This year’s Lady Broncos’ volleyball squad has a steep mountain to climb if they hope to match last year’s thrilling season. In 2011 Coast Union racked up a sizzling 22-9 record, winning the Coast Valley League with an 11-1 record, and winning the CIF Division 5A Southern Section Championship, the third championship in coach Pam Kenyon’s CUHS career.

But coach Kenyon is not asking her players to try and emulate the success of last year’s team. She simply wants them to practice with gusto and intensity, to play with determination and skill, and see where the chips may fall.

The Lady Broncos’ conference season begins on Thursday, Sept. 13, but the pre-season test for Coast Union begins at 6 p.m. today, Aug. 30, with a home match against Templeton.

Here is the home schedule for varsity volleyball in 2012: Sept. 5 vs. Arroyo Grande (6 p.m.); Sept. 13 vs. Shandon (5 p.m.); Sept. 15 Coast Union Pink Stampede Tournament; Sept. 18 vs. North County Christian (5 p.m.); Sept. 27vs. Valley Christian Academy (5 p.m.); Oct. 16 vs. Orcutt Academy (5 p.m.); Oct. 18 vs. Maricopa (5 p.m.); Oct. 25 vs. Cuyama Valley (5 p.m.); and Oct. 30 v. Coastal Christian (5 p.m.).

—John FitzRandolph, special to The Cambrian