For the past four years, Auburn volleyball coach Kim Farris has had one unchecked goal on the checklist for her team – make it to the state tournament.

As recently as last season, that milestone seemed a long way away for the Trojans.

“We were down at the very bottom,” Farris said of the last year’s 2-10 Trojans. “But I expected a lot from them this year. We had almost everyone returning. We still have some young players out there, but most of them are seniors. And this is the first group that I’ve had since they were freshmen. It’s the first group that I’ve had from the very beginning, so they play the way I want them to be playing.”

The retooled Trojans have responded this fall, shooting out to a 3-0 league start before losing their first South Puget Sound League North 4A match on Tuesday to powerhouse Kentwood, 3-2.

Although the team is now sitting at 3-1 in league play, behind Kentwood at 4-0 and district rival Auburn Riverside at 4-0, the postseason dreams are very much alive for the Trojans.

“We came out this season and I knew we were going to be fighting for one of the top spots,” Farris added.

A large part of that has been the play of the team’s veterans, including seniors Heather Restrepo, Michelle Ernsdorff, Courtney Kindell, Kalie Kreuger and co-captains Dani Brunelle and Sierra Atkinson.

“Sierra is the setter, so she’s our aggressive player out on the court,” Farris said. “Dani is more our voice of reason out there, kind of keeping everything under control.”

Farris said that in order to better prepare her senior captains for this year’s campaign, she had them attend a leadership conference before the season began.

“I think that helped them tremendously in leading the team this year,” she said.

“They talked to us about leadership and how to get our team to work together and about individual leadership,” Atkinson said. “We found out how that works on and off the court and how to get our team to come together for the season and avoid conflicts. I would say it’s definitely helping.”

Brunelle also agreed that the leadership conference has made an impact on the team.

“I’m really glad that I went,” she said. “At first, I didn’t understand why our coach was making Sierra and I go. But we brought a lot of the stuff back and have been doing it this year.”

With all of the experience on the team, coupled with a newfound passion for the game, Atkinson said she wasn’t surprised by the Trojans’ start this season.

“I know that we have a lot more passion this year, definitely a lot more heart, and I think that is what is pushing us through the games,” Atkinson added. “Before we were never able to come back from behind, and we’ve done that already, so many times this year. I think that’s a huge thing for us.”

“Coming back as seniors and wanting to make it further, we have the motivation to go somewhere this year,” Brunelle added. “We’re not taking no for an answer, we’re going to push hard and we’re going to go somewhere. It’s our last year.”

Farris maintains the Trojans can finish high in the SPSL North 4A race.

“We’ll still fighting for one of the top-two spots in league,” Farris said. “We’re for sure going on to the playoffs, and our goal is state this year. I haven’t been since I’ve been the coach here, so that is our ultimate goal this year.”

“I would definitely expect us to be going to state,” Atkinson said. “We’re really excited about it. That’s our goal and what we’re pushing toward right now.”

“We’re hoping no less than third (in the SPSL North 4A),” she said. “And we’re very adamant about that. We want that spot, if not better. We have Riverside at the end of the season, and we think we can beat them.”

Auburn Riverside and Auburn will square off at 7:15 p.m. Oct. 26 at Auburn Riverside.

ALSO: The Ravens (4-0 league, 7-2 overall) defeated Tahoma (2-3, 3-6) 3-1 with scores of 25-19, 28-26, 23-25 and 25-22 this past Tuesday at Auburn Riverside. Brooke Bray had 24 kills, four blocks and 18 digs. Brooklynn Bradbury added 47 assists and 14 digs, and Maureen Sachs had 10 kills and 29 digs. Jane Han chipped in with 20 digs. … The Auburn Mountainview (5-0, 11-0) volleyball team kept their SPSL 3A unbeaten streak alive with a 3-1 victory at Lakes (1-3, 3-7) on Tuesday. The Lions won with scores of 25-21,25-22, 26-28 and 27-25. Alex Odren had 27 digs and Sam Odren chipped in with 36 assists. Alexi Morton had 17 kills and three blocks.