The 2013 season produced by Lakeland High School girls’ volleyball team was a dramatic improvement from 2012, and coach Tarijuana Napoleon hopes to see continued progress with a new cast of leaders this year.

The Lady Cavaliers went 0-20 in 2012. Last year, they were aided, in part, by the Virginia High School League’s realignment that pitted them against schools of like size in the new Ironclad Conference in addition to the larger Chesapeake schools of the Southeastern District.

Lakeland finished the year 9-13 overall, advancing to the Ironclad Conference tournament semifinals before being eliminated 3-1 by King’s Fork High School.

For the regular season, the Lady Cavs went 5-5 in the conference.

Napoleon’s goal is hitting .500 this year in terms of the overall record, with many challenging Chesapeake opponents still on the schedule. But she has a loftier goal for her team’s in-conference performance — finishing in the top two.

“I feel like we can achieve that goal and keep moving forward from there,” Napoleon said.

To do so, Lakeland may have to get past some cross-town rivals. The Lady Cavaliers entered the conference tourney last year seeded third behind No. 1 Nansemond River High School and No. 2 King’s Fork.

Lakeland will enter the fray this year minus five players from last season due to graduation. The group included key outside hitters Logan Reid and Kristen Walden and libero Sarah Bowyer.

The 2014 Lady Cavs have one senior. The rest are juniors and two sophomores.

She has two primary standout players she will be counting on, the first of which is junior middle hitter D’Jannay Patterson.

“She’s going to be a captain this year,” Napoleon said. “I’m really looking for her to lead the team, get a high number of hits this year, successful hits, and just be the D’Jannay Patterson that I know she can be.”

The second standout is Christelle Hollomon, the one senior on the team, who, as setter, will be expected to help Lakeland’s offense thrive.

Napoleon indicated there might be other players on the roster who will prove to be notable contributors.

“We’ll see what happens throughout the season,” she said.

One young up-and-comer whom she anticipates to increasingly become a factor as a leader and libero is sophomore Meagan Patterson.

“Her overall athleticism and hard work and willingness to leave it all out on the floor is what she’s shown me so far,” Napoleon said.

The coach said the biggest thing her team will need to overcome in order to be successful this season is nerves stemming, in part, from its lack of experience.

She is also hoping with more playing time that her leaders will cultivate a deep desire for success like her seniors had last year.

“I don’t see that drive just yet, that connection just yet,” Napoleon said.

Lakeland opens the season at Great Bridge High School on Aug. 26.