LATHROP — Kevin Bolding has been coaching volleyball a long time —  23 years — but this season will be one he will have to dig deep to rebuild.
At the helm for Manteca High since 2013, this will be the first season in the last five Bolding has not had all-Valley Oak League standouts and four-year starters Kacy Bolding, Kaitlyn Morenzone and Payton Reis on the court.
“Things are going to be tough,” Coach Bolding said. “We knew the time was going to come sooner or later when we had to replace those girls who were all first-team all-leaguers and four-year starters. It is a matter of stepping it up and getting it done.
“We will do our best. We have people that have been working hard and trying to get better. That is the goal.”   
Kaylee MacDannald, Julia Moreno, Olga Perez, Abbey Kadillak and Karlie Spohn are returners coach Bolding is looking at to continue last year’s success of a second-place finish in the VOL with a 10-2 league record and 21-7 overall, making it to the second round of the playoffs.
A senior, this is MacDannald’s third year on the varsity.
“We’re working really hard every day in practice,” MacDannald said. “We have high hopes for this season. Everyone is doing a really good job of playing their part and working hard.
“Coach is helping us out a lot,”
Kadillak is just a sophomore but is seasoned with her freshman experience on the varisty.
“We have a lot of work ahead of us,” Kadillak said. “But if we work really hard we will reach our goal.”
The Buffaloes open their non-league schedule Wednesday at home against Ripon and begin league play at Oakdale on Tuesday, Sept. 10.