane Geist, 20th year•

Last year: second in section•

They're gone: Carli Whisler, Ashley Thrower, Chelsea Vonrhein, Kaitlin Moretti•

They're here: Leanne Wiefling (senior), Renee Crimbchin (senior), Danielle Heckathorn (senior), Anita Hartzel (senior), Kirsten Brant (junior), Zoe Hughes (junior), Ashlee Antoszyk (junior), Liz Hill (junior), Liz Ogershok (junior), Sara Montgomery (sophomore)•

Outlook: There are certain things one can count on: birth, death, taxes and the Knights competing for a section title in volleyball.They figure to do so again."We haven't though much about long-term goals," Geist said. "But our goal is definitely to win the section. It's a weird section this year with Mars and Ambridge, Quaker Valley, Aliquippa, Freedom and Oakland Catholic. Those are some pretty good teams."

Mars•

Coach: KevinWalters, first year•

Last year: 19-3•

They're gone: KellyBerry, Lacey Beitler, Brokke Davidson, Jess Schroeder, Amy Brooks, Meghan Kosar, Jordan Bossong•

They're here: Jodi Leopold (senior), Kelsey Rovnan (junior), Lily Grenci (sophomore), Alyssa Skoff (senior), Britt Morgan (junior), Casey Kivkaszewski (junior), Ellen Kenitz (junior)•

Outlook: Walters believes his team will compete again for the section title."I think with the talent we have, with the young girls working hard, we should be OK," he said.

Slippery Rock•

Coach: Greg Dugan, seventh year•

Last year: 9-5, tied for third in region•

They're gone: Amy Siwik, Erica Gabreski•

They're here: Jessica Speicher (senior), Kristen Staugh (junior), Cursty McClure (junior), Monica Drobezko (junior), Saxon Angerett (junior), Jessica Prelec (sophomore), Michele Beaumont (sophomore), Hilly Pendel (sophomore), Rachael Szymoniak (sophomore), Ashley McFeaters (sophomore)•

Outlook: With a young but experienced roster, Dugan said he is expecting big things out of the Rockets this season.Slippery Rock has one of the best tandems in the region in senior Jessica Speicher, who has four school records already, and junior setter Kristen Staugh."Kristen already has 1,137 assists and should hold four school records at the end of this season in service points and aces, assists for season and career," Dugan said. "Kristen is a great decision-maker and will show she is the top setter in the section this year."

Grove City•

Coach: Shawnee Denbow, 16th year•

Last year: 17-3•

They're gone: Sheila Ogden, Kristen Kowalsky, Jenna Kelly (knee injury)•

They're here: Ashley Patterson (senior), Sam Baseler (senior), Kari Barnes (senior), Chelsea Harrison (senior), Logan Sanders (senior), Rachel Ennis (junior), Caitlin Rothman (junior), LaceyAloisio (juniors), Lauryn Franklin (junior), Caitlin McNamara (freshman), Sammi Bell (freshman)•

Outlook: In her 16th year, Denbow once again has a team that could challenge for a PIAA championship."My team is smart and fast on the court, Denbow said. "We make very few mistakes, and this is one of the best defensive teams I've ever had. In rally scoring, that's what it is all about."

Union•

Coach: BarryDivins, 13th year•

Last year: 17-5, 11-1 in the Keystone Shortway Athletic Conference•

They're gone: NikkiDavis, Kayla Hepler, Alley Toven•

They're here: Janele Divins (senior), Tiffany Corle (senior), Denyelle Painter (senior), Chrystal Kemery (senior), Mackenzie Shirey (senior)•

Outlook: The KSAC is tough, but so is Union, which has quietly produced winning season after winning season, much like the basketball team, which shares many of the same players."I think it goes both ways," Divins said. "We set the tone for the year and they just keep it up."

Karns City•

Coach: MarcyIsacco, third year•

Last year: Finished .500•

They're gone: Nicole Strohmyer, Anna Bullman, Laura Kepple•

They're here: HaleyCallihan (senior), Stephanie Isacco (senior), Courtney Slagle (senior), Jessica Spafford (senior)•

Outlook: The Gremlins have gone from back-to-back 0-16 seasons, to 3-13 and finally to a .500 record last season.This could be the year the Gremlins take the next step."I think we're going to be better than we were last year," Isacco said. "The league is just very strong, though. But I think we have the talent to compete."

Moniteau•

Coach: Anna White, first year•

Last year: 9-10 overall, 8-8 in the KSAC•

They're gone: Kristen Baronetski, Haley McFeaters•

They're here: Kendra Hall (senior), Cassie Weist (senior), Amanda Gladd (senior), Kenzie Timblin (senior), Megan Campbell (senior), Kristen Hasychak (senior), Katelynn DeVinney (senior), Kaiti Gerwick (senior), Brandy Neff (senior)•

Outlook: The Warriors lost in the first round of the District 9 playoffs last season and have nine returning seniors from that team.The only thing new is White, who takes over for Alea Kennedy."The girls get along very well," White said. "They've been stuck together all these years. We changed the lineup and some other things, but I'm expecting a good season."