Most high school sports programs don’t have big expectations in just their second season of operation. But then again, Village High School volleyball isn’t most high school programs.

The part-online, part-on campus, part-workplace hybrid school located just off Kelly Johnson Boulevard has two athletic programs, volleyball and boys basketball. Both sports were introduced last season.

Despite that, the school already has a state title in its trophy case, courtesy of volleyball coach Shannon Baker and the Mountaineers who posted a 26-3 record and claimed the 3A state championship in their inaugural season a year ago.

Baker knew something special was happening at Village when Olivia Plentl and Ericka Sayer stormed the principal’s office and asked him to bring a volleyball program to the school.

Two years later, Plentl and Sayer, alongside Lillian Edwards, led the Mountaineers in kills and helped the team achieve ultimate glory.

Now with those “critical seniors,” as Baker refers to them, gone, this year’s Mountaineers intend to follow their roadmap to success.

“We have a lot of big shoes to fill,” sophomore outside hitter Norah Hollis said. “We’re coming in with the mentality that, to win this, we’re going to have to work hard every practice. And it’s definitely not going to be given to us. I think last year we had such a good intensity every practice and we’re trying to figure how to bring that every practice again.

“I’m following (Edwards), who’s one of my best friends and she’s just an incredible all-around player and I aspire to have her consistency.”

Hollis and the Mountaineers don’t want to be one-hit wonders. She said she wants the team to defend its title and prove its worth as an up-and-coming program in every game this season.

But for all the ways in which Village volleyball may stand out from programs at other schools, this season began with a more common challenge, welcoming and incorporating the incoming freshman class.

Last year’s major players previously knew each other from club team, and so they were able to come together more quickly.

This year is a different story.

“Everyone kind of knows each other playing in club volleyball, everyone in Colorado knows a little bit about each other. This year, we still have a ton of girls coming in from clubs that we just haven’t known yet and it’s a little different,” Hollis said. “We used to connect about coaches, our tournaments, everything about that was super fun, and I think coming in this year we like to learn about what other clubs are doing. What fun events they bring.”

The Mountaineers have already begun building that bond. A few weeks ago, the team participated in a volleyball camp at Colorado State University. It offered an opportunity to play a tournament against other teams as well as a chance to learn about the newcomers on the roster.

“I had a new freshman and she was just amazing. Learning what we can connect on. At breakfast and dinner we put away our phones so we could connect and talk, and we just did like funny Guess Who’s,” Hollis said. “Especially as a freshman I know, it’s nerve wracking to walk in and not know many kids but it just changes so fast when school comes around and volleyball is just this big community.”

Baker cherishes the opportunities her players get to spend time together because, unlike a traditional school, it’s no guarantee that the girls will see each other during school hours.

Friendship and unity were key components in Village’s state championship last season. The Mountaineers were down two sets to Platte Valley in last season’s state title match. The girls rallied to victory behind their love of one another.

For senior setter Addison Miller, friendship is what Village volleyball values most.

“That’s the reason we won state last year. It’s the reason we were as good as we were because every single person on the team was so close,” Miller said. “Even in the hard plays, we could just get up next to each other and say, ‘Hey you got the next one.'”

Miller and her friends will get the opportunity to rise through the hard moments and bask in the pleasant ones as Village embarks on its second season, hosting Sand Creek on Thursday.