The Lady Bisons struggled through a   4-15 campaign in Peters' first season at the helm, but the good news is that Peters' starting lineup consisted of only underclassmen, five of whom return for this season.

Couple in the returnees with some things that Peters picked up at a Penn State camp, and Clearfield may be on its way to working toward the .500 season they've been striving for the past couple of seasons.

"They're starting to understand some things, I think, and they're doing some good things in practice," said Peters of his squad. "I think our strength is going to be our experience.

"It's almost a coach's dream this year because we had all six starters as underclassmen last year, but we had one in Lizzie Higgins move out of the district. Had it not been for that, we would have had all of our starters back - that's not to say that all of them will start this year."

Leading the list of returnees is three-year letterwinner and Progressland all-star Jennie Knepp. Knepp is returning to her setting position, where she will enter her fourth year as a starter, and Peters is relying on her to help guide some of the younger players who will see time off the bench.

"She's probably our best server, and so forth, but she's had three years of experience," Peters said of Knepp. "I'm hoping she's able to pass some of that along to the younger girls because they look up to her, so to speak. She does well for this being her fourth year."

Returning to the lineup with Knepp are fellow letterwinners Ashlie Gearhart, Amber Mahlon, Monika Parks and Kelsey Glace.

All of the lettermen started last season, but Peters is quick to point out that some of the younger players who played junior varsity a season ago have vastly improved and have been pushing for playing time.

"I'm really pleased with how the younger players improved from last year," said Peters. "I won't hesitate to put some of the younger players in this year. I think their skill levels have come up to where they can compete when they're in there.

"I was really surprised with the way some of them have improved. It's going to give us more depth, and that's a good thing. You can't have too much depth. That should help us win some matches that we might not have last year."

Mahlon will return as another setter for the Lady Bisons, while Gearhart and Glace will be two of the three middle hitters.

The outside hitters will consist of Parks and junior Samantha Broad, while Sophia Reed has joined the competition with Gearhart and Glace in the middle.

"My only concern is that they don't play up to their potential," Peters said. "With the experience that we have, if the seniors play up to their potential and the new players with the skill that they have, then we'll definitely improve on our 4-15 record from last year.

"I'm looking to maybe get into double figures, as far as wins, and hopefully we can justify going into the playoffs. If we don't have a good record, then there won't be a postseason for us."

Clearfield's journey toward the postseason begins this Tuesday when it hosts perennial power Punxsutawney.

"We jump right into the fire in our first match against Punxsutawney," said Peters.

"That's really going to be a measuring stick to see how good we are. If we can stay close with them and keep improving this season, who knows what's going to happen at the end of the season."

Roster

Seniors

*Ashlie Gearhart, Courtney Holtmeyer, *Jennie Knepp, Jenna Liegey, *Amber Mahlon, Brielle Mahnk, *Monika Parks, Sophia Reed.

Juniors

Samantha Broad, *Kelsey Glace, Brittany Martell, Genny Neyman, Cortney Woodel.

Sophomores

Kearston Casher, Kassie Heeman, Becca Kephart, Michelle Payonk, Shannon Reigel.

Freshmen

Jessica Bloom, Kristen Henderlong, Cameron Ogden, Adrienne Stucke, Alexis Tihansky, Kelsey White.

*Denotes returning letterwinners.

Schedule

September

2-Punxsutawney; 4-DuBois Central Catholic; 8-Ridgway; 9-West Branch; 11-at Brockway; 16-at DuBois; 18-Curwensville; 23-at Brookville; 25-Johnsonburg; 27-at Bellwood-Antis Tournament, TBA; 30-at St. Marys.

October

2-at Punxsutawney; 7-at DuBois Central Catholic; 9-at Hollidaysburg; 14-Brockway; 16-DuBois; 20-at West Branch; 21-at Curwensville; 23-Brookville.

Junior varsity matches begin at 6 p.m. with varsity to follow unless noted.