End of regular season signals possible shuffling as postseason on horizon.
Video: Top 25 high school volleyball rankingsCathedral Catholic, New Castle stay atop rankings as postseason looms.
As the regular season nears its end around the country and playoffs appear on the horizon, this week's MaxPreps Top 25 national high school volleyball rankings feature subtle movement as the top four teams held serve.
A lot is still to be determined as the California Interscholastic Federation playoffs should separate the pack, as will the Texas postseason. Meanwhile No. 2 New Castle of Indiana is already underway on its championship quest with a potential 4A second round meeting with No. 12 Yorktown.
There are three undefeated in this week's rankings — Padua Franciscan (Parma, Ohio), Papillion-LaVista (Papillion, Neb.) and Benet Academy (Lisle, Ill.) — with Eagan (Minn.) sitting in the Next Five category.
In addition to the unbeatens, there are five one-loss squads — New Castle, Yorktown, Cedar Falls (Iowa), Providence (Ind.) and McIntosh (Peachtree City, Ga.) — and a quartet of two-loss teams in Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth, Calif.), Marist (Chicago), Byron Nelson (Trophy Club, Texas), Torrey Pines (San Diego) and Green Hope (Cary, N.C.).
The solo losses of Yorktown and Providence came at the hands of New Castle, whose only loss was to No. 13 Assumption (Louisville, Ky.).
Additionally, Benet Academy will put its unbeaten season on the line next week in a regular-season ending showdown with one-loss Marist.
How it all shakes out will go a long way toward determining the national No. 1 at the end of the season. Stay tuned.
New to the rankings this week are Marin Catholic (Kentfield, Calif.), Providence and Nation Ford (Fort Mill, S.C.).
MaxPreps Top 25 national high school volleyball rankings
Grace Scott, Nation Ford
Photo by Stacy White
3-0 wins over La Jolla, Scripps Ranch
Highlights: Madison Endsley posted 32 kills over the two wins while
Teresa Atilano had 29 assists and
Kylie Adams 25 as the Dons have three games remaining before postseason play.
This week: Oct. 15 vs. Point Loma (San Diego), Oct. 16 at Patrick Henry (San Diego), Oct. 23 vs. La Jolla
2. (2) New Castle (Ind.), 28-1Last week: 3-0 wins over Delta, Hagerstown
Highlights: Mabrey Shaffmaster had 20 kills vs. Hagerstown,
Melani Shaffmaster had 23 assists against the Tigers. The Trojans could meet No. 12 Yorktown in the second round of the 4A playoffs.
This week: 4A playoff action vs. Richmond.
3. (3) Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.), 26-4Last week: 3-0 win over Rosary Academy, 3-1 win over Santa Margarita
Highlights: Meg Brown,
Zaria Henderson and
Lauren Tarnoff each posted double-digit kills against Santa Margarita as the Monarchs close out the regular season on Wednesday.
This week: Oct. 16 vs. JSerra Catholic (San Juan Capistrano)
4. (4) Marymount (Los Angeles), 29-3-1Last week: 3-0 wins over Harvard-Westlake, Notre Dame (Sherman Oaks)
Highlights: Sophomores
Elia Rubin and
Kerry Keefe posted double-digit kills against Harvard-Westlake as fellow sophomore
Kelly Belardi added 24 assists.
This week: Oct. 17 at Flintridge Sacred Heart (La Canada-Flintridge)
5. (6) Green Hope (Cary, N.C.), 19-2Last week: 3-1 win over Athens Drive, 3-0 win over Green Level
Highlights: Alexis Engelbrecht had 25 kills,
Annie Elvin added 18 and
Grace Patrick chipped in 21 kills over the two wins.
Brianna Thompson had 48 assists against Athens Drive and
Ashley Cao posted 30 assists against Green Level.
This week: Oct. 15 at Hillside (Durham), Oct. 17 at Riverside-Durham (Durham), Oct. 22 vs. Jordan (Durham)
6. (7) Padua Franciscan (Parma, Ohio), 22-0Last week: 3-0 wins over Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin and Walsh Jesuit, 3-2 win over Independence
Highlights: Maria Futey slammed 18 kills as
Samantha Ott and
Brooke Cirigliano each added 15 in the five-set win over Independence.
This week: The Bruins take on the winner of No. 8 Brunswick vs. No. 9 North Royalton on Oct. 17 in the Brunswick Sectional tournament.
7. (5) Flower Mound (Texas), 32-3Last week: 3-0 wins over MacArthur, Nimitz
Highlights: The Jaguars are unbeaten in 6A Region I District 6 play.
This week: Oct. 15 at Coppell, Oct. 18 at Hebron, Oct. 22 at Lewisville
8. (9) Torrey Pines (San Diego), 29-2Last week: Won the SoCal Field Level tournament, beating Hamilton (Chandler, Ariz.) 2-0 in finals.
Highlights: Falcons swept through Field Level field without dropping a set.
Carly Diehl had 26 assists and
Maya Satchell had 10 kills in the title win.
This week: Oct. 16 at Carlsbad, Oct. 18 at San Marcos, Oct. 23 at Mission Hills (San Marcos)
9. (10) Byron Nelson (Trophy Club, Texas), 38-2Last week: 3-2 win over Southlake Carroll, 3-0 win over Guyer
Highlights: LSU commit
Paige Flickinger became first Bobcat to pass 2,000-kill career mark with 10 in straight sets win over Guyer. After 27 against Dragons, she sits at 2,031 for her career to go with 2,351 digs.
This week: Oct. 15 at V.R. Eaton (Fort Worth), Oct. 18 at Timer Creek (Fort Worth), Oct. 22 vs. Fossil Ridge (Keller)
10. (11) Redondo Union (Redondo Beach, Calif.), 29-3Last week: Swept Power Classic with 3-0 win over Palisades, 2-0 wins over Clovis West, Bishop Gorman
Highlights:
Nalani Iosia was named MVP of Power Classic.
This week: Oct. 16 vs. Mira Costa (Manhattan Beach)
11. (13) Papillion-LaVista (Papillion, Neb.), 28-0Last week: 3-0 win over Benson, 2-0 wins over Marian, Pius X
Highlights: Norah Sis is among the state kills leaders.
This week: Oct. 18-19 Westside Invitational, Oct. 21-24 Metro Conference Tournament
12. (14) Yorktown (Ind.), 27-1Last week: 3-1 win over Fishers, 3-0 win over Center Grove
Highlights: Courtney Watkins had 30 kills in the four-set match against Fishers as
Kate Vinson dished out 49 assists.
This week: Oct. 17 4A playoffs vs. Muncie Central. Possible Oct. 19 meeting vs. No. 2 New Castle.
13. (8) Assumption (Louisville, Ky.), 27-7Last week: 3-1 win over Holy Cross, 3-0 win over Mercy
Highlights: Anna DeBeer posted 17 kills in the straight sets win over Mercy as
Alyssa Eaton added 38 assists.
This week: Oct. 17 at Notre Dame Academy (Park Hills)
14. (15) Marist (Chicago), 24-2Last week: 2-0 wins over Saint Viator, Whitney Young
Highlights: Regular-season ending showdown against unbeaten No. 15 Benet Academy.
This week: Oct. 15 at Marian Central Catholic (Woodstock), Oct. 22 vs. Benet Academy (Lisle)
15. (18) Benet Academy (Lisle, Ill.), 28-0Last week: 2-0 sweeps over Plainfield Central, Lincoln-Way East, Waubonsie Valley, Minooka
Highlights: Sophie Gregus is committed to Illinois,
Colleen McGuire to UC Davis for beach volleyball,
Hattie Monson to Notre Dame and
Rachel Muisenga to Penn State.
This week: Oct. 15 at Marian Catholic (Chicago), Oct. 18 vs. Normal Community (Normal), Oct. 18 vs. Glenbard West (Glen Ellyn), Oct. 22 at Marist (Chicago)
16. (17) The Woodlands (Texas), 39-3Last week: 3-0 win over Klein Oak, 3-1 win over Klein Cain
Highlights: Dylan Maberry had 23 kills against Klein Oak,
Jackie Lee added 22 digs and
Clara Brower dished up 39 assists. Maberry had 543 kills on the season while Brower has 1,112 assists.
This week: Oct. 15 vs. Klein, Oct. 18 at Conroe, Oct. 22 vs. St. Agnes Academy (Houston)
17. (19) Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth, Calif.), 32-2Last week: 3-0 wins over Crossroads, Campbell Hall
Highlights: Jaylen Jordan pounded 23 kills for the week and added 12 digs against Campbell Hall.
Taylor Simpson had 30 assists vs. Campbell Hall and 15 against Crossroads.
This week: Oct. 16 vs. Paraclete (Lancaster)
18. (20) Ridge Point (Missouri City, Texas), 35-4Last week: 3-0 wins over Fort Bend Kempner, Fort Bend Austin
Highlights: Reagan Rutherford,
Claire Jeter and
Randee Hennings all had double-digit kills against Kempner, and Rutherford added 25 assists and 13 digs.
This week: Oct. 15 vs. Fort Bend Bush (Richmond), Oct. 18 at Fort Bend Travis (Richmond), Oct. 22 vs. Fort Bend Elkins (Missouri City)
19. (21) Cedar Falls (Iowa), 32-1Last week: 2-0 wins over Center Point-Urbana (twice), North Cedar, Assumption, 2-1 win over Columbus
Highlights: The Tigers draw Washington (Cedar Rapids) on Oct. 29 in the Class 5A Region 6 semifinals.
This week: Oct. 15 at Dubuque Senior
20. (22) North Raleigh Christian Academy (Raleigh, N.C.), 27-4Last week: Swept Wake Christian Academy 3-0
Highlights: Skylar Buckley has 266 kills and 301 assists while sophomore sister
Riley has 232 kills and 406 assists on the season.
This week: Host either Charlotte Christian or Providence Day in NCISSA 4A playoffs
21. (23) McIntosh (Peachtree City, Ga.), 32-1Last week: 2-0 win over Fayette County, 3-0 win over Starr's Mill
Highlights: Jessie Doyal has 750 assists on the season.
This week: AAAAA Quadrant 4 playoff game against Thomas County Central (Thomasville) on Oct. 19.
22. (NR) Marin Catholic (Kentfield, Calif.), 25-3Last week: Beat Palo Alto 2-1 to win Stockton Classic Gold Bracket
Highlights: Olivia Cooper and
Leah LaBoy were named to the All Tournament team.
This week: Oct. 15 vs. Novato
23. (24) Briarcrest Christian (Eads, Tenn.), 35-4Last week: 3-0 win over St. Agnes Academy
Highlights: Aziah Buckner had 11 kills and 10 digs in the win over the Stars as
Loren Robertsonadded 26 assists.
This week: Oct. 19 Division II-AA playoff match vs. either Ensworth or St. Benedict.
24. (NR) Providence (Clarksville, Ind.), 25-1Last week: 3-0 win over DuPont Manual (Louisville)
Highlights: Ali Hornung (321) and
Courtney Glotzbach (277) lead the Pioneers in kills.
This week: Oct. 17 vs. Jennings County
25. (NR) Nation Ford (Fort Mill, S.C.), 41-5-1Last week: Beat Marvin Ridge 3-0; won Wando Invitational sweeping Porter-Gaud, North Myrtle Beach (twice), Musselman and St. Joseph's Catholic
Highlights: Grace Scott and
Hannah Neff were named to the All Tournament team.
This week: Oct. 16 vs. Northwestern (Rock Hill), Oct. 17 at Fort Mill
Dropped out: Mercy (Louisville, Ky.), Skutt Catholic (Omaha, Neb.), Xavier College Prep (Phoenix)
Next Five: Mercy (Louisville, Ky.), Kamehameha Kapalama (Honolulu), Mercy (Farmington Hills, Mich.), Lovejoy (Lucas, Texas), Eagan (Minn.)
