When it comes to competition, they say it is harder to stay at the top than it is to get there.

For the Moorpark College Women’s Volleyball team, the expectations have been set.

For the last two seasons, the Raiders have taken home the Western State Conference Championship. There are new faces on the team this year but the leadership of Coach Steve Burkhart and the team’s goals remain the same. Burkhart sees some striking similarities in talent and athletic ability with this year’s team and the past two conference champions.

“My expectations is that we are going to get better as the season goes on and I am hoping that we can compete for the championship at the end of the season,” said Burkhart.

The players certainly have some big shoes to fill. However, they are confident and ready to win the North Division for a third straight year.

Karissa Flack, the Raider’ s middle position is certainly doing her part to keep the team’s “three-peat” hopes alive.

“For myself, I expect just to be coachable and do everything the coaches say,” Flack said. “I need to work hard. Team-wise, I expect us to be back to back to back WSC champions.”

Flack believes Moorpark faces a tough test in Santa Barbara. This past Saturday, the team got a glimpse as to how stiff the competition can be in a five game losing effort to Santa Barbara (25-21, 23-25, 25-15, 22-25, 15-11).

“We are just starting to gel as a team and I hope with more practice and a lot of effort we can be really good,” said Melissa Johnson, a red shirt in this year’s team. Whether the team can maintain its level of success three years in a row remains to be seen. The coach and players certainly believe they could. “I think everyone has the drive on the team, everyone wants to win, we can do it,” said Melissa.