Skyline's volleyball team came within one set of a state championship last October. Now the Eagles return six contributors and enter the 2026 season as the clear favorite among the three Cottonwood Heights and Holladay programs competing in Class 5A Region 6.

The season opens the week of Aug. 10, with Skyline projected second in Region 6, Brighton fourth and Olympus fifth, according to preseason capsules published by the Deseret News on Wednesday, Aug. 5.

Skyline: Reloading after championship heartbreak

Head coach Mondo Begay, now in his 10th year leading the Eagles and a 32-year volleyball coaching veteran, brings back a roster loaded with postseason experience. Skyline went 21-7 last fall, finished No. 3 in the 5A RPI with a 9-3 region record and cruised through three playoff opponents before falling to Woods Cross 3-2 in the 5A Championship on Oct. 30, 2025.

The Eagles trailed two sets to none in that title match before junior Bailey Bennett and senior Isa Taylor mounted a third-set attack that put Woods Cross on its back foot. Skyline won sets three and four before Woods Cross pulled away 15-7 in the fifth.

Taylor, the 2025 5A Player of the Year, graduated and signed with the University of Montana. But Skyline returns second-team All-State pin hitter Bailey Bennett, third-team All-State pin hitter Brooke Bennett (Bailey's twin sister), honorable-mention middle blocker Norah Pearce, sophomore setter Eva Lotulelei (also honorable mention) and two more contributors in junior pin hitter Evelyn Vargas and sophomore pin hitter Ella West.

"Excited for the season, have a good group of girls coming back and ready to compete," Begay told the Deseret News.

Only defending champion Woods Cross, which went 30-1 last year, is projected ahead of Skyline in Region 6.

Brighton: Markey banking on offseason grind

Fifth-year head coach Jenna Markey's Bengals finished 13-16 overall and 5-7 in region play last season, earning the No. 18 RPI spot in 5A. Brighton beat Payson 3-0 in the first round of the state tournament before falling to Fremont 3-2 in the second round.

Brighton did not list returning contributors or key newcomers in the preseason capsule. Markey said the team trained hard through the offseason and is ready to compete.

Olympus: Taylor building in year two

Second-year head coach Brooklyn Taylor leads a program that went 11-14 overall and 5-7 in region in 2025, finishing No. 20 in the 5A RPI. The Titans beat Box Elder 3-2 in the first round before Maple Mountain swept them 3-0 in the second round.

Olympus provided no returning contributors, key newcomers or coach comment in the Deseret News preseason report, leaving the Titans' roster outlook unclear heading into the season.

What's ahead

All three programs open Region 6 play against a seven-team field that also includes Bountiful (17-12 last year), Alta (16-15) and Viewmont (5-16). First matches are expected the week of Aug. 10.