They lost an all-state honorable mention player in Danielle Hogue and the school's record holder in almost every imaginable category - Beth Mihalik - to graduation.

Is it panic time for the Slippery Rock High School volleyball team?

Nah.

"People think because of the people we lost that 'They're done. They're through,'" said Slippery Rock coach Greg Dugan. "That isn't the case."

The Rockets went 18-0 in the regular season last year and advanced to the District 10 semifinals, where their run ended.

Despite the loss of a slew of seniors, there is enough coming back to make Slippery Rock a playoff contender.

"Honestly, at the beginning of the year, I thought we were going to have to wait and see," Dugan said. "But now I think we have an excellent chance to make the playoffs."

There's enough optimism to go around.

Butler believes this is its year to make some noise.

Knoch lost a lot. "Who didn't we lose?" asked Knoch coach Diane Giest. But the Knights have a program accustomed to winning.

Following is a team by team quick look at area volleyball teams:

Coach:Meghan Lucas, second yearLast year:5-12They're gone:Serena BrandtThey're here:Kala Schnur (senior), Ashley Huey (senior), Kelsey Rice (senior), Jasmin Mehelich (senior), Brandie Welch (senior), Amy Achesinski (sophomore)Outlook:The Golden Tornado return the core of a team that didn't necessarily improve record-wise, but it improved nonetheless.This year, Lucas is looking for the results to manifest in the standings, too."We're definitely looking to take another step up," Lucas said. "The girls worked all summer. There's definitely going to be an improvement this year compared to last."

Coach:Greg Dugan, fourth yearLast year:22-2They're gone:Beth Mihalik, Danielle Hogue, Danielle Morrow, Ashlee Shearer, Trish North, Lacey ParsonThey're here:Sarah Yakima (senior), Hilary Pritz (senior), Jess Kelly (senior), Tara Grossman (senior), Amy Siwik (junior), Erica Gabreski (junior), Kristin Staugh (freshman)Outlook:The Rockets aren't going to slip quietly into also-ran mode."We lost a lot," Dugan said. "They were a key part of our team and we're going to miss them. But we have quite a few girls who played a lot last year."

Coach:Heather Haff, second yearLast year:11-3 in section playThey're gone:Laura Duffy, Amanda O'Conner, Katie Cummings.They're here:Linsey Skorutan (senior), Laura DuBois (senior), Mallory DeMarco (senior)Outlook:The Raiders, coming off a successful 2003 season, are looking at nothing less than similar success in 2004."The core of our team is back," Haff said. "All of our key people are back and better. I don't think there is a limit to what they can achieve this year. It is up to them."

Coach:Diane Geist, 18th yearLast year:17-1They're gone:Alana Reeping, Amber Long, Lauren Wiefling, Lindsay Wiefling, Lindsay Foster, Brittany CrouchThey're here:Jen Robinson (senior), Bekah Ogershok (senior), Kariane Stueben, (senior), Amber Augstine (senior), Kari Pizer (senior), Ashley Thrower (junior), Carly Whisler (junior), Leane Wiefling (sophomore), Kirsten Brandt (freshman), Zoe Hughes (freshman)Outlook:The Knights lost many of the players who led them to a 17-0 regular season record."We're pretty raw right now," Geist said. "It's the seniors' turn to step out of the shadows."

Coach:Karen Martini, third yearLast year:17-6They're gone:Briana Day, Meredith Balbour, Tatum Airey.They're here:Kelli Hartman (senior), Rio Friday (senior), Lacee Beitler (junior), Meghan Kosar (junior), Jessica Schroeder (junior), Brooke Davidson (junior), Kelly Berry (junior), Jordan Bossorg (junior), Amy Brooks (junior), Alyssa Skoff (sophomore), Jodi Leopold (sophomore)Outlook:The Planets lost some of their powerful hitters from a season ago and are looking to replace them."We are very scrappy, but we don't have the power right now to push the game back in our favor," Martini said. "We have no big gun to go to."

Coach:Barry Divins, 11th yearLast year:16-3They're gone:Briana Wensel, Leia Mortimer, Emily Mortimer, Tiffany NurbertThey're here:Kara McCall (senior), Kayla Hepler (junior), Nikki Davis (junior), Alley Toven (junior) Andrea Mortimer (junior), Janele Divins (sophomore), Tiffany Corle (sophomore)Outlook:The Damsels expect to be right in the hunt again."We expect to be up there," Divins said. "We'll show up every night ready to play."

Coach:Shawnee Denbow, 14th yearLast year:16-5They're gone:Bethany Boliver, Ashley Blair, Brooke MinceyThey're here:Alissa Chutz (senior), Liz Anderson (senior), Ali Gomola (senior), Megan Losasso (senior), Sheila Ogden (junior), Steffi Littlefield (junior), Jenna Kelly (sophomore)Outlook:The Eagles overcame a slew of senior losses last season to go 16-5. This year, much of the core is back and Denbow is expecting big things."I think all the girls feel Grove City has a volleyball tradition that they want to keep going," Denbow said.

Coach:Marcy Issaco, first yearLast year:0-16They're gone:Carichelle Griffin, Kristin Macurak, Cat Stafford, Ashley ZedikerThey're here:Julie Baptiste (senior), Nicole Strohmyer (junior), Haley Callihan (sophomore)Outlook:The Gremlins are 0-32 in the last two seasons. Issaco's first task is to get her team to forget that dubious record."We're working on the attitude, and they are doing well," Issaco said.

Coach:Tom Phillips, third yearLast year:14-4They're gone:Michelle Vascik, Julie McCorkle, Shannon ReesmanThey're here:Stephanie Leslie (junior), Kelly Acre (junior), Dana Turley (junior), Marissa DeSalva (junior), Jen Fair (senior), Michelle Miklow (senior)Outlook:The Yellowjackets lost some serious thump in Vascik and McCorkle, but they are buoyed by the fact the slew of juniors on the team received considerable playing time at the junior varsity and varsity levels last season."How we do depends on how quickly we mature," Phillips said. "It's going to depend on how quickly we play together."

Coach:Jennifer Karnes, thrid yearLast year:14-4They're gone:Jessica Hickman, Alison Lee, Ashley Jackson, Lyndsay Fisher, Melissa Page, Vanessa KrileyThey're here:Cassie Morrison (senior), Annie Hickman (junior), Molly Lukasavich (senior)Outlook:The Falcons lost a lot of firepower to graduation."I'm hoping to be at least at .500," Karnes said. "We have a lot of inexperience, but all the girls are working hard."

Coach:Alea Kennedy, first yearLast year:3-16They're gone:Alice Buller, Hope Campbell, Selina Edinger, Brooke Trufley, Cori Christy, Tracey TrabaglioThey're here:Sarah Badges-Canning (senior), Melissa Ciochetto (senior), Samantha Gladd (senior), Emily Goettler (senior), Ashley Kennedy (senior), Danielle Patterson (senior), Amy Randall (senior), Nichole Young (senior)Outlook:Just two years ago, the Warriors won the District 9 title but won just two matches last season.But the team has a slew of seniors and a new energetic coach."Honestly, the talent is here to get where we want to go," Kennedy said.