Texas, California state finalists make one last push for title, possible national champion crown.
Video: Top 25 volleyball rankingsCalifornia, Texas playoffs culminating this weekend.We've got one more week of postseason and the race for the 2019 MaxPreps national champion could hinge on California and Texas.
In the Golden State, No. 2 Torrey Pines (San Diego) and No. 3 Mater Dei (Santa Ana) meet in the SoCal Open Division finals Tuesday. The winner likely draws No. 13 Marin Catholic in the state finals on Nov. 23 at Canyon College. The Falcons swept Marymount (Los Angeles) in the semifinals, while the Monarchs won when it mattered most. After losing 3-2 in the regular season and 3-1 in the Southern Section finals, Mater Dei exacted revenge on Redondo Union (Redondo Beach) with an epic five-set win.
In the Lone Star State, the 6A finals feature No. 5 Byron Nelson (Trophy Club), whose run through regionals included a 3-1 win over previous No. 6 Flower Mound. The Bobcats draw 44-4 Clemens (Schertz) in the semifinals with the winner getting a shot at either No. 8 Ridge Point (Missouri City) or No. 18 Plano West (Plano).
The question is whether the California or Texas winner will have the resume to overtake No. 1 New Castle (Ind.), which wrapped up its fourth straight Indiana title last week and lost only once — to Kentucky state champion and nationally ranked Assumption (Louisville, Ky.).
However, it plays out, we'll know next week who will wear the MaxPreps crown for the 2019 season. Stay tuned.
MaxPreps Top 25 national high school volleyball rankings
Christiana Braswell, Torrey Pines
Photo by Rudy Schmoke
Indiana 4A champions. Season over.
2. (2) Torrey Pines (San Diego), 37-2Last week: Beat Marymount 25-23, 32-30, 25-15 in SoCal Open Division semifinals
Highlights: Maya Satchell posted 15 kills, while
Megan Kraft and
Delaynie Maple each added eight in the win over the Sailors.
Carly Diehl had 36 assists for the Falcons. Torrey Pines' resume includes wins over Cathedral Catholic (three times), Redondo Union, Marymount and a Silver Division title at the Durango Fall Classic.
This week: SoCal No. 1 seed plays No. 3 seed Mater Dei on Tuesday evening.
3. (5) Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.), 30-5Last week: Beat Redondo Union 19-25, 25-14, 20-25, 25-23, 15-6 in SoCal Open Division semifinals
Highlights: Lauren Tarnoff had 13 kills,
Mia Tuaniga added 12, and
Meg Brown and
Reagan Merk each chipped in nine in the five-set victory.
Colby Bennett had 14 digs as Tuaniga had 29 assists and
Cadence Gronski added 16. The Monarchs' resume includes wins over Assumption, Green Hope and Marymount. All five losses are to Top 25 opponents.
This week: SoCal No. 3 seed plays No. 1 seed Torrey Pines on Tuesday evening.
4. (4) Green Hope (Cary, N.C.), 27-2North Carolina 4A champions. Season over.
5. (8) Byron Nelson (Trophy Club, Texas), 48-2Last week: 3-1 win over Flower Mound, 3-0 wins over Montwood and Guyer
Highlights: Paige Flickinger had 26 kills, 23 digs and 63 assists, and
Charitie Luper added 25 kills and 22 digs in the win over Flower Mound.
Giselle Santini had 24 digs while
Eden Fusselman added 17. Bobcats' two losses are to nationally ranked Redondo Union at Ann Kang Invitational and to in-state foe Keller.
This week: Nov. 22 vs. Clemens in 6A semifinals
6. (10) Benet Academy (Lisle, Ill.), 41-1Last week: 2-0 wins over Marist, Wheaton-Warrenville South to win Illinois 4A title
Highlights: Sophie Gregus had eight kills and
Kyla Kenney added 14 digs in the win over Wheaton-Warrenville South. The title win came after exacting revenge on Marist for the Redwings' lone loss.
This week: Season over
7. (7) Assumption (Louisville, Ky.), 36-7Kentucky state champions. Season over.
8. (13) Ridge Point (Missouri City, Texas), 46-4Last week: 3-0 wins over Cinco Ranch, Dawson, Cy-Fair in 6A regionals
Highlights: Reagan Rutherford had 13 kills, 24 assists and 15 digs, and
Tiana Davis and
Claire Jeter each added 10 kills for the Panthers.
Nia McCardell had 24 digs for Ridge Point and
Kendall Sekula added 15 assists. All four Ridge Point losses have come against in-state foes.
This week: Nov. 22 vs. Plano West in 6A semifinals
9. (14) Cedar Falls (Iowa), 45-1Last week: 3-2 win over Waukee, 3-1 win over Ankeny, 3-1 win over Valley in 5A finals
Highlights: Akacia Brown had 23 kills and 12 digs,
Alayna Yates added 11 kills and
Emmy Wedgbury chipped in 10 kills in the title victory.
Emerson Green had 47 assists while
Kirsten Graves had 14 digs and
Alivia Bronner added 13. Green, Yates and Brown were named to the 5A all-tournament team.
This week: Iowa 5A champions. Season over
10. (3) Redondo Union (Redondo Beach, Calif.), 38-4Last week: Lost 3-2 to Mater Dei in SoCal Open Division semifinals. Season over
Highlights: The Sea Hawks won their first CIF Southern Section Division 1 title since 2014.
11. (6) Flower Mound (Texas), 41-4Last week: Jaguars lost 3-1 to Flower Mound in 6A regional quarterfinals. Season over
Highlights: Angelique Cyr had 25 kills and 20 digs and
Kaylee Cox added 16 kills and 17 digs in the loss.
Caroline Dykes had 22 assists and Megan Farris added 16.
12. (22) Mercy (Farmington Hills, Mich.), 54-1Last week: 3-2 win over Marian, 3-0 win over Cass Tech
Highlights: Jess Mruzik was named Michigan Miss Volleyball with 415 kills on the season.
This week: Nov. 19 vs. L'Anse Cruese North in Division I quarterfinals
13. (20) Marin Catholic (Kentfield, Calif.), 34-3Last week: 3-0 win over Archbishop Mitty in NorCal Open Division semifinals
Highlights: Wildcats are led by Loyola-Marymount commit
Kari Geissberger and Harvard-bound
Olivia Cooper.
This week: No. 19 vs. No. 6 seed Bishop O'Dowd in NorCal finals.
14. (15) Padua Franciscan (Parma, Ohio), 28-1Ohio Division I runner up. Season over.
15. (9) Marist (Chicago), 37-3Last week: Lost 2-0 to Benet Academy, beat Fremd 2-1 in 4A third-place game. Season over
Highlights: The Redhawks fell to Benet for second time, though Marist was without senior libero
Mairead Boyle.
Cam Hannah had six kills against Benet.
16. (11) Marymount (Los Angeles), 33-5Last week: Beat Cathedral Catholic 3-1 in quarters, lost 3-0 to Torrey Pines in SoCal Open Division semifinals. Season over
Highlights: Elia Rubin led the Sailors with 13 kills and five blocks.
17. (12) Cathedral Catholic (San Diego), 30-6Last week: Lost 3-1 to Marymount in SoCal Open Division quarterfinals. Season over
Highlights:
Julia Blyashov led the Dons with 16 kills as
Lindsey Miller added 14 and
Madison Endsley pitched in 13.
Kylie Adams had 29 assists and
Teresa Atilano added 14 for the Durango Fall Classic champions.
18. (NR) Plano West (Plano, Texas), 36-5Last week: 3-0 wins over Rockwall, The Woodlands, 3-1 win over Klein in 6A regional play
Highlights: Jill Pressly had 28 kills against the Woodlands and
Ashley Le added 24 assists.
This week: Nov. 22 vs. Ridge Point in 6A semifinals
19. (NR) Immaculate Heart Academy (Washington Township, N.J.), 33-4Last week: 2-0 wins over Kent Place and Donovan Catholic in quarters and semifinals. 2-0 win over Union in Non-Public Group finals.
Highlights: Anna Morris had 11 kills and
Maeve Duffin and
Olivia Coughlin each posted 13 assists in the title win for the Blue Eagles.
This week: Nov. 23 vs. Bogota-Demarest winner in New Jersey Tournament of Champions
20. (17) McIntosh (Peachtree City, Ga.), 26-1Georgia AAAAAAA champions. Season over.
21. (19) Nation Ford (Fort Mill, S.C.), 48-5-1South Carolina champions. Season over.
22. (24) Lake Highland Prep (Orlando, Fla.), 26-2Last week: 3-0 win over Santa Fe in Florida 4A finals. Season over
Highlights: Ranya Mehta had 15 kills,
Tamzen Wilson added 18 kills and
Cierra Jenkins posted 30 assists for the Highlanders.
23. (NR) Christian (Grand Rapids, Mich.), 43-3Last week: 3-0 win over Catholic Central, 3-2 win over Coopersville
Highlights: Addie VanderWeide had 15 kills and
Evelyn Doezema added 14 for the Eagles.
Jordyn Gates added 40 assists in the win over Cooperville.
This week: Nov. 19 vs. Hamilton in Division II quarterfinals
24. (NR) Lovejoy (Lucas, Texas), 46-5Last week: 3-2 win over Liberty, 3-0 win over Red Oak, 3-0 win over Highland Park in 5A regional finals
Highlights: Cecily Bramschreiber had 21 kills for the Leopards and
Grace Milliken added 12. Sophomore
Averi Carlson had 36 assists to bump her season total to 1,242.
This week: Nov. 22 vs. Friendswood in 5A semifinals
25. (NR) Leon (Tallahassee, Fla.), 29-3Last week: 3-1 win over St. Thomas Aquinas in Florida 6A finals. Season over
Highlights: Shania Cromartie had 18 kills in the title match as
A'nylah Cobb added 13 and
Cailin Demps pitched in 11.
Alexa Washington had 43 assists for the Lions.
Dropped out: The Woodlands (Texas), Kamehameha Kapalama (Honolulu), Walton (Marietta, Ga.), Papillion-LaVista (Papillion, Neb.), Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth, Calif.).
