For the past few years, predicting the outcome of the Class 4A volleyball championship match was a no-brainer. Snow Canyon beat Dixie for the title four years in a row, not even dropping a single set in last year's postseason.

Now the Warriors are out of the picture, having lost last in last weekend's 3A final. And 4A looks more than ever like a free-for-all.

"It's wide open — completely wide open," Timpview coach Kristen Bailey says. "I think it's anybody's game. Whoever can be the most consistent."

It should be a chaotic weekend at Utah Valley University when the tournament kicks off Friday. Sure, there are teams that are considered strong contenders. But it seems almost impossible to gauge how these teams might end up before they actually take the court. There is no odds-on favorite in this race.

The Skyline Eagles might be considered the top dog after a season in which they beat several 5A squads and went undefeated in region. They boast a solid lineup bolstered by seven seniors.

But the team was also swept recently by 3A champ Morgan, which coach Jami Hutchins described as an eye-opening experience for a group that has high ambitions.

"I think we got caught up in the hype of returning the banner," he says. "We were kinda caught like a deer in headlights in that game, but we're hoping it taught us how to stay strong mentally. We're thinking it's a steppingstone and we can move on."

Bountiful and Woods Cross have beaten each other in region play. Same with Box Elder and Sky View. Same with Timpview and Salem Hills. Every team that is in a strong position still has its warts.

And last year's tournament experience hardly plays to anyone's advantage. Only three teams of last year's top six in 4A still play in that classification.

Coaches say it's going to come down to consistency, depth and maybe a little luck. The lack of one or two dominant contenders has lent hope to younger teams such as Timpview, which is hoping to get hot at the right time.

"They're young, but they're excited to be back in the tournament for the first time in a long time," Bailey says. "We just need to have everybody show up. We're either on or completely off, it seems. I keep telling the girls we have to control the things we can control."

Other teams will be hoping to do the same. Whoever finds themselves on the end of the hottest four-match streak might wind up with first place. And Skyline is one of the teams licking its chops to bring a trophy back.

"They feel the connection to the past — it never left," Hutchins says. "Like the teams of old, they're coming together and really working as a group." —

Prep playoff schedule

Volleyball

At Utah Valley University

Friday's games

Class 5A

Match 1 • Pleasant Grove vs. Kearns, 3:30 p.m.

Match 2 • Davis vs. Jordan, 3:30 p.m.

Match 3 • Brighton vs. Northridge, 3:30 p.m.

Match 4 • Hunter vs. Lone Peak, 3:30 p.m.

Match 5 • Fremont vs. West Jordan, 5 p.m.

Match 6 • Lehi vs. Viewmont, 5 p.m.

Match 7 • Taylorsville vs. Bingham, 5 p.m.

Match 8 • Alta vs. Layton, 5 p.m.

Match 9 • Match 1-2 winners, 6:30 p.m.

Match 10 • Match 3-4 winners, 6:30 p.m.

Match 11 • Match 5-6 winners, 8 p.m.

Match 12 • Match 7-8 winners, 8 p.m.

Match 13 • Match 1-2 losers, 6:30 p.m.

Match 14 • Match 3-4 losers, 6:30 p.m.

Match 15 • Match 5-6 losers, 8 p.m.

Match 16 • Match 7-8 losers, 8 p.m.

Class 4A

Match 1 • Timpview vs. Cyprus, 9 a.m.

Match 2 • Box Elder vs. Westlake, 9 a.m.

Match 3 • Skyline vs. Mountain Crest, 9 a.m.

Match 4 • Bountiful vs. Maple Mtn., 9 a.m.

Match 5 • Sky View vs. Murray, 10:30 a.m.

Match 6 • S. Hills vs Timpanogos, 10:30 a.m.

Match 7 • Woods Cross vs. Orem, 10:30 a.m.

Match 8 • Olympus vs. Bonneville, 10:30 a.m

Match 9 • Match 1-2 winners, noon

Match 10 • Match 3-4 winners, noon

Match 11 • Match 5-6 winners, 1:30 p.m.

Match 12 • Match 7-8 winners, 1:30 p.m.

Match 13 • Match 1-2 losers, noon

Match 14 • Match 3-4 losers, noon

Match 15 • Match 5-6 losers, 1:30 p.m.

Match 16 • Match 7-8 losers, 1:30 p.m.

Football

Friday's games

5A quarterfinals

• Northridge at Lone Peak 4 p.m.

• Syracuse at West 3:30 p.m.

• Jordan at Viewmont 4 p.m.

• Bingham at Fremont 3:30 p.m.

4A quarterfinals

• Highland at Logan 5 p.m.

• Skyline at East 3:30 p.m.

• Westlake at Timpview 4 p.m.

3A quarterfinals

• Cedar City at Delta 5 p.m.

• Desert Hills at Stansbury 5 p.m.

• Grantsville at Hurricane 5 p.m.

• Spanish Fork at Juan Diego 4 p.m.

Saturday's games

4A quarterfinals

• Bountiful at Olympus 5 p.m.

2A semifinals

• Millard vs San Juan, 2 p.m. at Pleasant Grove

• Manti vs South Summit, 11 a.m. at Pleasant Grove

1A semifinals

• Layton Christian at Monticello 2 p.m.

• Rich at Duchesne 11 a.m.