But opening week hasn’t gone completely to plan, as the delayed opening of the new school’s athletic facilities has forced its programs to seek alternative options.

Two outdoor programs, girls soccer and boys golf, are currently up and running, and football is slated to join the action Friday with a road game at Layton. Likewise, West Field volleyball is eager to open its season Thursday at Layton in a match originally to be played at the Longhorns’ new gym.

What separates West Field volleyball from its fall sports counterparts is familiarity. Much of the team’s roster, led by head coach Jantzen Ryan and assistant coach Marina George, chose to move over from Fremont because of existing relationships and Ryan’s hire as the team’s coach.

“When I heard (Ryan) was going over there, I was thrilled,” senior Olivia Kapp said. “She’s just been such a good coach and I feel like all the girls have grown a relationship with here where we’re so coachable and we take criticism good with her.”

Kapp is one of four seniors (also Madilyn Huffaker, Brielle Wray, Ella Reynolds) previously coached by Ryan during her time at Fremont. The Longhorns welcomed eight total seniors during team workouts this summer.

West Field spent nearly a week at Rocky Mountain Jr. High preparing for Thursday’s inaugural match against the Lancers. A 6A foe in Game 1 may intimidate some 4A teams, senior Ella Reynolds said, but the senior libero feels the roster’s overwhelming experience at Fremont gives the Longhorns an edge.

“This is a whole different ballgame,” Reynolds said about the move to 4A. “No one knows how we play and I think we’re going to come out with a bang and it’ll be awesome.”

This summer has benefited the Longhorns across the board, but Ryan said the biggest improvement has been maturity on the court. She credits her senior circle with pushing the entire team, even with the less-than-ideal circumstances to conduct practice and other team-building activities other schools enjoyed this offseason.

“They’ve all grown up playing together and that’s why we’re starting in such a good spot,” Ryan said. “Our practices are super competitive and they’re pushing each other but they’ve all really bonded, so we’re lucky in that way.”

West Field expects its fall sports squads to be welcomed inside their home athletics facilities before the end of the month, Ryan said.

Ryan praised personnel within the Weber School District, Roy High, Walhquist Jr. High and Rocky Mountain Jr. High for providing solutions in accommodating preseason practices.

“It’s been hard floating around,” Ryan said. “We’ll definitely be grateful when we have our own gym and our own space. But people in the district have been really great to work with.”

West Field serves up its first-ever volleyball season at 5 p.m. Thursday at Layton.

Connect with prep sports reporter Conner Becker via email at cbecker@standard.net and X @ctbecker.