The Skyridge Falcons girls volleyball team hosts West on Tuesday, Aug. 11, at 6:30 p.m. to open a season built around one goal: getting back to the state championship and winning it.

Skyridge enters 2026 ranked No. 3 in the Class 6A preseason coaches poll after a 27-3 campaign that ended with a 3-1 loss to Corner Canyon in the state title match on Oct. 30, 2025, at the UCCU Center in Orem. The Falcons won the Region 3 title and held the No. 1 RPI ranking heading into last year's tournament, making the championship defeat sting all the more.

Gone is Class 6A Player of the Year Kylie Buttars, who posted 398 kills and a .264 hitting percentage before signing with BYU. Three other Skyridge seniors also moved on to college volleyball.

Second-year head coach Taylor Hifo told the Deseret News in an Aug. 5 preseason capsule that she is "super excited to compete as a team and accomplish our goals."

She has the pieces to do it. According to the Lehi Free Press, five players with significant varsity experience return.

Junior outside hitter Sienna Kuresa, entering her third varsity season, played every set in 2025 and averaged 2.7 kills, 2.0 digs and 5.2 serve-receives per set. She hit at a 32.7% clip and added 25 aces and 26 combined blocks. Senior libero Estelle Slaney anchored the back row with a 91.25% serve percentage, 47 aces, 4.3 digs per set and 113 assists. Junior middle blocker Lucy Meck, who played 77% of Skyridge's sets last season, recorded 55 kills, 71 combined blocks and 92 points. She is expected to take on an expanded role.

Seniors Emma White and Anzlee Holt round out the returning core at outside hitter. White contributed 34 kills and averaged 2.6 serve-receives per set, while Holt tallied 106 digs in her appearances.

The Region 3 race figures to be fierce. Corner Canyon, the defending 6A champion, sits at No. 1 in the coaches poll and returns six key contributors. Lone Peak checks in at No. 2 under first-year head coach Kalee Faumui after going 19-11 last season.

Skyridge's region opener is scheduled for Sept. 15 at Corner Canyon, a rematch of last year's title match.

After Tuesday's opener against West, the Falcons travel to Pleasant Grove on Wednesday, Aug. 12, for a 6:30 p.m. match.