Tickets go on sale for first outdoor high school volleyball game in Colorado

Tickets are now on sale for the Sept. 3 matchup between Vail Christian and Battle Mountain, believed to be the first outdoor girls high school volleyball game in the state of Colorado. General admission costs $10 for the game, which begins at 7 p.m. at Battle Mountain High School in Edwards.

Vail Christian head coach Britney Branson said her and Battle Mountain coach Scott Graves have spent a significant chunk of their summer planning the historic event.

“Not only for our athletes and families but this community — to make it really special,” Branson said. “Being the first one in the state of Colorado, we want to go big and do it right. Not just for the athletes but for everyone.”

A parent committee with representation from both schools is organizing a pre-game tailgating atmosphere with food trucks. There will also be ‘Lights Above the Peaks’ merchandise for sale and a ceremony before the match begins, Branson said. Middle School volleyball teams are being invited and will receive a special shirt and section to sit in.

“Just so they can enjoy the night as a team and celebrate young female athletes in our valley,” Branson said. “The sport of volleyball is growing, so it’s fun to be a part of that growth.”

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In kicking off the 2026 season, the game also marks the 20th anniversary of the 2006 Battle Mountain girls volleyball state championship team. Branson, a key member of that squad, is trying to get as many former players back for the event. The ‘Lights Above the Peaks’ game will be broadcast on the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) Network online. Branson said High 5 Media is also live streaming the event and the Colorado High School Activities Association (CHSAA) will have a media presence, too. Finally, the game will be covered on local radio.

The ‘Lights Above the Peaks’ event was inspired by the University of Nebraska’s outdoor game at Memorial Stadium on Aug. 30, 2023. With 92,003 fans in attendance, the spectacle set a world record for the largest crowd to watch a women’s sporting event in the United States — surpassing the USA’s FIFA World Cup final against China on July 10, 1999 at the Rose Bowl.

Battle Mountain went 24-5 last year — its most wins since 2007 — and is 47-8 (and 23-1 in league play) over the last two seasons under Graves’ guidance. Since Branson took over Vail Christian’s program in 2023, the Saints have made the state tournament twice and gone 31-3 in league play. Only one player graduated from last year’s group, which went undefeated in Western Slope competition.

Graves, the mastermind behind the court’s construction, was out on the football field with Branson a few weeks ago scoping out where extra lights should go. The first part of the game will take place as the sun goes down, but the rest will be in the dark.

“Those football stadium lights are obviously huge, but we’re trying to make the ball as visible as possible for our athletes at every angle,” Branson said.

On Sept. 9, an outdoor volleyball jamboree including all four local schools will be held on the same court at Battle Mountain High School. Eagle Valley High School, Vail Mountain School, Vail Christian and Battle Mountain will each play a shortened scrimmage against each other beginning at 6 p.m. Admission for the Sept. 9 event is free.