High school girls volleyball: Corner Canyon, Woods Cross, Orem, North Sanpete, North Summit, Panguitch open 2026 as preseason No. 1s

The high school girls volleyball season begins this week, and there could be a lot of repeat state champions based on the coaches projections.

Five of last year’s six state champs were pegged as the team to beat in their respective classification in the 2026 Deseret News preseason coaches rankings — Corner Canyon, Woods Cross, North Sanpete, North Summit and Panguitch.

Orem in 4A is the only preseason No. 1 team that isn’t a defending state champ. Deseret Hills won last year’s 4A title.

In 6A, Corner Canyon returns the bulk of its starters from a year ago, including returning first team all-state setter Nafanua Alofipo. The Chargers finished second in Region 3 a year ago, but got hot at the perfect time to win their first state title in school history.

In 5A, Woods Cross will open the season ranked No. 1 after winning its first state championship in 46 years. It graduated last year’s Ms. Volleyball winner, Avery Poulton, but several pieces return for the Wildcats, including setter Zamari Christensen.

Orem’s bid for a third-straight 4A title was denied a year ago falling to Desert Hills in the championship match. A year later, 4A’s coaches believe Orem is still the team to beat as it finished ahead of Desert Hills in the preseason voting.

The Tigers graduated some key pieces, but they return all-state outside hitter Haven Michaelis.

In 3A, North Sanpete will begin the year ranked No. 1 led by reigning 3A Player of the Year Rylee Stewart. All the other Hawks’ all-staters from a year ago graduated, but coach Ricki Stewart believes the quality is there to be in the hunt again.

In 2A, defending state champ North Summit returns five starters — including last year’s 2A Player of the Year Ellie Stephens — as it was voted the runaway favorite to repeat as 2A state champ.

Panguitch was tabbed by the coaches as the 1A favorite in 2026 as it narrowly finished ahead of Rich in the coaches voting. The Bobcats return three of their four all-staters from a year ago, while Rich graduated its two first team all-staters.

2026 preseason high school girls volleyball rankings

Each year, the Deseret News asks every girls volleyball coach in the state to vote for the top five teams in their classification. The votes are tallied, and five points are assigned for a first-place vote, four for a second-place vote, etc. Coaches aren’t allowed to vote for their own team. The following are the results from the coaches who elected to participate:

Class 6A

Team 2025 record

1. Corner Canyon (25-6)
2. Lone Peak (19-11)
3. Skyridge (27-3)
4. Mountain Ridge (27-5)
5. Syracuse (21-9)

Others receiving multiple votes: Bingham, American Fork.

Class 5A

Team 2025 record

1. Woods Cross (30-1)
2. Skyline (21-7)
3. Bountiful (17-12)
4. Pleasant Grove (20-10)
5. Maple Mountain (22-8)

Others receiving multiple votes: Fremont, Payson, Timpview, Box Elder, Brighton, West Field, West.

Class 4A

Team 2025 record

1. Orem (28-4)
2. Desert Hills (23-9)
3. Green Canyon (23-7)
4. Mountain View (21-10)
5. Crimson Cliffs (20-10)

Others receiving multiple votes: Ridgeline, Provo, Wasatch, Cedar City, Snow Canyon, Hurricane, Dixie.

Class 3A

Team 2025 record

1. North Sanpete (32-0)
2. Delta (24-8)
3. Canyon View (18-9)
4. Morgan (22-6)
5. Union (15-12)

Others receiving multiple votes: Grantsville, Richfield.

Class 2A

Team 2025 record

1. North Summit (22-4)
2. Enterprise (22-5)
3. San Juan (23-3)
4. Millard (20-9)
5. North Sevier (13-13)

Others receiving multiple votes: Kanab, Parowan, Duchesne, Grand.

Class 1A

Team 2025 record

1. Panguitch (22-4)
2. Rich (15-6)
3. Tabiona (17-15)
4. St. Joseph (22-10)
5. Valley (15-12)

Others receiving multiple votes: Altamont, Tintic, Piute, Monticello, Manila, Wayne.