The Krop High School girls' volleyball team has been here before.

After a romp against Miami Norland on Wednesday, Krop improved to 14-2 this season and again looked primed to win another district title and storm into the regional playoffs.

That is what it has done for seven consecutive years.

But during that time, Krop also has come up short in its quest to play in the state tournament -- losing twice in a regional final.

''Playing in states is our goal every year,'' said senior captain Stephanie Toledo, who leads the team in kills. ``We always try our best, but it just hasn't worked out yet.''

Although, talent-wise, Krop isn't much different compared with teams in previous years, it does feature one characteristic sets the team apart this year: chemistry.

The players insist that is what can help them have another successful regular season, allow them to stay focused despite playing in a relatively weak District 13-6A and, most importantly, avenge previous playoff shortcomings.

''This team is just closer as a group of friends,'' junior outside hitter Brittany Dubins said. ``It's really important [to have that chemistry].

``It's what can help us win the really close games.''

But coach Caron Schiffman's concerns have nothing to do with talent, focus or even camaraderie.

In recent years, Schiffman's biggest worry has been the competition -- or lack thereof -- her team plays against during the regular season. Schiffman, in her fifth year, refers to her school's location as a ''pocket'' between Broward and South Miami, where there aren't many schools rich in volleyball talent.

Although the Lightning usually coast through the regular season, the wake-up call comes in the playoffs, when it's time to play big-time programs -- such as Miami Killian, which knocked Krop out in the regional finals last year -- and her team gets overwhelmed.

''It's our biggest demise, I guess,'' said Schiffman, who enrolled her team in a tournament in Orlando this year, which it won, in hopes of reversing that trend. ``I don't need another 14-2 season. Some teams that go 10-6, they play hard teams, and they lose by a little bit, but they're getting that competition. We don't have that most of the time.''

But if things go the way Toledo expects, and chemistry plays a factor with this year's group, regular-season competition will have no bearing on the playoffs.

''I think this year we have really good communication on the court, and we really have the potential to go to state,'' she said. ``It's just teamwork. If we concentrate on that, I think we can win anything.

``We just have to believe. Believe in each other, believe in the team, and I think we can go anywhere.''

• Gulliver d. Mast 25-11, 25-5, 25-10: Kelsey Pasalodos led with eight kills and three kills. Daniella Aguilera added a kill and 14 aces. Katie Mark had six kills, four digs and three aces.

• Gulliver d. Mast 25-8, 25-12, 25-5: Katie Mark led the Raiders (6-4) with nine kills, two, assists and nine aces. Stephanie Rubin added a kill, five assists, and eight aces. Kimberly Sirichoke had three kills, 12 assists and two aces.

• Hialeah d. Reagan 22-25, 25-15, 25-21, 25-17: Eliana Romero led the T'Breds (10-1) with 14 assists, five digs and two aces. Jasmine Wilkin added 21 kills and four blocks. Maria Madrid had 10 kills and two aces.

• American d. North Miami Beach 25-14, 16-25, 25-21, 28-30, 15-13: Denise Prieto led the Patriots (7-2) with 12 kills, five blocks, and an assist. Jimena Penaranda had three aces, two kills and 16 assists. Tiffany Madison had an ace, six kills and five digs.

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