This is more like it, what you'd expect from a school with the size and talent of Riverton.

After disappointment in 2010 and 2011, the Silverwolves are again relevant in volleyball's talent-packed Region 4.

Riverton enters the week with 16 wins in 19 matches, including a pair of second-place finishes in the Tournament of Champions and last week's Claim Jumper tournament at Bingham.

Mix in a four-set victory against Alta in the home opener last week, and Riverton has established early on that another year watching the playoffs simply won't do.

"We realize how much tougher the competition is, with the region switch last year," senior middle blocker Gerika Ballard said. "This year, we know we have to work extra hard to compete in our region.

"I was surprised a little bit by [this season's success], but not anymore, because I know now this is how it's going to be."

Riverton hired coach Scott Keister in April, and the former Montana State assistant has placed an emphasis on competition as a way to raise the level of play.

"I think the biggest difference has been our practices," junior outside hitter Danelle Parady said. "We work a lot harder and we're competing a lot more than last year."

Keister said the atmosphere at Riverton and the talent in the program drew him to the job. He left Montana State after new coach Kyle Weindel brought in his own assistants.

"There's a lot of talent here, and there's good, dedicated kids here," Keister said. "There's just a different air here. There's some excitement and talent and things you can work with."

Riverton's roster is full of experience — 8 of the 11 players are juniors and seniors — and the work the team put in over the summer helped prepare them for a much more demanding regular season schedule.

That work, they hope, will pay off in November when the postseason rolls around. Riverton has never won a first-round playoff game.

"It's all about competition within the team," Keister said. "We score every drill. There's a winner and a loser. It's a big culture change that needed to be made in the gym. It's compete, compete, compete.

"We needed to learn how to compete with the teams in the region."

Riverton has the week off before returning to the court Sept. 6 against Copper Hills — the Silverwolves' final match before region play begins Sept. 11. —

Playing ball

Riverton has won 16 of 19 matches this season and placed second in the Tournament of Champions and the Claim Jumper tournament at Bingham.

The Silverwolves are paced by the play of junior outside hitter, who verbally committed to BYU, and senior middle blockers Gerika Ballard and Mandy Chidester.

Riverton, which hasn't made the playoffs since 2009, hired former Montana State assistant Scott Keister as coach in April.