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Marelle Lepmets, left, sets the ball for Audra Algrim Friday during a Garden City Community College volleyball team practice at Perryman Athletic Complex.

By TONY ADAME

tadame@gctelegram.com

Officially, it's Nikola Petrovic's second season as the head volleyball coach at Garden City Community College.

For Petrovic though, he'd like to think of it as his first.

"I was hired in March 2006, which kind of put me at a disadvantage last year, I felt a little behind," Petrovic said. "But now I have a full year behind me and feel like I've got things the way I want them."

After finishing 12-16 in 2006 and 2-6 in Jayhawk West play, the Lady Busters return two talented players in 5-foot-11 sophomore outside hitter Shawna Ruiz and 6-0 sophomore setter Mirelle Lepets.

The talent Petrovic has brought in should make the two even better. And, hopefully, result in more wins.

"Practices have been going good," Petrovic said. "I think everyone is excited and happy with the way things are going. We are all anxious and waiting for the season to start."

Leading the way for the newcomers will be 6-4 middle blocker/right side Jovana Radojevic, who comes to the Busters from Serbia.

Petrovic expects Radojevic to make an immediate impact.

"She's going to be out there, playing, right away," Petrovic said. "We're going to have a great block on the right side. I feel good about that part of our team."

Radojevic said the transition to college in the United States has been made easier by her teammates, and is looking forward to the competition in the Jayhawk Conference, but isn't preoccupied with who the Busters will play.

"I like the atmosphere here, and my teammates are great, so helpful," she said. "But as far as who we'll play, I"m more worried about our team. How we do and how we get ready to play is always going to be the most important thing in determining wins and losses."

Petrovic hopes either Butler Community College transfer and Garden City High School product Kim Schwarting or freshman Nikki Dunn will fill the void at libero left by all-conference performer Kaleo Keahilani.

"Kim is doing great, we're excited to have her here," Petrovic said. "We've got two talented, great liberos."

Also joining the mix is 5-7 outside hitter Rachel Mrdeze, who transferred to Garden City from Montana State-Northern, an NAIA school.

"Rachel can really jump out of the gym and she's really quick," Petrovic said. "We didn't get Rachel until the last second, so she didn't have a chance to go through our summer program but she still came in ready to go."

Garden City opens its season Friday at the Seward County Kickoff Classic in Liberal. The Busters take on Frank Phillips Friday at 11 a.m. and play New Mexico Military Academy at 3 p.m. Saturday, Garden City meets up with Cisco Junior College at 1 p.m. and host Seward County at 5 p.m.