SPEARFISH - Led by three returning all-conference performers, the Black Hills State volleyball team is looking to take that next step.

Two years ago it was a third place finish for the Yellow Jackets in the Dakota Athletic Conference. Last year, it was a runner-up finish behind eight-time defending champion Dickinson State, but this year BHSU is eyeing the top spot.

"We do have high expectations this year and we start out always aiming for that top spot," BHSU head coach Jhett Albers said.

Black Hills State finished with an 11-3 mark in the DAC last season with Dickinson State going undefeated. However, both teams received four first-place votes in the preseason pole conducted by DAC coaches. Dickinson had one more point overall to grab the preseason top spot from the Yellow Jackets.

BHSU is set up well for success heading into the 2008 season thanks to a strong returning core of players led by Kristin Engle. The junior's awards and accomplishments from last season read like an impressive resume. They included first team all-conference and all-region to go along with an honorable mention All-American award.

"She is a middle hitter who was impressive as a freshman, earning freshman of the year honors, and she has continued to improve for us every season," said Albers, who is the reigning conference coach of the year.

Maggie O'Neill gives the Yellow Jackets a powerful outside hitter who was the freshman of the year in the DAC last season and provides the team with a powerful jump serve as well.

Mandy Brumfield is in charge of spreading the ball out to the Yellow Jackets' hitters and the setter has done a solid job of that for two seasons earning the praise of her coach.

"She was Miss Volleyball in the state of North Dakota in high school and she is such a key person for our team," Albers said.

Those three players will lead BHSU this season but they will not determine the team's success on their own.

"We are going to lean on those players and they are the ones we will call on, but we can't single them out because everyone has to contribute," Albers said.

Albers is expecting players like Annie Grim - who will be playing the libero position this season - Carina Sweet and Kayla Haines to have big seasons for the team after serving in backup roles last season.

"Annie will be key with that first touch and she is fearless going after it," Albers said. "Carina is one of our most consistent players and best defenders and passers. The key will be for our younger players to be able to challenge them every day in practice to make them better and have to fight for the spot.

The team is welcoming six new players this season which is in contrast to the more veteran squad it had a season ago, but Albers expects several freshmen to play important roles on a team that has just one senior.

"There are three or four freshmen that in two or three weeks we could really count on to step in and play a role that may help the team," Albers said.

The Yellow Jackets were supposed to open their season against National American University this weekend, but with the Mavericks dropping their program it will give Albers and his young team an extra week to prepare before it faces Doane College at the start of the Red Raider Classic in Orange City, Iowa, on Aug. 29.

"I think that extra time will be a real positive and let us work on some things we need to," Albers said.