MaxPreps Top 25 national high school volleyball rankings

In recording its 34th match victory of the season, the last eight by 3-0 margins, The Woodlands (Texas) remained atop the MaxPreps Xcellent 25 Volleyball Rankings.

The Highlanders have won their last eight matches by 3-0 scores and have won 84 of 88 sets this season.

St. James (Lenexa, Kan.) remained No. 2 in running its record to 38-0 when it won seven games at the Michelle Smith Invitational tournament. The Thunder has not lost a set this season.

Carroll (Southlake, Texas) ran its win streak to 27 games and took advantage of Dakota's (MaComb, Mich.) loss to move up to No. 3.

New to the Top 25 are California unbeatens Granite Bay and Santiago (Corona) and east coast unbeaten Barnstable (Hyannis, Mass).

Granite Bay jumped into the Top 10 as it took down three high-ranking California teams in winning the Stockton Invitational last week, and Santiago is 28-0 and yet to lose a set this season.

In winning three straight state titles, Barnstable has won 80 of its last 83 matches dating back to the start of the 2010 season.


1. (1 last week) The Woodlands (Texas), 34-0
The Highlanders beat Lufkin (Texas) 3-0 (25-11, 25-14, 25-7) behind Madison McDaniel's 17 kills. They host Bryan (Texas) on Tuesday.

2. (2) St. James Academy (Lenexa, Kan.), 38-0
The Thunder continued its magical season by sweeping the field with seven 2-0 victories at the Michelle Smith Invitational. The Thunder has yet to lose a set this season. They are 79-0 and host Blue Valley North (Overland Park, Kan.) on Tuesday.

3. (4) Carroll (Southlake, Texas), 38-1
The Lady Dragons ran their win streak to 27 after sweeping Haltom (Haltom City, Texas) on Tuesday and Northwest (Justin, Texas) on Friday. MaxPreps All-American Cat McCoy was perfect on serve receptions. They play Central (Keller, Texas) on Tuesday.

4. (5) East Troy (Wis.), 38-0
The Trojans swept three opponents (2-0) to win the Rock Valley Conference Tournament on Saturday.

5. (6) St. Ursula Academy (Toledo, Ohio), 24-0
St. Ursula won the Three River Athletic Conference title and opened regional play with a rout of Waite, 3-0 (25-2, 25-0, 25-3). And it advanced with a win over Southview on Saturday. Up next: Anthony Wayne (Whitehouse, Ohio) on Tuesday at Bowling Green State University.

6. (7) Bellarmine Prep (Tacoma, Wash.), 23-0
Beat Yelm (Wash.), 3-0, on Tuesday, Stadium (Tacoma, Wash.) on Thursday and visit Central Kitsap (Silverdale, Wash.) on Monday.

7. (8) Cardinal Gibbons (Raleigh, N.C.), 23-0
The Crusaders beat Morehead (Eden, N.C.) 3-0 in the first round of postseason action and have won 69 of 72 sets this season. Up next: Terry Sanford on Tuesday.

8. (9) Mercy (Louisville, Ky.), 31-1
Swept Newport Central Catholic (Louisville, Ky.) on Tuesday and Sacred Heart on Thursday. The Jaguars open 24th District play on Monday.

9. (NR) Granite Bay (Calif.), 27-0
In winning the Stockton Tournament, Granite Bay beat previously-ranked Archbishop Mitty. Senior setter Taylor Nelson, a Cal Poly San Luis Obispo commit, had 22 assists. Granite Bay has won 65 of 67 sets this season. In addition to its win over Mitty, Granite Bay beat 33-4 Gregori (Modesto, Calif.) and 19-4 Sonora (Calif.).

10. (12) Carmel (Ind.), 31-1
Since losing to Sacred Heart (Louisville, Ky.), the Greyhounds have won 28 matches and most recently won three times (2-0) to win their own tournament.

11. (14) Torrey Pines (San Diego), 22-1
TPHS beat Rancho Bernardo (San Diego) on Wednesday and Mt. Carmel (San Diego) on Thursday. TPHS hosts Canyon Crest (San Diego) on Tuesday.

12. (13) Lafayette (Wildwood, Mo.), 24-1-1
Since tying 1-1, Lafayette has won 15 straight matches by shutout. Next Up: at Incarnate Word Academy (St. Louis) on Tuesday.

13. (NR) Santiago (Corona, Calif.), 28-0
In winning all 28 matches, Santiago has yet to lose a set in 2013.

14. (16) Veterans Memorial (Mission, Texas), 35-0
Led by Shania Gilpin, the Lady Patriots beat Edcouch-Elsa (Edcouch, Texas).

15. (15) Wellington (Fla.), 25-0
The 8A Wolverines last lost a set on Sept. 11 and continued their dominating play with a 3-0 win over Park Vista (Lake Worth, Fla.) and 3-1 over previously-ranked Boca Raton.

16. (3) Dakota (Macomb, Mich.), 33-1
After winning 32 straight matches, Dakota lost to Orion (2-1) in the Beast of the East Tournament Saturday.

17. (21) P.K. Yonge (Gainesville, Fla.), 24-1
The Blue Wave beat Middleburg (Fla.) on Tuesday, 3-0, then edged Forest (Ocala, Fla.) on Tuesday, 3-2 and blanked Buchholz to run their win streak to 18. Up next: The District Tournament.

18. (18) Mother McAuley (Chicago), 30-2
The Macs, who won the East Gabbard Invitational on Saturday, host Lyons (LaGrange, Ill.) on Wednesday.

19. (19) Fossil Ridge (Fort Collins, Colo.), 17-0
Fossil Ridge was dominating against Mountain Range (Westminster, Colo.) on Wednesday and Loveland on Thursday. Next up: crosstown rival Poudre (Fort Collins, Colo.).

20. (11) Horizon (Scottsdale, Ariz.), 30-2
Horizon recorded four shutouts in the Nike Tournament of Champions on Saturday, but lost 2-0 to St. Joseph's (St. Louis). The Huskies host Valley Vista (Surprise, Ariz.) on Tuesday.

21. (23) Churchill (San Antonio), 38-2
Behind Abby Buckingham's 21 kills and Charline Coupet's six blocks, Churchill defeated 31-4 Brennan on Friday and host Roosevelt (San Antonio) on Tuesday.

22. (NR) Barnstable (Hyannis, Mass.), 15-0
The Red Raiders, winners of the last three state championships, have won 45 of 48 sets this season. They visit once-beaten Notre Dame Academy (Hingham, Mass.) on Tuesday. Barnstable beat NDA two weeks ago, 3-2.

23. (23) St. Francis (Wheaton, Ill.), 29-3
The Spartans beat Marian Central Catholic (Woodstock, Ill.) on Thursday. They have outscored their foes 59-9. They play at Aurora Central Catholic (Aurora, Ill.) on Monday.

24. (25) Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.), 24-4
Mater Dei beat Rosary (Fullerton, Calif.) on Tuesday, 3-0, and visit Santa Margarita (Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif.) on Tuesday.

25. (10) Kamehameha (Honolulu), 27-2
The Warriors beat Maryknoll (Honolulu), 3-2, on Wednesday but lost to rival Punahou (3-2) on Saturday. They face Sacred Hearts Academy (Honolulu) on Tuesday.

Dropped Out:
No. 20 Archbishop Mitty (San Jose, Calif.)
No. 22 Brentwood (Tenn.)
No. 24 Ankeny (Iowa)