When it comes to aspirations, the Mountain Ridge girls volleyball team doesn’t shy away from setting the bar high. 

Last season, the Sentinels went 21-12 overall and placed third in a competitive Region 2. Mountain Ridge went 1-2 in the Class 6A state tournament, falling in the quarterfinals and then in the consolation round. This season, as usual, the team is confident and determined. The girls and coaching staff see no reason why the team can’t be competitive in every match. 

“We always have high expectations each season and lofty goals; this year is no exception,” head coach Bryan Nicholson said. “We return five starters from last season that receive a lot of valuable experience and are hoping to make a deep run in the state tournament.”

Nicholson is in his sixth season as coach of the Sentinels. He is the only coach the team has had. Entering the 2024 campaign he was 69-44. This season, his objectives might seem basic, but he believes he has the formula for success for the Sentinels. 

“Our biggest goal of our team is a little cheesy, but we are just trying to get a little better every day,” he said. “We want to be playing our best volleyball in November and realize we have to take it a day at a time.”

Judging by the early part of the season, Mountain Ridge could be a factor in the Region 2 race and in the state tournament. 

The Sentinels started the year with a glossy 7-1 record. Its only loss came in match No. 8 to Marina, California, in the Las Vegas Invitational, Aug. 24. The Sentinels won their five other matches at the tournament, including victories over two schools from California, one from Alaska and one from Nevada. All five tournament wins were 2-0 shutouts. Mountain Ridge also opened the season Aug. 15 with a 3-2 win over Skyridge and an Aug. 20 victory at home over American Fork, 3-0. 

Nicholson said the team excels in many aspects of the game. Specifically, he said the girls play well together and understand the nuances of the sport. The Mountain Ridge players know their positions and roles on the team. He also said the girls are unselfish and have bought into the team’s goals. 

“The strength in this team is that they have a high volleyball IQ and experience,” he said. “They understand it’s the ultimate team sport and that it doesn’t matter who gets the ball if we are playing together.”

Three seniors on the team have already committed to play volleyball at the next level, displaying just how talented Mountain Ridge is. Setter Sadie White, a four-year starter, will play next season at the University of North Dakota. Outside hitters Addy Cook and Allie Grossenbach will play for the University of Central Florida and University of Utah,
respectively. 

“[White] brings a ton of experience to our offense,” Nicholson said. “These three will carry the load of our offense.”

Another force are senior libero Ava “Rambo” Livolsi and senior defensive specialist Rylee Lesh. Together, these five seniors make Mountain Ridge a difficult team to beat. However, winning region won’t be easy. Mountain Ridge faces some strong teams in league play, with Bingham and Corner Canyon, in particular, posing challenges. Other region opponents are Herriman, Riverton and Copper Hills. The Sentinels also encountered some excellent teams in non-league play and are bound to match up with others in the
postseason. 

Nicholson also said avoiding the injury bug will be critical to the team’s success. He also wants to see progress throughout the year in practices. 

“Our biggest challenge this year is a very tough preseason and region schedule,” he said. “We never get a night off, which is a good thing to keep us sharp and focused. We need to stay healthy to be successful this season and maintain a competitive edge in practice.”

Mountain Ridge will play each region team twice this season, with the final region and regular season match set for Oct. 29 at home against rival Herriman. The Sentinels’ final record, combined with their strength of schedule, will determine their RPI rating and seeding for the state tournament. State begins Nov. 5 at Utah Valley University. A high enough seed would give the Sentinels a first-round bye in the playoffs. 

The girls volleyball season is long, and there are a lot of matches to play. In the early going, however, Nicholson was impressed with his players’ attitudes, work ethic, composure and performance. It all started in the summer with conditioning and initial practices. The players’ commitment has carried through to a successful start to the 2024 campaign. 

“Summer workouts and camps are always hard to gauge how we look, but I’ve been happy with how quickly the girls are jelling on the court this early in the season.”

As a coach, Nicholson has seen many highs and lows. He has also coached a lot of players and encountered challenges and been a part of big accomplishments. With the current group of girls, he is enjoying their love of the game and their desire to learn and get better every day. It makes his job much easier
and rewarding. 

“This group is special; their talent, their drive and their competitiveness makes them so fun to coach,” he said. “They want to be pushed, critiqued and taught. We are looking forward to a fun, successful season at
Mountain Ridge.” λ