Monarchs dispatch three ranked teams en route to championship.
Dan O'Dell said his
Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.) squad simply "played our best when our best was needed" as the Monarchs climbed out of a 0-1 hole to beat
Mira Costa (Manhattan Beach, Calif.) 2-1 in the Durango Fall Classic final Saturday.
Mater Dei jumps to No. 1 in this week's MaxPreps Top 25 high school volleyball rankings after improving to 30-2 overall with the prestigious title under its belt. The past two MaxPreps National Champions —
Cathedral Catholic (San Diego) in 2022 and
Marymount (Los Angeles) in 2021 — won at Durango before grabbing CIF titles.
The Monarchs are deep with setter
Julia Kakkis feeding a trio of hitters in
Isabel Clark (University of San Diego),
Cymarah Gordon (Michigan) and
Layli Ostovar with more than 200 kills. Along with Kakkis,
Ayva Ostovar helps run their 6-2 and Stanford-bound libero
Malyssa Cawa is a MaxPreps All-American.
While Cathedral Catholic and Marymount both were unbeaten national champions, the depth of the Southern California field has ensured that won't be the case this season. But the final four at Durango this year was comprised of SoCal teams — Mater Dei, Cathedral Catholic, Mira Costa and
Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth). The postseason should be a wild ride.
Mater Dei players and coaches celebrate after winning the Durango Fall Classic title on Saturday. The win over Mira Costa in the championship game helped the Monarchs to No. 1 in the MaxPreps Top 25 volleyball rankings. (Photo: Jann Hendry)
1. Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.)
Record: 30-2 |
Last week: 6
Setter Kakkis was Durango MVP while hitters Clark, Lily Ostovar and Cawa landed on the all-tournament team. Clark notched 14 kills in the title victory.
2. Mira Costa (Manhattan Beach, Calif.)
Record: 21-2 |
Last week: 1
The Mustangs have split their two meetings with the Monarchs as
Charlie Fuerbringer,
Audrey Flanagan and libero
Taylor Deckert were named to the Durango all-tourney team.
3. Hamilton Southeastern (Fishers, Ind.)
Record: 21-0 |
Last week: 3
Florida commit
Lauren Harden became the school's all-time kills leader with 1,125 and counting. HSE handled Roncalli last week 3-0, running its win streak to 55.
4. Grand Oaks (Spring, Texas)
Record: 35-1 |
Last week: 4
Samara Coleman had 11 kills in a sweep over Cleveland last week. The lone loss is to No. 7 Prestonwood Christian.
5. Cathedral Catholic (San Diego)
Record: 20-3 |
Last week: 5
Opposite
Tiana Owens and libero
Maya Evens made the Durango all-tournament team as the Dons beat Prestonwood Christian before falling in the semis to Mira Costa.
6. Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth, Calif.)
Record: 22-4 |
Last week: 14
A strong showing at Durango helped the Trailblazers climb eight spots as they swept their pool before beating Cornerstone Christian in bracket play.
Danica Rach and
Lauren Lynch made the all-tourney squad.
7. Prestonwood Christian (Plano, Texas)
Record: 24-4 |
Last week: 11
The Lions took fifth at Durango, beating fellow Lone Star State foe Cornerstone Christian 17-25, 25-22, 25-22.
Macaria Spears was their all-tournament nod.
8. Cornerstone Christian (San Antonio, Texas)
Record: 28-3 |
Last week: 2
The Warriors fall six spots but their losses were all good losses while the bracket win over No. 11 Assumption adds to their resume that includes a Nike TOC Southeast title.
Megan Fitch landed on the Durango all-tourney squad.
9. Papillion-LaVista South (Papillion, Neb.)
Record: 25-0 |
Last week: 8
The Titans have won 36 straight over the past two seasons with their last loss coming to No. 5 Cathedral Catholic in last year's ESPN event.
Lauren Medeck had 258 kills (4.1 per set) on the year.
10. Notre Dame Academy (Park Hills, Ky.)
Record: 18-1 |
Last week: 10
Ava Tilden and
Gracie Portwood each had 13 kills while
Ella Goetz and
Riley McCloskey both added 11 in a 3-1 win over St. Henry.
11. Assumption (Louisville, Ky.)
Record: 20-3 |
Last week: 9
The Rockets have taken on one of the more ambitious schedules in the country including meetings with Mater Dei and Cornerstone Christian at Durango.
12. Boyd (McKinney, Texas)
Record: 22-1 |
Last week: 13
Beat Prosper 3-1 and Little Elm 3-0 last week.
Ale Romo led the way with 17 kills against Prosper as
Carson Eickenloff added 16.
13. Pace Academy (Atlanta)
Record: 23-3 |
Last week: 15
Swept four matches last week as
Grace Agolli continues to lead the squad with 248 kills on the year with
Ellie Siskin chipping in 216.
14. Divine Savior Holy Angels (Milwaukee)
Record: 28-0 |
Last week: 18
DHSA took home the Lynn LaPorte Sprawl title over the weekend beating Oconomowoc 2-1 as
Sophia Wendlick pounded 18 kills and
Madison Quest added 14.
Jordan Czajkowski dished up 31 assists in the win.
15. Wayzata (Plymouth, Minn.)
Record: 17-0 |
Last week: 17
Didn't drop a set at the Eagle Invite, beating Jefferson (Bloomington), Northfield, Lakeville North and Eagan.
16. Byron Nelson (Trophy Club, Texas)
Record: 23-3 |
Last week: 21
Sydnee Peterson had 16 kills in a 3-1 win over Keller while sophomore
Ashlyn Seay had 13 in a sweep of Timber Creek (Fort Worth). Freshman setter
Sophee Peterson had 38 assists over the two matches.
17. Plano West (Plano, Texas)
Record: 19-4 |
Last week: 12
After sweeping Marcus (Flower Mound), the Wolves fell 3-1 to rival Plano East.
Kate Mansfield had 14 kills in the win over Marcus while
Sophia Wei and
Gabby Seeds combined for 32 assists.
18. Marist (Chicago)
Record: 17-1 |
Last week: NR
Bella Bullington had a monster night with 25 kills as the RedHawks downed Mother McAuley 2-1. Marist's lone loss is to in-state rival Benet Academy, making the potential for an epic Illinois 4A bracket between the three schools.
19. Mother McAuley (Chicago)
Record: 15-3 |
Last week: 9
Ellie White had 16 kills and junior
Sydney Buchanan had eight in the loss to Marist. Freshman
Peyton Heatherly tossed 31 assists in the loss.
20. Blue Valley North (Overland Park, Kan.)
Record: 22-0 |
Last week: 23
Logan Parks had 14 kills in a win over Saint Thomas Aquinas (Overland Park) while adding eight in a sweep of St. James Academy (Lenexa).
Janelle Green tallied 34 assists in the two matches.
21. Punahou (Honolulu)
Record: 23-1 |
Last week: 24
Lulu Uluave posted back-to-back matches with 18 kills as the Buff N' Blu beat Maryknoll (Honolulu) and ‘Iolani (Honolulu) last week.
Haumea Marumoto combined for 23 kills in the pair of wins as
Rella Binney tossed up 72 assists.
22. Hudsonville (Mich.)
Record: 21-2 |
Last week: 25
The Eagles have won 14 straight after a sweep of East Kentwood (Kentwood) on Friday in which
Isabelle Swiercz dropped 16 kills and
Megan Beemer had 28 assists.
23. Alpharetta (Ga.)
Record: 29-2 |
Last week: NR
Logan Wiley had 17 kills,
Brooke Boyles added 15 and
Jala Drayton chipped in 11 as the Raiders swept No. 24 Pope. The two losses were in the first week of the season to No. 13 Pace Academy and North Cobb (Kennesaw).
24. Pope (Marietta, Ga.)
Record: 26-3 |
Last week: 16
Ellis Crawford had 16 kills and
Sophie Harvey added 15 in a win over Lassiter (Marietta). Harvey had 10 kills in the loss to Alpharetta.
25. Lake Catholic (Mentor, Ohio)
Record: 17-0 |
Last week: NR
The Cougars have won 26 straight and got 14 kills from senior
Katie Sowko in a sweep of Kirtland last week.
On the bubble: Dripping Springs (Texas), 36-2;
Bob Jones (Madison, Ala.), 34-1;
Viera (Fla.), 14-2;
Flint Hill (Oakton, Va.), 13-2;
Immaculate Heart Academy (Washington Township, N.J.), 9-0;
Branson (Ross, Calif.), 15-4;
Benet Academy (Lisle, Ill.), 17-1;
Saint Francis (Mountain View, Calif.), 15-3;
Dike-New Hartford (Dike, Iowa), 27-0;
St. James Academy (Lenexa, Kan.), 17-3
