The 2026 season is here for the Yuma High School volleyball team.
The Outlaws opened their campaign Thursday, August 20, at home against Sterling. The Tigers are ranked in the 3A Top 10 in all the preseason polls, while Yuma is No. 9 in 2A in the Mile High Preps poll.
“I’m pretty excited,” coach Jamie Nighswonger said. “We have six seniors coming back who all have had pretty good playing time. I am looking for all of them to step up and lead this team.”
It was not the opener the Outlaws envisioned, losing in straight sets to the Tigers.
The Outlaws went 13-15 last season, but finished with a strong kick. They won two while claiming regional at Lyons, including knocking off the No. 6 Lions. They then won one match at the 2A tournament.
Long-time 1A power Merino is now in 2A, and while Wiggins is not in Yuma’s league anymore, the Tigers still are on the schedule and are the preseason No. 1. Sedgwick County is right back up there again, and Highland and Holyoke are considered among the state tournament contenders as well.
Nighswonger noted the Outlaws kind of ease into the season this year, having one week off before the second match, and playing four in the first three weeks before it gets busier.
“I think we have a challenging schedule,” she said.
They are in just one tournament, at Bennett on September 19.
Nighswonger shared she wants her team to continue what was started in 2025.
“I felt like last year we prided ourselves with defense, being scrappy and frustrating the other team,” she said. “It’s one of those things I want Yuma volleyball to be known for.”
To that end, the Outlaws have some good height in Emory Mcclaran, Taryn Sheffield, Lindsey Hermosillo and Berkley Nighswonger, along with Kinsley Mendoza and Addison Armstrong. The setters will be Aubrey Black and TaLynn Korf, along with more backcourt support coming from Yaretsi Marquez and Tisha Wolfe.
A change being implemented this season is a team can suit up two liberos, and Nighswonger said she plans on doing so.
“We’re a pretty tough serving team,” she said. “We got a lot of work in on that this summer. I fell anyone can beat anyone on any given night, because that’s just the way volleyball is.”