It has been awhile since the Olympus girls volleyball team has had a winning record. Head coach Michael Guthrie is hoping this season breaks the spell. 

The Titans last finished above .500 in 2016 when they went 12-11 overall. Olympus is coming off a 7-22 season that saw the team finish fifth place in Region 6 with a 5-7 mark. Guthrie, now in his second season, noted that his squad has some inexperience, but he believes more victories are in store for Olympus than it had last year. 

“While we still have a very young team, we expect to exceed last year’s performance,” he said. 

The Titans got off to a 0-2 start to the 2024 season, falling at Clearfield 3-0 on Aug. 20, followed by a 3-1 loss at home to Viewmont two days later. In the second match, Olympus won set one over Viewmont 25-22 but dropped three in a row, including sets three and four by scores of 25-22. 

Guthrie would like to see the team move up the league standings and enjoy more success on the scoreboard. However, he said it all comes down to effort and improvement. Also, win or lose, he’s trying to build a strong culture with the program where the players get along well and enjoy good chemistry. 

“Our goals are to play our best possible volleyball, become a close-knit team and work hard each day to get better and better,” he said.

Winning more matches and progressing throughout the year won’t be automatic. Guthrie said the Titans will need to play together and trust one another. He does have some experienced seniors in Scarlette Wilkinson, Jo Park and Mia Potter. Wilkinson is an outside hitter who Guthrie said is “very strong.” Park and Potter play the libero position and bring leadership to the team. There’s also junior middle hitter Elsa Barratt. 

“[Barratt] gives us strong inside play on both offense and defense,” Guthrie said. 

“Trust” is a word Guthrie has used when describing the keys to a successful season. He wants the girls to play well together and understand each other’s roles. He also hopes to see good team unity throughout the season. 

Even in defeat, Guthrie is encouraged by the Titans’ play. 

“The team has looked very good in the early going,” he said. “First impressions are that it’s going to be a very good year for us.”

Region 6 has seven teams, and the Titans will face their six opponents two teams apiece. The first league match is Sept. 5 at Brighton. Olympus will also contend with West, Skyline, East, Highland and Alta. The final regular-season match is Oct. 29 at Alta. There will also be a nonregion match at Olympus against Stansbury on Oct. 22. 

The Titans will aim for a high enough seed in the Class 5A state tournament to avoid playing in the first round. The tournament will begin with first-round matches Nov. 5, followed by subsequent rounds Nov. 7 and 8 at Utah Valley University. 

Guthrie looks forward to the rest of the season and enjoys the chance to coach what he said is a quality core of girls. 

“As coaches, we love coaching these girls,” he said. “They are a great group, and they want to be successful this coming season.” λ