This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2015, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

In Pleasant Grove's three-year reign over Class 5A, one of the Vikings' best attributes was their depth.

As the 2015 volleyball season begins, that's going to be put to the test immediately.

Outside hitter Bailey Nixon unfortunately won't see any action during her season year thanks to blowing out her knee a month ago. The injuries were extensive: ACL, MCL and meniscus all torn for Bailey, who was an All-Tribune selection when Pleasant Grove beat Lehi for the 5A crown last November.

But that's not all the injury woes for the Vikes. Jeni Biggs, also an All-Tribune pick at setter, starts the year with a herniated disc in her back, and her status at the moment is uncertain.

PG coach Allyce Jones still has returnees, particularly 6-foot-6 middle Sara Hamson and talented right-side hitter Brooklyn Dahl, but the depth will come into play immediately.

And then there's the inevitable target embedded into the back of a champion going for four straight championships.

"Every year is a new year," Jones said. "That '14 championship is in the past now and we're ready to see what this group can do."

"You think of the major contenders, PG is always going to be there, just because they're so deep in every position," Bingham coach Melissa Glasker said. "The rest of us just build programs to contend in that position — but she's got three-deep in the middle, three-deep on the outside."

Glasker's daugher Torre, who will play at the University of Utah after she graduates, is the primary cog for a Miners team hoping to upset the prevailing balance of power in 5A.

"I'm pretty excited, actually," Torre Glasker said. "We're pretty young, we only have four seniors, but I'm excited to see how this season turns out."

The team most likely to supplant the Vikings, at least at the early stages, is region rival Lehi. Pleasant Grove outlasted the Pioneers in the 2014 title contest, but Lehi has key returnees in outside hitters Rylin Roberts and Amber Lamborn, as well as athletic libero Sydney White.

Look for Lone Peak to challenge Lehi and Pleasant Grove at both the region and state levels.

The Knights settled into championship contenders a year ago when Jaysa Funk became the primary setter, and she'll be back for her junior year, while senior libero Madelyn Olson is also a valuable returning asset.

Realignment will bring some changes to the 5A field in 2015, and the team most likely to feel them right away will be Taylorsville. The Warriors have won region championship each of the last four seasons but will be hard-pressed to do it in newly-constituted Region 3, as Bingham and Brighton, led by outside hitter Dani Barton, are likely to rule the roost.

Region 2, Taylorsville's old confines, is now occupied by old-time members Granger, Hunter and West, but has new blood in Davis, Layton, Syracuse and Viewmont.

Layton and Viewmont have new coaches, while veteran Davis coach Lori Salvo has quality returners in senior outsides Aubrey Louder, Mary Kate Buttars and Abbey Rocha.

"We've got some kids who are ready to play," Salvo said. "We'll mix it up. This is kind of new to us, being in Region 2."

In Region 1, Davis' old home, Fremont is the defending champs and returns power-hitting junior Madeline Vigil. But look for the Silver Wolves to get a stiff challenge from Northridge, which has a new coach in Rylee Garver but a solid corps including twins Rachel Parson at outside and Marisa Parson at setter.

Garver, who is only 22 and a recent grad herself from Syracuse, also will look to senior libero Katelyn Erwin and senior outside Talia Thompson to lead Northridge.

"I feel really lucky to be walking into this program right now," Garver said. —

Volleyball at a glance

Class 5A

Rankings • 1. Pleasant Grove; 2. Lehi; 3. Bingham; 4. Lone Peak; 5. Northridge.

Top returning players • Torre Glasker, Bingham (Sr., OH); Rylin Roberts, Lehi (Sr. OH); Brooklyn Dahl, Pleasant Grove (Sr., OH); Madeleline Vigil, Fremont (Jr., OH); Sydney White, Lehi (Sr., L); Anna Olsen, Sky View (Jr., MB) Rachel Parson, Northridge (Sr., OH); Dani Barton, Brighton (Jr., OH); Jaysa Funk, Lone Peak (Jr., S). Realignment trouble • Sky View

Realignment blues • Taylorsville

Class 4A

Rankings • 1. Timpview; 2. Springville; 3. Skyline; 4. Bountiful; 5. Alta.

Top returning players • Amanda Schultz, Springville (Sr., OH); Kennedy Redding, Bountiful (Sr., MB); Abby Selcho, Skyline (Sr., OH); Kiersten Banks, Clearfield (Sr., MB); Brooke Vanderheide, Alta (Sr., OH); Taylor Harvey, Mountain Crest (Jr., OH); Heather Gneiting, Timpanogos (So., OH); Corie Bornholdt, Salem Hills (Sr., OH).

Realignment trouble • Alta

Realignment blues • Uintah

Class 3A

Rankings • 1. Snow Canyon; 2. Morgan; 3. Desert Hills; 4. Dixie; 5. Hurricane

Top returning players • Alexsa Parker, Snow Canyon (Sr., OH); Jaiden Farr, Morgan (Sr., OH); Jorry Randall, Morgan (Sr., S); Sydnie Hoskins (Sr., MB); Jessica Carter, Morgan (Sr., OH); Danielle Seely, North Sanpete (Sr., S); Dakota Gee, Juab (Sr., S); Daisy Brown, Tooele (Sr., S).

Class 2A

Rankings • 1. Delta; 2. Enterprise; 3. San Juan; 4. North Summit; 5. South Sevier.

Top returning players • Sidney Springer, Delta (Sr., OH); Jessica Farnsworth, Enterprise (Sr., MB); Brooklyn Henrie (Sr., OH); Sara Matsumura, Rowland Hall (Sr., OH); Sara Morley (Jr., OH); Hunter Vernon, North Summit (So., OH).

Class 1A

Rankings • 1. Panguitch; 2. Piute; 3. Rich; 4. Monticello; 5. Duchesne.

Top returning players • Chesney Campbell, Panguitch (Sr., MB); Taylor Bennett, Panguitch (Sr., MB); Hannah Bagley, Piute (Jr., S); Ashley Groll, Rich (Sr., OH); Audrey Green, Intermountain Christian (Jr., OH); Baylee Netto (Sr., OH); MaShaylee Giles, Sr., (Sr., OH).