Valley Christian’s volleyball team finished 23-11 overall and made a state run as the No. 42 ranked team in Arizona.

This year is different for the Trojans.

At 1-1 they will look to continue their success with a young team and new coach in a rebuilding mode.

The Trojans lost four senior starters who all played in the front row as outside hitters, opposites and middle blockers.

“I thought that they should have gone farther in state because of their starting rotation,” new coach Lindsey Ramsland said. “Varsity had a ton of all around talent so it was tough to see them lose in the second game.”

Ramsland played for the Trojans, played in college and coached the freshman and junior varsity teams.

Her young team looks for guidance from a familiar face to grow along the way.

“We are a young team and we are going to have to push ourselves to meet the standards,” freshman outside hitter Cara Braun said. “Hopefully, we can reach our potential and go to state again.”

Braun stands at 6-foot-1 and has been superior so far into the season.

Braun has totaled a whopping 33 kills through two games.

“She is already our outside hitter number one and she has to keep growing to get better and better,” Ramsland said. “She can play great defense, she can pass and do everything.” “She is the real deal.”

Not only does Valley Christian have a star freshman outside hitter, they have the “setter sisters.”

Abigail Calicchio and Emma Calicchio run the 6-2 offensive rotation as “the quarterbacks.”

They have to make the right reads, set the tempo and speed to make their hitters successful.

“It is really such an amazing opportunity and I love my sister so much. We work so well together,” Abigail Calicchio said. “We know what it is going on since we play each other all the time.” “So, we know each other's strengths and weaknesses.” “We can really help each other to grow and we know how to communicate with each other to become the best player possible.”

The young team brings something unique to the table in versatility.

The Trojan’s have players who can play any position.

“In a year or two you will see these young players grow and you are going to see a totally different team, Ramsland said.”