The Falcon volleyball team is going further this year.

It’s been two years since the team, which was a post-season power for years, has been to the state meet. Last year, the South Whidbey girls ended their post-season play early when they lost their first two games at the district tournament.

This year is going to be better.

Predicting a finish in the top half of the North Cascades Conference, Falcon head volleyball coach Tim Durbin said his team hit the court in shape and in sync this week.

Led by four experienced seniors — Julie Robinson, Jenny Murphy, Lucy Daumen and Mary Murphy — the Falcons are rebuilding their varsity lineup for a season that could have them playing point for point with almost every team they face.

They have a lot to work with. The team cut 10 players from its roster this week, retaining enough players to put varsity, junior varsity and freshman teams on the floor.

After a week of tryouts, Durbin has a pretty good idea of how his team will get the job done. With Robinson and the two Murphys hitting outside, Katy McGillen and Jordan Tobler in the middle, Brianna Hussey at setter and junior Bronwyn Russell playing positions as needed, he said he has a cohesive group that can get the job done.

“They seem to be on the same wavelength,” he said.

If they are, it should be a good year. Though they are without graduates Jenny Saephan, Lauren Johnson and Melissa Poolman, improving on last year’s 4-4 NCC record and 8-6 overall record seems to be within reach. Julie Robinson, who is a third-year senior hitter for the Falcons, said that after a summer of playing at open gym sessions with her teammates, she believes there is winning in store.

“I think we’re going to be in pretty good shape,” she said.

How tough the competition will be is hard to say. Durbin said he expects the teams from Lynden Christian, Nooksack Valley and Meridian high schools to lead the NCC this year, but not to be as dominant against the Falcons as they were in 2001. He said he hopes the Falcons pick up a few wins against these teams, and against Blaine, Mount Baker and Lakewood — all of which gave the Falcons a hard time last year.

The Falcons start their season on Sept. 10 with a home match against Edmonds-Woodway.