No. 8 Doherty has become the top team in Colorado after a perfect 14-0 start to the season.
Photo by Ray Chen
Top-rated Bishop Moore (Orlando, Fla.) impressively handled its first week as the nation's top team in the MaxPreps Xcellent 25 National Volleyball Rankings presented by the Army National Guard.
Bishop Moore defeated Orlando rival Dr. Phillips and Apopka with authority in winning all six games. Things don't get any easier for the Black and Gold, as their next two foes are a combined 27-7.
Teams ranked Nos. 2 through No. 12 were unchanged from last week.
Making the biggest upward move of the week was New Trier (Winnetka, Ill.) as the Trevians won seven matches to improve to 23-0.
New to the Top 25 this week are No. 22 Leesville Road (Raleigh, N.C.), No. 25 St. Francis (Sacramento, Calif.) and No. 23 Benet Academy (Lisle, Ill.). Benet is no stranger to the Top 25. Before losing a pair of matches, Benet was ranked as high as No. 12 earlier this season.
The ASICS 2012 California Challenge grabs this week's tournament spotlight with 32 of California's top teams entered, including host and No. 3 ranked Torrey Pines.
MaxPreps Xcellent 25 National Volleyball Rankings presented by the Army National Guard1. (1 last week) Bishop Moore (Orlando, Fla.), 17-0Bishop Moore survived its first week atop the poll with convincing wins over Dr. Phillips (Orlando) and once-beaten Apopka to run its win streak to 30. Next up for the Black and Gold is 16-3 Winter Park on Wednesday and 11-4 Winter Springs on Friday.
2. (2) Papillion-LaVista South (Papillion, Neb.), 25-1The Titans haven't looked back since losing to Assumption on Sept. 26. They have won 10 straight and have not lost a game in their last nine. The Titans face 12-13 Burke (Omaha) Thursday and 22-2 Marian (Omaha), on Oct. 16.
3. (3) Torrey Pines (San Diego), 10-1Since losing to Papillion LaVista-South (2-1) on Sept. 26, TP has defeated Assumption (2-0), Poway (3-1) and Rancho Bernardo (San Diego) 3-0. The Falcons host the California Challenge Friday and Saturday and open with 11-4 Corona Del Mar and 15-2 Liberty (San Diego).
4. (4) Assumption (Louisville, Ky.), 33-2The Rockets followed their sweep at the Asics Challenge by defeating 27-9 Mercy (Louisville), and 27-8 Notre Dame Academy (Park Hills).
5. (5) Archbishop Mitty (San Jose, Calif.), 12-0Remaining unbeaten at 12-0, Mitty hasn't lost a game since Sept. 14 and is 31-1 on the season. The Monarchs visit 12-9 Notre Dame (Belmont) on Tuesday and host 15-9 Presentation (San Jose) on Wednesday.
6. (6) Lafayette (Wildwood, Mo.), 23-0The Lancers continue their incredible run, having not lost a game this season. With 2-0 wins over St. Louis foes Oakville and Villa Duchesne and another 2-0 victory over Marquette (Chesterfield), they are 23-0 on the season. They host Cor Jesu Academy (St. Louis) or Tuesday.
7. (7) Mount Notre Dame (Cincinnati), 20-0 With wins over four opponents, MND improves to 20-0. Two of the match victories came against two of Kentucky's top teams - Mother of Mercy (Louisville) and Sacred Heart (Louisville). MND travels to Cincinnati to meet McAuley on Tuesday, then hosts 15-1 Lakota East Thursday.
8. (8) Doherty (Colorado Springs, Colo.), 14-0The Spartans beat Colorado Springs rival Rampart 3-0 and travel to Palmer (Colorado Springs) on Thursday. Host 12-2 Coronado (Colorado Springs) on Saturday.
Read Paul Willis' feature on Doherty's rise to power in Colorado9. (9) Carmel (Ind.), 25-1The Greyhounds have responded impressively since losing 3-2 to Bishop Chatard (Indianapolis). They have swept four opponents, 3-0, and in games this season have won 69, losing just three. This week, Carmel travels to highly-regarded Westfield (16-1) and 14-6 Zionsville and hosts 14-6 Bloomington South.
Regan Bristol, Barnstable
Photo by Ken Rutt
The Red Raiders ran their win streak to 31 with a win over Medfield.
Read Tom Mauldin's feature on Barnstable coach Tom Turco11. (11) Lakeville North (Minn.), 17-1After defeating Jefferson (Bloomington) and Prior Lake, 3-0, the Panthers won the Bachman Invitational and did not lose a game in the process. Lakeville travels to Chanhassen and Rosemount this week. Looking ahead, the Panthers travel to 16-2 Eagan on Oct. 16.
12. (12) Punahou (Honolulu), 9-1Last week, Punahou avenged its first loss in two years with a 2-0 win over Kamehameha (17-5) and also beat Mid-Pacific Institute.
13. (15) Carroll (Southlake, Texas), 31-4 The Dragons continue their impressive run and, in winning their last 17 matches, they have won all 51 games. Carroll blanked Haltom and Timber Creek (Fort Worth) last week. Fossil Ridge (Keller) comes to town Tuesday and Richland visits Thursday.
14. (14) Horizon (Scottsdale, Ariz.), 32-3The Huskies lost to Xavier College Prep (Phoenix) in pool play of the Goldwater Festival, then won four straight to claim the tournament title and run their season's record to 32-3. They host Central (Phoenix) on Wednesday and visit 19-1 Ironwood (Glendale) on Thursday.
15. (16) Reagan (San Antonio), 35-2The Rattlers have reeled off 21 straight wins since they lost Aug. 25. Westlake (Austin) and Lee (San Antonio) were no match for the Rattlers. San Antonio rivals Madison (Tuesday) and MacArthur (Thursday) are up next.
16. (19) Redondo Union (Redondo Beach, Calif.), 20-3.The Sea Hawks continue to roll with wins over Marymount, Palos Verdes Peninsula and Palos Vedes.
Coppell stays in the No. 17 spot.
Photo by Neil Fonville
The Cowgirls beat Ryan (Denton) and Lewisville in preparation for their rematch at Hebron on Tuesday. Hebron defeated Coppell 3-1 on Sept. 21. No breather for the Cowgirls as they follow Hebron with 27-7 Flower Mound on Friday.
18. (18) Quincy (Ill.), 28-1The Blue Devils out-dueled Galesburg 2-0, then captured its own tournament title by going 5-0 and losing just one game in the process. Tough week ahead with road trip to Helias (Jefferson City, Mo.) and Rock Island, two teams with a combined record of 33-3-1.
19. (23) New Trier (Winnetka, Ill.) 23-0The Trevians had a terrific week, defeating seven opponents.
20. (20) West Albany (Albany, Ore.) 17-0The Bulldogs blanked rival South Albany and Woodburn to improve to 17-0. They host always-tough Corvallis on Tuesday and Dallas on Wednesday.
21. (22) Mt. Carmel (New Orleans) 18-0-1The Cubs swept three more opponents to improve to 18-0-1. On Tuesday, the Cubs host 14-2-1 St. Mary's Dominican (New Orleans).
22. (NR) Leesville Road (Raleigh, N.C.) 17-0The Pride has racked up a 17-0 record with most recent wins coming against Jordan (Durham), Broughton (Raleigh) and Wakefield. Raleigh foes Sanderson and Millbrook face the Pride this week.
23. (NR) Benet Academy (Lisle, Ill.) 20-2Since back-to-back losses two weeks ago, Benet has won eight matches (not losing a game in any) to move back into the Top 25. The Redwings have won 55 of their last 57 matches.
24. (25) Aurora West (Ill.) 19-2The Blackhawks have lost only to Benet (back on Aug. 25) and New Trier (last weekend), but have dominated all other opponents. They will host 16-4 Hononegah (Rockton) on Friday.
25. (NR) St. Francis (Sacramento, Calif.) 21-1Winners of 38 games in 2011, the Troubadours' only loss in 2012 is to No. 5 Mitty. St. Francis hosts Sheldon (Sacramento) on Tuesday, and visits Oak Ridge (El Dorado Hills) on Wednesday.
