By Don Ketchum

A volleyball roster doesn’t need to be loaded with seniors to have success.

Take the team from Phoenix Paradise Valley, for example.

The Trojans have five freshmen who log a lot of minutes, and the team has climbed into the upper reaches of Class 4A Division II.

Through play of Thursday, Sept. 30, Paradise Valley had an 8-2 record and was No. 2 on the Arizona Interscholastic Association’s power points list, behind Phoenix Arcadia. Paradise Valley gave Arcadia (10-1) its only loss, but has lost to Flagstaff and Glendale Cactus, last season’s state runner-up.

Evan Sedillo is in his third season as coach. The team was 1-16 in its first year and 12-5 last year with five seniors (the team reached the quarterfinals).

This season has been somewhat surprising, he said.

“When you have five freshmen on the varsity . . . having that type of inexperience, having to learn that fast . . . they have worked hard every day to put in the time, follow the system and learn,’’ Sedillo said.

The freshmen are middle blocker Paige Vanden Heuvel, libero Taylor Marin, middle blocker Holland Deboer, setter Brittney Wong and middle blocker Hailey Nelson.

During the first week of October, Paradise Valley has three straight games against Phoenix Greenway, defending state champion Chandler Seton Catholic and Phoenix Washington.

“We have played tough competition and we want to continue to do that, make us battle-tested,’’ Sedillo said.

“There are five or six really good teams capable of beating each other on any given day and we hope to be included in that. We have to maintain our focus. The girls have done a good job of that for the most part when the matches get tighter. They know that a couple of plays can change a match.’’

The team relies on ball control and defense, and has been aggressive and consistent with its serves, Sedillo said.

The players also have shown improvement in terms of communication.

“The game goes at different speeds, and that means different communication,’’ Sedillo said.

The glue that holds it all together is outside hitter Kelli Zwiekowski, a 5-foot-10 senior.

“She is a great senior leader and is good about keeping the younger players aware of what they need to do, what the agenda is,’’ Sedillo said.