It’s been nearly nonstop volleyball — from open gyms, to a three-week team camp to Insanity Workouts — for the Inglemoor High girls since April.

The Vikings only won eight games the last two years, and they want to put those days behind them. It’s full-speed ahead into the 4A Kingco competition and beyond, which will hopefully result in a trip back to the state tournament.

All the time spent together in the gym — all the bumps and bruises mixed with laughter — is well worth it for the girls.

“Toward the end of the summer, they were just so fired up for the season that they were doing everything together,” said coach Stephanie Lathrop McQueen before practice last Friday. “We were doing workouts with the football team in the morning — the Insanity Workouts, about an hour of rigorous plyos and cardio training.”

Added junior setter Ellie Swanson: “We’re sticking with our goal this year, which is to make it to state. And so everything we do, we just keep that in mind, and we all have the motivation and the desire to win.

“That extra work, we know is just gonna make us better. So even though we’re in there with the football (players), working out — we’re beating some of them,” she added with a laugh. “It’s a boost of confidence.”

Inglemoor has plenty of height, speed and leadership to make state for the first time since 2007 (the Vikings also qualified in ‘05 and ‘06), according to coach Lathrop McQueen.

Leading the way are senior captains and outside hitters Megan Bafus and Emily Anderson along with Swanson. Bafus — an all-league honorable mention last year — is one of two 6-footers, along with senior middle Megan Langberg, while senior middle Kyla Keeler is tops in the height department at 6-foot-1. Anderson, Bafus and Keeler are all three-year varsity players and provide the most experience for the Vikings.

“I think it kind of starts off the court. On this team, we’re going to the beach together, we’re hanging out, we’re working out all summer… so I really know a lot of the girls as some of my best friends,” Keeler said. “I know I can count on them off the court, which really helps me to be able to trust them on the court.”

Added Bafus of starting her third year: “Coming off those losses, we just wanna win even more, no more negative attitudes, we just left it behind.

“It’s exciting (now) — and to leave behind a legacy, hopefully of winning, through hard work has really gotten us to where we are right now.”

Lathrop McQueen noted other main contributors as junior libero Stephanie Griffiths (“She works hard all the time,” Keeler said) and sophomore newcomer Emily Carpenter, who will spend her time at outside hitter.

Carpenter has watched many an Inglemoor game in the past and is looking forward to contributing on the court, soaking up the crowd’s cheers during “those moments of glory” when the Viks are fighting for a victory.

“I’m the only sophomore and I thought it would be kind of weird, coming in here not really knowing anybody,” said Carpenter, noting that she knew two girls, but that’s it. “It was really overwhelming at first, but now I’m pumped, I’m ready. We know how to stick together and overcome things. We have such good chemistry that we could do anything, really.”

For Anderson, a 5-5 outside hitter who gets major air while spiking the ball, being involved with the Viking program for three years has offered her both on-court and life lessons.

“It’s taught me to never give up, try your hardest — and I think our team’s kind of doing that.

“It’s kind of like a family, a little family,” she said, noting that the team’s mottoes are: “Take it to state” and “Stick to the plan.”

Extra hits:

Coach Stephanie Lathrop McQueen:

• “They’re competitive, that’s one thing that we’re focusing on this year is competing for points, competing to be the best of the best. They’re working together as a team, but they’re also pushing each other to win more points than their teammates — it’s a very healthy, competitive environment that we’ve got going on.”

• “On the varsity level, it’s not about equal playing time, but about who’s gonna get the job done, regardless of their year. I think the girls that have been through the past couple years really want it, they’re excited for their chance to kind of prove to the Kingco district who we are and how hard we’ve been working — we do deserve a spot at the top”

Kyla Keeler:

• “It’s really exciting I’m right there in all the action. As a middle, I think we get a lot of the glory compared to the setters and diggers who are working really hard. It’s kind of fun because middle kills are really exciting, the crowd loves them and everything. And also, you’re in the middle of your team, there’s a lot you can do to support everyone else, like helping the other blockers.

“(Middle is) tough to play and you feel like you’re in the way sometimes, but it’s really rewarding.”