POULSBO — For the North Kitsap Viking spikers, 2006 is a new beginning in the midst of the unknown. After graduating seven seniors in2005 and stepping into a newly aligned Narrows League Bay Division, the Vikings are standing at the end line.

The nine month off-season and two trying weeks of practice have led to the beginning of the regular season as North travels to Bainbridge Island Tuesday for a season-opening rivalry match which should test the skills the team has been refining. The contest should also be an opportunity for the newly fused Vikings to apply the element of teamwork that will be a crucial element in their foundation for the season.

“We really need to just step it up and work as a team,” junior Amy Cox said, noting her hopes that this year’s collection of players should be even more conducive to collaboration than 2005. “I think we’ll get along a lot better (this year), hopefully that will not only be on the court, but off as well.”

On the court during the preseason, the Vikings have focused on the fundamentals of both the game and third-year coach Tim French’s system while also undertaking the grueling task of conditioning for the 18-game season that lay ahead.

From ball drills to scrimmage, stretching to sprints, the pieces are coming together but the true picture will be drawn by desire.

“A lot of dedication, a lot of practice and good coaching, covering solid basics before getting fancy,” Cox said as a few key elements of success for the team. “We need to bring our level up to varsity; it really all depends on us and how much we are willing to dedicate ourselves.”

Cox, fellow junior Jessica Oullet and seniors Katie Richards and KC Fossum are the core of NK which is returning with varsity experience from 2005 in which the Vikings possessed potential that wasn’t quite realized. In the early stages of 2006, as a host of last year’s JVers fit themselves into the varsity mix, the team’s focus has been on following through to the finish.

In a realigned Narrows League, the Vikings have somewhat of a clean slate coming into the season. North Kitsap dives into the Bay division along with Bellarmine Prep, Mount Tahoma, Olympia, Stadium and familiar foe Central Kitsap.

“I’m a little anxious about it, just to see how it’s going to work, but I’m the kind of coach that tries not to worry too much,” French said of the new league alignment. “If you can just put that out of your mind and just play volleyball, you’ll have a better chance of reaching your potential.”

North’s potential will not be reached by virtue of height this year as the tallest Viking is 5-10. Heart, intensity, intelligence and integrity will be the deciding factors for North in 2006 as the season begins Tuesday at Bainbridge, following up Sept. 7 at Foss before the Klawhoya Jamboree Sept. 8. The league season for NK begins Sept. 12 at Central Kitsap.

“We can grow together more,” Cox said, noting the Vikings can always improve on team unity. “It’s not just looking up at the seniors, we are all one unit, we’re all a team.”