DOLORES – If last year’s dominant run through the season sent shivers up the spines of San Juan Basin League opponents, then the past 10 months of preparation for the 2026 edition of Dolores volleyball likely caused more than a few sleepless nights for opposing coaches.
DHS returns almost all of their attacking production from a team that barnstormed their way to a league title, regional championship and the program’s first state appearance in six years. Second-year head coach Brianna Wyatt’s group now has their sights set on taking the next step – climbing to the top rung of the 2A ladder at the state championships in November.
Plenty of work lies ahead for the Bears, including an intentionally rigorous schedule, but with the team’s chemistry well-established, DHS and their senior-led crew look to take the next step.
Last year, the Bears more than held their own in the Denver Coliseum, posting a 1-2 record and pushing eventual state runner-up Sedgwick County to a fifth set.
“It was an eye-opening experience for our girls, the competition doesn’t let up, no matter the set or the score,” said Wyatt of the lessons her team learned last November. “And we have a better understanding of the intensity at that level – and how to maintain our composure.”
Class of ’27 all-state outside hitters Aubree Wyatt and Kendall Chavez spearhead the attack, accounting for nearly 800 kills last season. Meanwhile, classmates Akaia Edwards and Madi Thornbrugh stuffed the stat sheet with digs, blocks and assists to keep opponents off-balance.
In the middle of it all, sophomore Addyson Wyatt joined Thornbrugh as part of DHS’ two-setter alignment, and Wyatt not only led the team in assists but in blocks as well.
Sophomore libero Layla Mitchell anchored a defense that only conceded six sets during the regular season last year, and classmate Sophee Heaton saw her role increase with each passing week as a middle blocker. With the surge of excitement building around the program, Wyatt is excited about the young players prepared to push her established rotation.
“From day one of practice, their hitting, setting, and connections are all beautiful,” she said. “They set a high standard for each other, and we’re seeing all of our girls, even our underclassmen, stepping up in their leadership.”
With all the pieces in place, Dolores earned preseason recognition from the Coloradopreps.com rankings as their No. 1 team in the 2A, something that Wyatt’s group will be hungry to justify.
“We’ve had our girls in the weight room all summer,” she said. “And they move differently than they did even just a year ago – and that’s with both confidence and quickness.”
With the San Juan Basin League switching from a double round robin to a format where each team plays other league members only once, the Bears looked to challenge themselves with a stout nonconference schedule.
Dolores plays three IML opponents this year, including Pagosa Springs on Aug. 25 to open the season, then 3A state qualifier Bayfield on Aug. 28 while also meeting up with M-CHS on Oct. 1. The Bears travel to the capital city to play in a tournament hosted by Denver Christian on Sept. 12, then also face 1A state qualifier Sargent and 2A state qualifier on the same day, Oct. 3, and have two meetings with fellow 2A state qualifier Sanford. The Basin will have a league tournament at the end of the season, hosted by the league’s top seed to put a bow on the regular season.
“Their goals are laid out from the junior varsity on up,” Wyatt said. “We can’t wait for the season to start.”
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