SEMINOLE, Oklahoma - Number 15. That's where the NJCAA pre-season poll has the Seminole State Trojan volleyball team ranked. This is the first time in four years that the Trojans have been placed in the pre-season rankings. One would think they'd be happy with the accomplishment, but that's not the case. "We have high expectations for ourselves," said sophomore middle hitter Laisha Davis. "We know we are better than 15th."

Davis was a member of the 2009 Trojan team that put SSC volleyball back on the map after last season. SSC finished the season 22-17, won the Region II tournament, and earned a trip to the NJCAA national tournament for only the second time in the history of the program. They also had three players named to the All-Region team, one of those also being chosen as the Region's Most Valuable Player. The bad news is that all three of those players are no longer on the Trojan roster. This leaves the 2010 team with pretty big shoes to fill. "We lost several talented players off of last year's team," said Head Coach Amy Gillespie. "The great thing about it is that we have a lot of ability returning and coming in with our freshmen. We don't skip a beat in the talent department one bit; in fact I think we're better."

One of those incoming freshmen is Emily McCollum, a libero from Denton, Texas. "Emily is a very talented defensive player," said Coach Gillespie. "Not only that, but she's full of spunk and expects a lot out of herself and her teammates. She'll be a great on the court leader for us." McCollum knows her role and intends to help SSC rise to the top. "On the court, I expect everyone to know that I will go out and give my everything every time I step out there," said McCollum. "Off the court I expect everyone to know I'm here for volleyball, that's my focus. I want to be a leader on and off the court for us."

The Trojans have set a lofty goal for themselves this season. "Our team goal is to finish in the top 5 in the country," said Davis. "We were disappointed with how things ended last year, and we don't plan on settling for anything less this year." The Trojans won't forget it either. On the back of their practice shirts are the words "nothing less". "It's a reminder to ourselves to give nothing less than our best."

The Trojans open their season on Friday at a tournament at Barton County Community College in Great Bend, Kansas. "It'll be a great chance for us to play some tough competition right from the start, and it'll give us a chance to see where we need to be," said Coach Gillespie. "We're a young team with little experience but the talent is there. If we can continue to improve every day I have no doubt in my mind that we can compete and beat some of the best teams in the nation."