Xavier College Prep is one of four new teams in the Xcellent 25 this week.
Photo by Mark Jones
St. Ursula Academy (Toledo, Ohio) has opened the postseason on a mission, with lopsided routs over two teams to run its record to 24-0. The Arrows outscored their first two playoff foes 150-37.
And they've lost just three sets while winning 69 this season. The three losses came in wins over 20-2 Mount Notre Dame (Cincinnati) and 21-3 Ursuline Academy (Cincinnati).
The impressive streak, coupled with last week's loss for previously ranked No. 1 Mercy (Louisville, Ky.), has elevated the Arrows to No. 1 in the latest MaxPreps Xcellent 25 National Volleyball Rankings.
Saying their strength is defense might be an understatement, but coach John Buck is quick to point out that this team is the best defensive team he has coached. That is saying a lot, as the Arrows have recorded a 161-7 won-loss record over the last six seasons.
"We block or slow down a ton of balls at the net and can quickly switch from defense to offense better than any team of mine in the past," said Buck, who guided SUA to state titles in 2004 and 2010.
The No. 1 ranking is the highest for the Arrows, who face Northview (Sylvania, Ohio) Wednesday in the next round of the playoffs. The Arrows were ranked as high as No. 5 last season before losing the state title match to Mount Notre Dame.
Mercy's first loss in 33 matches dropped it to No. 5. It was Mercy's final regular season game before Kentucky playoff games begin this week.
Alexa Smith, Lewis-Palmer
Photo by Matt Daniels
This week's No. 2, Archbishop Mitty (San Jose, Calif.), swept through last weekend's Stockton tournament and routed previously unbeaten and highly ranked Pitman (Turlock, Calif.) in the process. The Monarchs' only loss is to No. 24 Assumption (Louisville, Ky.).
Things don't get any easier for Mitty as it faced No. 16 Sacred Heart Cathedral (San Francisco) on Tuesday, a team it beat earlier in the year, 2-1.
Unbeaten Lewis-Palmer (Monument, Colo.) moved to No. 3, while Brentwood (Tenn.) rounds out the Top 5 at No. 4.
Unbeatens Jesuit (Portland, Ore.), Bettendorf (Iowa) and Parkland (Allentown, Pa.) joined Mother McAuley (Chicago) and Carroll (Southlake, Texas) in the Top 10.
McAuley continued its season of beating highly ranked teams, the latest victim being last week's No. 6 and previously unbeaten Benet (Lisle, Ill.). Benet fell to No. 13.
New to the Top 25 this week are Mount Carmel (New Orleans), St. Mary's (Lancaster, N.Y.), Xavier College Prep (Phoenix) and unbeaten Emerald Ridge (South Hill, Wash.).
MaxPreps Xcellent 25 National Volleyball Rankings
1. (2) -
St. Ursula Academy (Toledo, Ohio), 24-0
2. (3) -
Archbishop Mitty (San Jose, Calif.), 23-1
3. (4) -
Lewis-Palmer (Monument, Colo.), 18-0
4. (5) -
Brentwood (Tenn.), 56-1
Lisie Kit, Carroll
Photo by Glenn Gunn
5. (1) -
Mercy (Louisville, Ky.), 32-1
6. (7) -
Jesuit (Portland, Ore.), 28-0
7. (8) -
Bettendorf (Iowa), 33-0
8. (9) -
Parkland (Allentown, Pa.), 38-0-1
9. (11) -
Mother McAuley (Chicago), 31-3
10. (10) -
Carroll (Southlake, Texas), 38-2-1
11. (16) -
Papillion-LaVista (Papillion, Neb.), 29-0
12. (12) -
Charlotte Country Day (N.C.), 41-1
13. (6) -
Benet Academy (Lisle, Ill.), 32-1
14. (14) -
Kamehameha (Honolulu), 27-1
15. (17) -
The Woodlands (Texas), 31-2
16. (22) -
Sacred Heart Cathedral (San Francisco), 21-1
17. (19) -
Siegel (Murfreesboro, Tenn.), 47-2
18. (20) -
Bishop Kenny (Jacksonville, Fla.), 24-1
19. (NR) -
St. Mary's (Lancaster, N.Y.), 32-0-1
20. (NR) -
Mt. Carmel (New Orleans), 33-2
21. (24) -
Jupiter (Fla.), 23-1
22. (NR) -
Xavier College Prep (Phoenix), 27-3
23. (23) -
Assumption (Louisville, Ky.), 30-6
24. (25) -
P.K. Yonge (Gainesville, Fla.), 23-2
25. (NR) -
Emerald Ridge (South Hill, Wash.), 29-0-1
Dropped out: St. James Academy (Lenexa, Kan.), Immaculate Heart Academy (New Jersey), El Camino (Sacramento, Calif.), Pitman (Turlock, Calif.).