Every year, people think that this is it.

Upland volleyball has been a Baseline League dynasty for basically a decade. In fact, they haven’t lost a league match since 2001. But every year, it seems Upland lost a great player or two to graduation and the rest of the league figures this is the time when Upland is going down.

In 2008, Upland doesn’t have defending Inland Valley Player of the Year Morgan Carty, who is now at Division II power Cal State San Bernardino. But after watching Upland sweep a ranked St. Lucy’s team on Tuesday, the Highlanders look like they’ll be fine.

And they’re still getting better. Senior Amanda Goodwin (opposite/middle hitter) injured her foot in June and has only returned to match competition in the last two weeks.

“We’re getting her into game shape,” Upland coach Scott Robertson said after the St. Lucy’s match.

Robertson cited Los Osos, Alta Loma and Claremont as three of the big challengers to Upland’s league dominance this year.

One of them might well knock off Upland.  But right now, Upland’s history of success gives them the benefit of the doubt in my mind. So I won’t believe Upland will lose in league until they do it.

This year, despite losing talent from last year, Upland has nine seniors among 12 varsity players. That’s a lot of experience.

So if not this year, then next year might be the year to knock off Upland in the league. But don’t count on it.