Two of the Bellevue Bulldogs women’s volleyball team’s most prolific players went to high school a mere 11 miles from their current college campus.

Skyline Spartans 2015 graduate Kathleen Bui and Skyline 2016 graduate Kate Richardson have played a pivotal role in Bellevue’s 31-8 record thus far in the 2016 season. Bui and Richardson have known each other since they were in the ninth grade.

The Bulldogs, who finished in seventh place at the Northwest Athletic Conference tournament in 2015, are hoping to eclipse last year’s showing this November.

“We want to go to NWAC (Northwest Athletic Conference) and win the championship. Last year we placed seventh and weren’t very happy with it,” Bui said. “We want to shoot for a higher ranking and hopefully win the whole thing. We’re eager to get back there.”

Bui, who plays the libero position (back row), is one of four returners from the 2015 squad. Richardson, who plays middle hitter, said choosing to play for the Bulldogs collegiate volleyball team following high school was an easy decision.

“I want to eventually move on to a four-year (university) for volleyball so this was the first step I’m going to take to get there. Jocelyn Lawrence (Bellevue head coach) is a really good coach. Kathleen really liked her,” Richardson said of her decision-making process to play at Bellevue.

Bui said following the conclusion of her high school career in 2015, she had had no intentions of playing volleyball in college.

Lawrence changed Bui’s plans in a hurry.

“Jocelyn brought me here. I wasn’t planning on doing volleyball in college but she persuaded me to do it. I have played this sport my whole life so how could I not take this opportunity to continue,” Bui explained.

Richardson, who is one of just two players on the team that are 6-feet tall, uses her height to her advantage.

“I can see the court really well. As a middle (hitter) you have to see everything. That is probably my biggest strength,” Richardson said.