One lousy game. One lousy win away from securing an outright playoff spot is how the 2015 regular season ended for the Grays Harbor College volleyball team.

The Chokers ended the regular season in a tie for the final divisional playoff spot in the NWAC tournament. What added to the pain was a 3-0 loss in a tie-breaker against Highline. The loss left the Chokers watching the playoffs from the stands last season.

“Last season left a bad taste for everybody,” GHC head coach Christine Nelson said. “My returners are hungrier because they came back with a little chip on their shoulders because of what happened.”

The new season may have added a chip on the shoulder, but along with the new year comes a new group of talented players and a new intensity for the 2016 campaign.

The Chokers (5-8, 14-20 in 2015) had their ups and downs last season before the bitter finish. Along with the final few games of the season, the one thing the GHC players are thinking about consistently is consistency. Nelson has drilled consistency into her players throughout the offseason and through the start of preseason.

“We were pretty inconsistent throughout the season and that was one of our biggest challenges all season long,” Nelson said. “Some games we played amazing and other games it was like ‘Ugh’ and that was how the season ended. There is a big focus on being consistent and taking care of games that we need to take care of and just being more focused for games. Being more mentally prepared because we did not go into that game (against Highline) mentally prepared.”

GHC will have five players return from last season’s roster including three starters.

Among the trio of starters coming back this year is first team all-region selection Alexis Fetui from Las Vegas at outside hitter and second team all-region selection Bria Buchanan from Las Vegas as a middle blocker. Also returning from the 2015 starting six is Sierra Cummings of Las Vegas. Cummings played outside hitter last season, but has made the transition to her natural position as a defensive specialist and will see time at libero this season.

Also back for another year with the Chokers is Jackie Trudeau from Meridian, Idaho, who will join Cummings as a defensive specialist, and Brittanie Jordan from Las Vegas, who will see time at outside hitter.

A new crop of talent joins the experienced players from last season. The Chokers have added depth at almost every position to fill out what Nelson says she expects will be a 6-2 rotation this season.

“A big thing for us was to bring in players who would come in with the ability to step on the floor and play right away and not take half a season to get where we want them to be,” Nelson said. “That is what I looked at when we went recruiting and across the board we picked up players at every position. Our defense was pretty solid last year and we have just added depth into our defense and offense.”

Jayde Jenkins from Idaho Falls, Idaho, will add depth to the Choker defense this season as she splits time with Cummings at libero. Another player Nelson said will make an immediate impact is Leleo Maeva from Aiea, Hawaii. Nelson said Maeva is a “Big, strong, powerful kid and a great all-around player,” and will step into an outside hitter role right away.

The Choker offense will run through a pair of freshman setters in Megan Gibson from Hoquiam and Sara Caraveo from Las Vegas. Gibson played for Nelson at Hoquiam during her freshman season and has played club volleyball for the Choker coach in the offseason.

Brooke Spoor from Willapa Valley was literally the biggest addition for the Choker physically. Standing 6-foot-2, almost four inches taller than any other recruit, Spoor has club level experience and the height to make her a dangerous weapon at middle blocker.

Other additions for GHC include outside hitter Taylor Howie from Las Vegas, outside hitter Diamond Jackson from Boise, Idaho, and middle blocker Rachelle Tau from Reno, Nev., who played basketball for the Chokers last season.

“We have tried to score drills that we do,” Nelson said. “Things matter a little more. We put 22-20 (on the scoreboard) you guys are behind, what are you going to do.

“We have had some intense practices. There are some times we are playing and I feel like it is competition in the middle of last year. Our practices are so competitive right now and hopefully that is going to pay off. They are diving all over the place and balls are being dug up all over the place. For us it is just really exciting.”

While Nelson said her team has set a goal of locking up a playoff spot early this season, she said she isn’t worrying about the competition the Chokers will have to go through to earn that spot. Right now, she is just worried about being the best team possible.

“I feel like we are better than we were last year talent-wise, you just don’t know where the rest of the league is,” Nelson said. “I feel like we can compete with the teams at the top of our league this year. Our goal is to compete for the west title this year. With our returners and the new kids we brought in, that is the next logical step. To be in one of those top three spots this season so we aren’t fighting for a playoff spot, but we are in a playoff spot.”

The public can catch a glimpse of the 2016 Choker roster on Sunday at 5 p.m. when GHC hosts the alumni game at the gym on campus.

Admission for the scrimmage is free.