NORTH TONAWANDA — Sometimes for a team to achieve its ultimate goal, it needs to succumb to a crushing defeat.

That’s exactly what the North Tonawanda girls volleyball squad experienced last fall when it fell to Canandaigua in the Far West Regional after capturing its first Section VI title in a decade.

This time around, the upperclassmen-laden Lady Jacks hope to avenge some “unfinished business,” head coach Jessica Anderson said.

“We’ve got more to accomplish,” Anderson said. “They realize that this year’s team has the best chance to do better than we did last year because last year people didn’t expect us to get to the [sectional] finals and win. We’re not satisfied with that. We want to go further.”

For a team that returns some stellar talent such as senior outside hitter, Lauren Metzger, libero Lexi Akins, middle hitter Kiarra Majors, and junior outside hitter Delaney Laper, that feat is very possible.

The Lady Jacks are confident the sky is the limit this season.

“I think that we’re going to be very successful this year because we have a real strong starting lineup and we all have been playing together for a very long time,” said Metzger, who amassed 427 digs in 99 games a year ago. “I think that if we work hard 100 percent of the time, never give up and stay together then we should be pretty successful against all of the teams this season.”

Laper, who joined Metzger as the News’ Co-Player of the Year in ‘09, said last year’s bitter ending has sparked a determined bunch to go the distance this year.

“I think that after last year when we lost, that was a big motivation for us and now we’re really determined no matter who we’re playing, but we really want to play Canandaigua again,” said Laper, who recorded 429 kills her during sophomore campaign.

In addition to the aforementioned starters, the team returns senior right side hitter Sarah Hanson and junior setter Jordan Tylec. Other spot players include Andrea DiPalma, Chelsie Bogdan and Kelsey Zuch.

The Lady Jacks will be without last year’s seniors, Taylor Akins, Olivia DiPalma, Ashley Walck and Gina Stulba, who contributed to a formidable 16-3 overall record.

Nonetheless, Anderson said her club is coming around just fine with perhaps an even greater work ethic than in years past.

“We’re trying to do the little things,” the coach said. “I’m looking for perfection from the girls with their passing and communication because the little things like that make the difference in the games.”

NT slides down to Class A from Double-A this season. Coincidentally, so has Canandaigua.

“We definitely would like to get revenge against them,” Hanson said. “We probably will be seeing them in regionals.”

The Lady Jacks host Kenmore West tomorrow night to open up league play.

Contact sports editor Brandon Koch at 693-1000, ext. 117.