The season is still young, but the Lemon Bay High volleyball team is showing it could be on its way back to the glory days of the 2006 and 2007 seasons.

The Manta Rays finished second in the LaBelle Invitational last Friday and Saturday, going 4-1 and losing to Riverdale 25-23, 25-21 in a close championship match.

Lemon Bay opened up the invitational by beating the host Cowboys 25-19, 25-16; then topped North Fort Myers 25-10, 25-18 and Seacrest 22-25, 25-19, 15-9 to finish up Friday's action. The Manta Rays then defeated Community School of Naples 25-19, 25-10 in the semifinals Saturday.

The Mantas opened the season last Wednesday with a 25-8, 25-14, 25-10 win over district rival Cape Coral.

"We're playing well," Lemon Bay coach Dave Rohrer said. "Last season, we had a lot of sophomores but this year they're one year older, more experienced and doing better."

Hitter Annie Swinford has led the way for the Mantas (5-1 entering this week's play). She has 38 kills and 13 aces. Sophomore setter Amber Vines has 76 assists, nine aces and 11 kills.

The Mantas won the district championship in 2006 before losing to Naples in the regional finals, one step from the state final four. In 2007, the Mantas won the district and regional finals, and took second in the state. Last season, the team still managed to finish second in the district tournament and qualify for the regionals.