With three straight state appearances and two trophies in the last three years, the Mount Si High School volleyball team has seen some stellar seasons.

The Wildcats’ chances of making it four in a row are good this fall, as they welcome a big-name transfer whose talent, when added to what is already here, could make Mount Si a favorite to win it all in 2010.

Senior Catie Fry, a 1A all-state player as a junior in 2009 with Life Christian, joins a strong core of Wildcat returners including seniors Zoe Gogan and Aubrey Larion. Mount Si coach Bonnie Foote, in her 11th year at the helm of the program, said that even with all the plusses, her program still has room to improve.

“We haven’t tapped out yet, so I’m pretty excited about that,” Foote said.

Fry, who has verbally committed to Central Washington next season, knew the transition would be seamless.

“I came to Mount Si because I was excited­—I knew people here already,” she said. “I thought that it wouldn’t be so awkward to come to a new school if I already knew people.”

The new senior is ready to contribute.

“I hope to bring a whole level of athleticism and just a whole role of leadership, and take it and win state this year,” Fry said.

Gogan and Larion are co-team captains this year.

“I expect them to keep getting better. I expect for them to keep improving,” the coach said. “They have great leadership already. Both of them are real quiet leaders and they lead by example.”

Gogan has verbally committed to Washington State, and Larion is undecided, but is expected to sign, too.

The Wildcats are expected to be a heavy favorite to win Kingco, but the main challenge once again in getting there will be their chief nemesis Mercer Island. Last year’s meetings between the two teams were heated not just on the floor but off it as well, and that likely will not change this fall. If the ‘Cats stay focused, they can be successful against the Islanders, “just by being us,” Fry said. “We’re talented enough, so we’ll take it to them.”

Mount Si drew 53 girls to tryouts this fall, and narrowed that field down to 39. The decisions were not easy because of the skill level that all players brought to the court.

This group includes a number of other top returners, such as seniors Baylee Sinner, Erika Clark, Amanda Gates and Molly Hitch, junior Sarah McDonald and sophomore Lauren Smith. All except Smith played club volleyball in the offseason.

Foote is hoping this season is special.

“All I can go by is what we’re going to be and hope that we hold ourselves to a high standard and get better,” she said.