Pacific Union College Prep’s volleyball team begins a rebuilding season after rolling to the North Coast Section Division V tournament in 2007.

“We had three seniors leave from a team that went 23-4 last year,” coach Mike Buller said. “This year, we’re younger. But, we do have five sophomores who have played a successful season and come back to us with playoff experience.”

The Falcons, who open the season at Napa Christian on Sept. 3, are led by senior standout Brita Widmer.

The middle hitter will be concluding a sparkling four-year career.

“Brita’s our captain,” Buller said. “We count on her for leadership.”

Buller said PUC Prep has two outstanding players in senior outside hitter Bailey Pridmore and sophomore Jenna Glantz. Sophomore setter Hanna Teichman is also back from last year’s section playoff team.

“Since we don’t have a feeder club, a junior high program or much exposure, our experience level tends to go in cycles,” Buller said, as his club will play in the new North Coast Section Division VI. “Our schedule has teams up to Division IV, so we play some really good teams.”

The schedule includes St. Helena, Middletown, Tomales and St. Vincent along with smaller-school opposition in Roseland Union Prep from Santa Rosa,  Rio Lindo Academy from Healdsburg and Napa Christian.

PUC Prep enters the opener at Napa Christian with an 11-player roster that includes seven sophomores.

“We play a wide range of competition since we don’t play in a league,” Buller said. “That makes it interesting. I look forward to a good season.”