This year’s volleyball team is looking to build on the success and tradition of the past teams.

“There is a certain style of play,” coach Carl Ferreira explained that fans are accustomed to expecting when watching the Renegades play.

Having a mentally tough team is one of Ferreira’s main goals this season.

Leadership this season will fall on the shoulders of several returning players from last year’s team.

Sophomores Courtney Grantz, Tyler Herring, Brenda Contreras and Daryan Heathcott are all expected to be the focal leaders this season.

These four sophomores will be critical to the consistency of success for the Renegades.

While the sophomores will play a big role this season, there are a ton of freshmen Ferreira expects to step in right away and make big contributions to the team. Bakersfield High graduate, Lorena Ramirez, will start as the libero for the Renegades. “She is a defensive specialist and a performance leader,” Ferreira explained.

Kayla Romero, a freshman from New Mexico, will be the primary ball control player for the Renegades.

This year’s setters are freshmen Jade Delgadillo (Tehachapi High) and Cate Reeves (Bakersfield Christian) respectively. Ferreira compares Reeves’ job this season as that of a quarterback.

Last season the Renegades lost to El Camino College in four sets in the volleyball college tournament and would eventually finish the season second in the Western State South Conference with a 10-2 conference record. The team would finish with a 17-9 overall record.

The Renegades started the season with a 1-3 record, with their victory over Gavilan College in five sets, and the losses coming to Cabrillo College, Santa Barbara College and Grossmont College.

The next match for the Renegades is September 17 at Allan Hancock College.