Coach Randi Viggiano (right) led Ridgeview to its first state final in 2018. (Northwest Sports Photography)

When Randi Viggiano took over as Ridgeview’s volleyball coach last year, she brought a state-championship mentality.

She was an assistant for three 5A state title teams at Crook County (2007-09) before becoming the coach at Culver, where she guided the Bulldogs to a 2A championship (2012) during an eight-year run.

So she was gunning for similar results at Ridgeview, a program that started in 2012 and moved from 4A to 5A in 2014. The Ravens responded with a school-record 23 wins, their first league title and a state runner-up finish.

“Obviously, the talent was there,” Viggiano said. “We set our sights on winning a state championship. As far off as that may have been, that was what we wanted to strive for. Just kind of bringing in a different energy.”

Now Ridgeview – ranked No. 2 in the OSAAtoday 5A preseason coaches poll, behind reigning champion Corvallis – is hungry to take the final step. With eight returning players and an infusion of new talent, the Ravens like their chances of making another serious run.

“We’ve been able to mix things up and throw different lineups together,” Viggiano said. “It’s been fun. We’re a lot more balanced. We have a lot more options offensively. I think we’re going to be even more competitive, especially in our nonleague schedule, than last year.”

The Ravens have one of the state’s top outside hitters in 6-foot senior Rylee Troutman, a 5A first-team pick last season who has committed to Corban University.

“Coming into this season, you can tell she’s a senior,” Viggiano said. “She’s really taken on that leadership role, being the encourager, being the calming force on the court.”

Senior middle blockers Suzanna Bailey (5-11) and Nicole Bossemeyer (5-10) are headed to college programs, too, in Northwest University (Wash.) and Saint Francis (Calif.), respectively. Senior setter Allicitie Frost and junior libero Ally Henry, members of Ridgeview’s 5A softball title team, also are back.

The Ravens have a tough nonleague schedule, loaded with 6A teams and challenging tournaments. They opened the season Friday by splitting two matches against 6A teams in a tournament at Mountain View, winning two of three sets against South Eugene and dropping both sets to Sheldon, which is ranked sixth.

Ridgeview will be tested in the Intermountain Conference by No. 6 Crook County and No. 7 Hood River Valley. Last year, the Ravens turned the corner with a thrilling five-set win at Crook County.

“When we hit that fifth set, they just said, ‘We are not losing this game,’” Viggiano said. “They really decided that this was their goal and they were relentless in pursuing it. From then on, something just clicked, and we just kept getting better and better.”

The Ravens were on fire at the state tournament, blitzing past Crater and West Albany before falling in straight sets to Corvallis.

“It was nice to watch them play so free,” Viggiano said. “There were no expectations. They just played with so much heart and passion. They’re newer to 5A, so to bring back a trophy, let alone a second-place trophy, was absolutely incredible. And now there’s that expectation.”

The success sent a jolt through the program, with 55 players turning out this season. It’s the kind of impact that Viggiano and her husband, Nick, an assistant coach, envisioned after coaching together at Culver.

“We don’t have any kids, so we get to fully invest in our program,” Randi said.

Viggiano, who played at McNary as Randi McDonnell, said former Crook County coach Rosie Honl was “a huge influence” on how she runs a program.

“One of the things I admire about Rosie is just her positivity and energy,” Viggiano said. “That’s definitely something that I’ve taken from her. I’m a high-energy person myself. And then just being disciplined on every little aspect of the game.”