High school girls volleyball: Strong start pushes Corner Canyon past Orem in 4 sets

Corner Canyon players celebrate a point during a high school girls volleyball game played against Orem in Draper on Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2026. | Lukas Katilius, Deseret News

Corner Canyon made it a point to come out on the front foot against Orem and they never looked back, defeating the Tigers in 4 sets 25-17, 25-17, 31-33, and 25-23 Tuesday.

Corner Canyon was dialed in from the start, quickly getting out to a 10-3 lead. Being the tough and top-tier team that Orem is, the Tigers clawed their way back into the set, but Corner Canyon had an answer and remained consistent at the net for the first two sets, limiting the amount errors they committed.

“We’ve been working on the mindset of playing to win and starting strong, so that was good for us to see especially first match at home and early on in the season,” said Corner Canyon head coach Mindy Ricks. “They were excited to be here and play in front of their friends and family. For them to translate that to the court and to play tough throughout, it was really, really good.”

After taking the first two sets, Corner Canyon was looking to make quick work of Orem. After trailing for most of the third set, Orem went on an 8-3 run to tie things up. The teams went on to trade points to extend the set with the Tigers ultimately getting a set back in a 33-31 thrilling set.

Corner Canyon’s Maia Schwalger spikes the ball during a high school girls volleyball game played against Orem in Draper on Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2026. | Lukas Katilius, Deseret News during a high school girls volleyball game played against _ in Draper on Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2026. | Lukas Katilius, Deseret News Corner Canyon head coach Mindy Ricks speaks with her players during a high school girls volleyball game played against Orem in Draper on Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2026. | Lukas Katilius, Deseret News Corner Canyon’s Torri Hildebrandt dives to bump the ball during a high school girls volleyball game played against Orem in Draper on Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2026. | Lukas Katilius, Deseret News Corner Canyon’s Berkleigh Minnick serves the ball during a high school girls volleyball game played against Orem in Draper on Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2026. | Lukas Katilius, Deseret News Corner Canyon’s Annmarie Mejbon serves the ball during a high school girls volleyball game played against Orem in Draper on Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2026. | Lukas Katilius, Deseret News Orem’s Amelia Marshall sets the ball during a high school girls volleyball game played against Corner Canyon in Draper on Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2026. | Lukas Katilius, Deseret News Corner Canyon’s Nafanua Alofipo sets the ball during a high school girls volleyball game played against Orem in Draper on Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2026. | Lukas Katilius, Deseret News An Orem player spikes the ball during a high school girls volleyball game played against Corner Canyon in Draper on Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2026. | Lukas Katilius, Deseret News Orem head coach Bill Sefita speaks to his players during a high school girls volleyball game played against Corner Canyon in Draper on Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2026. | Lukas Katilius, Deseret News Orem’s Eve Allred serves the ball during a high school girls volleyball game played against Corner Canyon in Draper on Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2026. | Lukas Katilius, Deseret News Corner Canyon’s Liana Latu watches the ball sail over the net during a high school girls volleyball game played against Orem in Draper on Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2026. | Lukas Katilius, Deseret News Corner Canyon’s Shayla Kirkham spikes the ball during a high school girls volleyball game played against Orem in Draper on Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2026. | Lukas Katilius, Deseret News An Orem player serves the ball during a high school girls volleyball game played against Corner Canyon in Draper on Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2026. | Lukas Katilius, Deseret News Orem celebrates a point during a high school girls volleyball game played against Corner Canyon in Draper on Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2026. | Lukas Katilius, Deseret News Orem’s Callie Eudis tips the ball over the net during a high school girls volleyball game played against Corner Canyon in Draper on Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2026. | Lukas Katilius, Deseret News Corner Canyon players celebrate a point during a high school girls volleyball game played against Orem in Draper on Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2026. | Lukas Katilius, Deseret News Corner Canyon’s Maia Schwalger spikes the ball during a high school girls volleyball game played against Orem in Draper on Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2026. | Lukas Katilius, Deseret News Orem head coach Bill Sefita speaks with his players during a high school girls volleyball game played against Corner Canyon in Draper on Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2026. | Lukas Katilius, Deseret News Orem’s Madi Scott tips the ball over the net during a high school girls volleyball game played against Corner Canyon in Draper on Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2026. | Lukas Katilius, Deseret News

Unable to finish the job and having to go to a fourth set, Corner Canyon stuck to its game plan and made adjustments between sets that got the team back on track.

“In between sets, we talked about that mindset again that we started the game with. The playing to win, and continuing to be aggressive, but also being smart, and making adjustments throughout the play,” added Ricks.

“The girls did a really, really good job adjusting that way. It’s hard when you play really, really tight sets, to then have to come back and battle back. I saw that mindset shift, and the leaders really started standing out in that force.”

While they may only be two games into their season, Ricks is already starting to see some very positive things from her team, especially offensively.

“We’re still working on the serving, passing and that dynamic together as a team. We’ve been working on our offensive systems, and we saw it start clicking tonight, which we really, really love,” Ricks said.