New Castle jumps to No. 1 in MaxPreps Top 25 national high school volleyball rankings

By Aaron Williams Oct 22, 2019, 1:00pm

Trojans upend former No. 8 Yorktown in Hoosier State sectional 4A battle behind Mabrey and Melanie Shaffmaster.

Video: Top 25 high school volleyball rankings
New Castle jumps to No. 1 after Indiana sectional title.

All but one of the teams in the MaxPreps Top25 national high school volleyball rankings went unbeaten last week.

And the team that suffered a loss fell in a Top 25 postseason matchup as new No. 1 New Castle beat No. 20 Yorktown 3-1 in the Indiana sectional. Mabrey and Melani Shaffmaster were magnificent in the victory that saw last year's 3A champion dethrone the reigning 4A champion (the Trojans bumped up to 4A this season). The loss drops the Tigers eight spots.

And while there wasn't much movement in this week's rankings, expect that to change moving forward as postseason brackets promise to pit Top 25 teams against one another.



Nowhere is that more evident than in California's Southern Section Division I playoff bracket where four Top 25 teams — Redondo Union, Marymount, Mater Dei and Sierra Canyon — comprise one-third of the field. The same could happen in the CIF San Diego Section where Cathedral Catholic and Torrey Pines may find each other before the SoCal Open Division field likely joins most of the six previously mentioned squads.

In Illinois, No. 14 Benet Academy (Lisle, Ill.) puts its unblemished record on the line on Tuesday in a battle with No. 13 Marist (Chicago). The Redwings beat the Red Hawks in September.

In other words, stay tuned. This is far from over.

MaxPreps Top 25 national high school volleyball rankings
Sierra Canyon's Sidney Montgomery goes up for a kill against Marin Catholic's Grace Olivia and Malia Gassaway earlier this year. Both are in the MaxPreps Top 25.
Sierra Canyon's Sidney Montgomery goes up for a kill against Marin Catholic's Grace Olivia and Malia Gassaway earlier this year. Both are in the MaxPreps Top 25.
Photo by Jann Hendry
1. (Last week 2) New Castle (Ind.), 31-1
Last week: Beat former No. 12 Yorktown 3-1, beat Mt. Vernon 3-0 to win the 4A-9 Sectional
Highlights: Mabrey Shaffmaster posted 33 kills while Melani Shaffmaster added 16 and Laila Smith chipped in 15 in 25-23, 25-21, 18-25, 25-22 Top 25 showdown. The Trojans' lone loss was to No. 12 Assumption (Louisville, Ky.) in September.
Upcoming: Oct. 26 vs. Cathedral (Indianapolis) in 4A regional semifinals.

2. (1) Cathedral Catholic (San Diego), 27-4
Last week: 3-0 wins over Point Loma, Patrick Henry
Highlights: The Dons held serve as Madison Endsley posted 27 kills in the two victories. Kylie Adams had 38 assists and Teresa Atilano added 32 assists. Cathedral Catholic lost twice to Torrey Pines, once to Redondo Union and Marymount, but have a Durango Fall Classic title on the resume. CIF San Diego Section postseason brackets due out Oct. 26.
Upcoming: Oct. 23 vs. La Jolla

3. (3) Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.), 27-4
Last week: 3-1 win over JSerra Catholic
Highlights: The Monarchs are one of four Top 25 teams in the loaded Southern Section bracket. Mater Dei's losses are two Marymount (twice), to Redondo Union in an epic five-set battle and unbeaten Padua Franciscan in the Monarchs' fifth match in a two-day stretch that also included wins over Assumption and No. 5 Green Hope (Cary, N.C.)
Upcoming: Oct. 30 CIF Southern Section Division I playoff match vs. Laguna Beach-Mira Costa winner

4. (4) Marymount (Los Angeles), 31-3
Last week: 3-1 win over Flintridge Sacred Heart
Highlights: The Sailors have won seven straight since losing in Nike TOC pool play to Corona del Sol (Tempe, Ariz.). Marymount went on to win the event for the second straight season as sophomore Elia Rubin was named MVP. The two other losses are to Mercy (Louisville, Ky.) and Redondo Union (Redondo Beach, Calif.).
Upcoming: Oct. 30 CIF Southern Section Division I playoff match vs. Vista Murrieta-Corona del Mar winner



5. (5) Green Hope (Cary, N.C.), 21-2
Last week: 3-0 wins over Hillside and Riverside-Durham
Highlights: The Falcons' two losses came back to back against Mater Dei and Assumption at the September Louisville Invitational. Sydney Dowler leads Green Hope with 551 assists and recently passed the 3,000 career assist mark.
Upcoming: Oct. 22 vs. Jordan

6. (6) Padua Franciscan (Parma, Ohio), 23-0
Last week: 3-0 win over Brunswick in Sectional Final
Highlights: The Bruins' resume includes wins over Mater Dei, Assumption and Mercy (Louisville). Samantha Ott (255) is pacing four players with more than 125 kills and Ella Mihacevich has posted 615 assist thus far in the unbeaten season.
Upcoming: Oct. 22 vs. Highland in District Semifinal

7. (7) Flower Mound (Texas), 35-3
Last week: 3-0 wins over Coppell and Hebron
Highlights: Caroline Dykes had 17 assists and 12 digs while Kaylee Cox added 19 kills in the win over Coppell as the Jaguars close the regular season with three matches before postseason play begins Nov. 4-5. Flower Mound hasn't lost since Aug. 20 while riding a 25-game win streak.
Upcoming: Oct. 22 at Lewisville, Oct. 25 vs. Marcus (Flower Mound), Oct. 29 vs. Irving

8. (8) Torrey Pines (San Diego), 31-2
Last week: 3-2 win over Carlsbad, 3-1 win over San Marcos
Highlights: Megan Kraft had 32 kills in the two victories while Delaynie Maple added 25 of her own for the Falcons. Carly Diehl dished up 48 assists against San Marcos and followed it up with 47 against San Marcos.  The Falcons' two losses were to La Costa Canyon and Vista Murrieta.
Upcoming: Oct. 23 at Mission Hills (San Marcos), Oct. 25 vs. Canyon Crest Academy (San Diego)

9. (9) Byron Nelson (Trophy Club, Texas), 40-2
Last week: 3-1 win over V.R. Eaton, 3-0 win over Timber Creek
Highlights: Paige Flickinger keeps rolling, posting 24 kills and 32 digs against V.R. Eaton while Charitie Luper added 20 kills and Payton Chamberlain served up 52 assists. The Bobcats' losses were a 2-0 defeat to Redondo Union at Ann Kang Invitational and a 3-1 loss to Keller.
Upcoming: Oct. 22 vs. Fossil Ridge (Keller), Oct. 25 vs. Keller, Oct. 29 at Keller Central (Keller)

10. (10) Redondo Union (Redondo Beach, Calif.), 35-3
Last week: 3-0 win over Mira Costa
Highlights: The Sea hawks have been led by Nalani Iosia, Kami Miner and freshman Mele Corral-Blagojevich all season. Redondo Beach owns losses to Torrey Pines, James Logan and Leon.
Upcoming: Oct. 30 CIF Southern Section Division I playoff match vs. Aliso Niguel-Long Beach Poly winner



11. (11) Papillion-LaVista (Papillion, Neb.), 33-0
Last week: 3-1 wins over Marian, Elkhorn; 2-0 wins over Marian, Bellevue West, Omaha Westside
Highlights: Brooklyn Schram leads the Monarchs with 933 assists while Norah Sis (404) heads four plays with more than 140 kills on the season.
Upcoming: Metro Conference Tournament, opponent TBA

12. (13) Assumption (Louisville, Ky.), 28-7
Last week: 3-1 win over Notre Dame Academy
Highlights: Anna DeBeer had 21 kills and Rylee Rader added 20 in the win over Notre Dame Academy while junior Alyssa Eaton tossed up 56 assists. The Rockets own a win over No. 1 New Castle and No. 5 Green Hope
Upcoming:

13. (14) Marist (Chicago), 30-2
Last week: 2-0 wins at Fall Harvest Festival over Crystal Lake Central, Nazareth Academy, Naperville North, St. Charles North and Stevenson
Highlights: The Redhawks own an ASICS Challenge title as well as a Wheaton Classic crown. One of the losses is to Benet Academy.
Upcoming: Oct. 22 vs. Benet Academy, Oct. 23 vs. Minooka

14. (15) Benet Academy (Lisle, Ill.), 34-0
Last week: Glenbard East Autumnfest title with 2-0 wins over Huntley, Joliet Catholic, St. Charles East, Glenbard West and Normal Community
Highlights: Hattie Monson has 374 assists on the year as the Redwings look to sweep Marist on Tuesday.
Upcoming: Oct. 22 at Marist

15. (16) The Woodlands (Texas), 41-3
Last week: 3-1 win over Klein, 3-0 win over Conroe
Highlights: Dylan Maberry became first Highlander to surpass 2,000 career kills earlier this month. She has 592 on the season and has added 447 digs. Clara Brower has posted 1,231 assists on the year.
Upcoming: Oct. 22 vs. St. Agnes Academy (Houston), Oct. 25 vs. Klein Collins (Spring), Oct. 29 at Klein Forest (Houston)

16. (17) Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth, Calif.), 33-2
Last week: 3-0 win over Paraclete
Highlights: Taylor Simpson had 21 assists in the Paraclete victory. The Trailblazers' two losses are to Torrey Pines and Marin Catholic.
Upcoming: Oct. 30 CIF Southern Section Division I playoff match vs. Foothill-Huntington Beach

17. (18) Ridge Point (Missouri City, Texas), 36-4
Last week: 3-0 win over Fort Bend Bush
Highlights: Reagan Rutherford leads the Panthers with 642 assists and is second in kills with 272 behind Claire Jeter's 299.
Upcoming: Oct. 22 vs. Fort Bend Elkins, Oct. 25 at Fort Bend Clements, Oct. 29 vs. Fort Bend Dulles



18. (19) Cedar Falls (Iowa), 39-1
Last week: Swept through Conference Tournament without losing a set in six matches
Highlights: Akacia Brown has 408 kills on the season and Emerson Green is 10th in the state with 852 assists  for the Tigers. Cedar Falls hasn't lost since a 2-1 decision to St. James Academy (Lenexa, Kan.) on Sept. 14.
Upcoming: Oct. 29 vs. Washington

19. (20) North Raleigh Christian Academy (Raleigh, N.C.), 29-4
Last week: 3-0 win over Providence Day
Highlights: Skylar Buckley paces the Knights with 15 kills and 10 digs while Riley Buckley added 14 assist against Providence Day. Three of four losses are to ranked teams (Marymount, Green Hope, Nation Ford)
Upcoming: Oct. 22 vs. Charlotte Country Day in 4A semifinals

20. (12) Yorktown (Ind.), 28-2
Last week: Lost 3-0 to No. 1 New Castle
Highlights: The two losses are top-ranked Trojans.
Upcoming: Season over

21. (21) McIntosh (Peachtree City, Ga.), 32-1
Last week: 3-0 win over Thomas County Central in AAAAA tournament
Highlights: Lone loss was to once-ranked Alpharetta.
Upcoming: Oct. 22 vs. East Paulding

22. (22) Marin Catholic (Kentfield, Calif.), 27-3
Last week: 3-0 win over Novato
Highlights: Two of three losses to ranked teams (Marymount, Cathedral Catholic)
Upcoming: TBA, CIF North Coast Section seeding meeting on Oct. 27

23. (23) Briarcrest Christian (Eads, Tenn.), 36-4
Last week: 3-0 win over Ensworth
Highlights: Loren Robertson had 39 assists against Ensworth and has 1,037 on the season.
Upcoming: Oct. 22 vs. Baylor in II-AA bracket
 
24. (24) Providence (Clarksville, Ind.), 28-1
Last week: 3-0 wins over Jennings County and New Albany, 3-1 win over Floyd Central
Highlights: Pioneers lone lose is to No. 1 New Castle
Upcoming: Oct. 26 vs. Castle in 4A tournament

25. (25) Nation Ford (Fort Mill, S.C.), 43-5-1
Last week: 3-0 wins over Northwestern, Fort Mill
Highlights: Sophie Fischer had 19 kills against Fort Mill as Grace Scott dished up 33 assists.
Upcoming: Oct. 24 vs. Riverside
 
Dropped out: None



Next Five: Kamehameha Kapalma (Honolulu), Mercy (Farmington Hills, Mich.), Lovejoy (Lucas, Texas), Eagan (Minn.), Leon (Tallahassee, Fla.)

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