Upsets lead to changes in Xcellent 25 VB

Several big upsets exacted a profound change in the MaxPreps Xcellent 25 National Volleyball Rankings, presented by Army National Guard, with previously undefeated Cary-Grove (Cary, Ill.) and Ursuline Academy (Cincinnati) both falling in their quest for state championships.

Cary-Grove lost in the finals to Lyons (La Grange, Ill.), resulting in the Lions vaulting all the way up to No. 5 in this week's rankings. Cary-Grove, which had an early win over Assumption (Louisville, Ky.) managed to stay in the top 10 at No. 6.

Ursuline Academy, meanwhile, lost to Dublin Coffman (Dublin, Ohio), which in turn fell to St. Ursula Academy (Toledo, Ohio) in the Ohio Division I state finals. As a result, all three Ohio teams are now in the top 25. Ursuline stays in the top 25 despite not reaching the finals due to having wins over both finalists this year.

Another big upset came in the Southern Section playoffs in California where Lakewood stunned the Southern Section's top-ranked team, Harvard-Westlake, 3-0 in the second round. Harvard-Westlake had a previous win over Lakewood, so the Wolverines don't drop out of the top 25, but the Lancers do move into the top 50 as a result of the win and could continue to rise.



One team not as fortunate was Westlake (Austin, Texas), which lost to The Woodlands (Texas) in the regional finals in the Class 5A Texas state playoffs. With 12 losses, The Woodlands doesn't crack the top 50, and since Westlake had not previously played The Woodlands, we had to drop the Chaparrals from the top 50 in favor of Hebron (Carrollton, Texas), which had several wins over teams that had defeated The Woodlands. Both The Woodlands and Westlake could join the top 50 should The Woodlands continue to advance at the state tournament.

As a result of the upsets, Papillion-LaVista South (Papillion, Neb.) all but secured the No. 1 final ranking in the Xcellent 25 rankings. The Titans completed an undefeated season at 41-0 and defeated the defending state champion for the title. The next four challengers behind the Titans have all completed their seasons as well.

Following is a look at this week's MaxPreps Xcellent 25 Volleyball National Rankings, presented by the Army National Guard:

MAXPREPS XCELLENT 25 VOLLEYBALL NATIONAL RANKINGS
1. (1) Papillion-LaVista South (Papillion, Neb.), 41-0
The Titans completed their season in undefeated fashion by dropping defending Class A champion Omaha Marian for the fifth time this year for the state championship. Papillion-LaVista South and Marian played an epic first set with the Titans winning 32-30. The next two sets also went to the Titans, 25-20, 25-14 to give them the crown. Papillion-LaVista South also defeated Burke (Omaha, Neb.) 3-1 and Lincoln Southwest 3-0 to reach the championship match.

2. (2) Muncie Burris (Muncie, Ind.), 39-0
Indiana Class 2A state champions. Season over.

3. (5) Pope (Marietta, Ga.), 54-1
Georgia Class 4A state champions. Season over.



4. (6) St. James Academy (Lenexa, Kan.), 44-1
Kansas Class 4A state champions. Season over.

5. (25) Lyons (LaGrange, Ill.), 41-1
The Lions received 18 kills from Jocelyn Birks and defeated previously unbeaten Cary-Grove 2-1 in the Illinois 4A state championship match. The Lions also defeated York (Elmhurst, Ill.) 2-1 in the semifinals to advance to the championship match.

6. (4) Cary-Grove (Cary, Ill.), 41-1
The Trojans saw their perfect season come to an end with a 23-25, 25-19, 23-25 loss to Lyons (La Grange, Ill.) in the Illinois 4A state championship. Cary-Grove topped Edwardsville 25-20, 25-20 in the semifinals. Kelly Lamberti had 21 kills in the finals for the Trojans.

7. (8) Assumption (Louisville, Ky.), 39-4
Kentucky state champion. Season over.

8. (9) King (Corpus Christi, Texas), 45-3
The Mustangs advanced to the state tournament with a 3-0 win over Reagan (San Antonio), a 3-0 win over Memorial (McAllen, Texas) and a 3-0 win over McArthur (San Antonio.)

9. (10) La Costa Canyon (Carlsbad, Calif.), 32-2
The Mavericks advanced through the first two rounds of the San Diego Section Division I playoffs with 3-0 wins over Otay Ranch (Chula Vista, Calif.) and Grossmont (El Cajon, Calif.). La Costa Canyon advances to face Poway in the semifinals.



10. (11) Bishop Miege (Shawnee Mission, Kan.), 38-4
Kansas 5A state champions. Season over.

11. (12) Mercy (Louisville, Ky.), 35-6
Kentucky state runner-up. Season over.

12. (13) Berkeley Prep (Tampa, Fla.), 27-2
The Buccaneers reached the Florida Class 3A state semifinals by topping Bishop Verot 3-0. Berkeley Prep also got past Clearwater Central Catholic 3-1 in the second round.

13. (14) Long Beach Poly (Calif.), 34-2
The Jackrabbits made it through the first three rounds of the Southern Section 1AA playoffs with a 3-0 win over Santa Barbara and a 3-1 victory over Edison (Huntington Beach, Calif.). Long Beach Poly takes on Los Alamitos in the semifinals this week.

14. (7) Harvard-Westlake (North Hollywood, Calif.), 26-3
The Wolverines won their playoff opener against Agoura 3-0, but lost in three straight games (3-0) to Lakewood in the second round of the Southern Section Division IAA playoffs. The loss eliminates Harvard-Westlake from postseason play. The Wolverines have to drop below several teams they have already defeated due to the early playoff exit.

15. (15) Lovejoy (Lucas, Texas), 44-3
The Leopards had little trouble reaching the Texas 3A state tournament after defeating Argyle, Paris and Prosper by 3-0 scores. Lovejoy edged Prosper in the Region 2 final 25-20, 25-16, 25-12.



16. (17) La Jolla Country Day (Calif.), 27-3
The Torreys will play Parker (San Diego) in the semifinals of the San Diego Section Division IV playoffs after downing Palo Verde Valley (Blythe, Calif.) in the second round 3-0.

17. (18) Apex (N.C.), 26-0
North Carolina 4A state champion. Season over.

18. (19) Lakeville North (Minn.), 30-1
The Panthers won three straight matches at the state tournament, defeating Wayzata in the championship match 3-0 for the Minnesota Class 3A title. Lakeville North also defeated East Ridge 3-0 and Centennial 3-0 to reach the championship match.

19. (NR) St. Ursula Academy (Toledo, Ohio), 28-1
The Arrows move into this week's rankings after a stunning turn of events that saw Dublin Coffman knock off defending champion Ursuline Academy, only then to fall to St. Ursula Academy in the Ohio Division I championship. St. Ursula Academy's only loss this year is to Ursuline Academy.

20. (26) Dublin Coffman (Ohio), 27-2
The Shamrocks knocked off defending champion Ursuline Academy 3-2 in the semifinals but fell to Toledo St. Ursula Academy 3-1 in the championship match. St. Ursula's only loss on the season was to Ursuline Academy.

21. (3) Ursuline Academy (Cincinnati), 27-1
The Lions dropped their first match in two years, falling to Dublin Coffman 3-2 in the Ohio Division I semifinals. Ursuline Academy had defeated Dublin Coffman in last year's finals and had handed the Shamrocks their only defeat of the season leading into the playoffs.



22. (20) Pearce (Richardson, Texas), 45-4
The Mustangs reached the state tournament next week with three wins, including a victory over Red Oak in the Region 2 Final. Pearce also dropped Wakeland (Frisco, Texas) 3-0 in the regional quarterfinal and then topped Waxahachie (Texas) in the regional semifinal 3-0.

23. (21) Lake Travis (Austin, Texas), 44-3
The Cavaliers received 17 kills from Amy Neal to get past Victoria West 3-0 in the Region 4 final and advance to the Texas 4A state tournament. Lake Travis also topped Uvalde 3-0 and Edison (San Antonio), 3-0 to reach the regional final.

24. (23) Cy-Woods (Cypress, Texas), 45-2
The Wildcats won three straight to advance to the Texas 5A state tournament. Cy-Woods tripped Seven Lakes (Katy, Texas) 3-0 and then held off Clear Creek (League City, Texas) 3-1 before dispensing with Clear Lake (Houston) 3-1 in the Region 3 Final.

25. (24) Rose (Greenville, N.C.), 24-1
North Carolina 4A East Regional runner-up. Season over.

The Next 25

26. (27) Presentation (San Jose, Calif.), 31-4
Defeated Los Altos 25-8, 25-13, 25-17 in the second round of the Central Coast Section Division II
playoffs. Will play Archbishop Mitty (San Jose, Calif.) in the third round.

27. (28) Cardinal Gibbons (Raleigh, N.C.), 21-2
North Carolina 3A state champions. Season over.



28. (30) Marist (Chicago), 37-2
Lost to Lyons in the Illinois Class 4A Lansing Super Sectional. Season over.

29. (32) Edmond Memorial (Okla.), 32-3
Oklahoma Class 6A state champion. Season over.

30. (33) St. Joseph's Academy (St. Louis, Mo.), 31-7-2
Missouri Division 4 state champion. Season over.

31. (36) Bishop Moore (Orlando, Fla.), 24-4
Reached the Florida 3A state semifinals with a 3-0 win over Lake Highland Prep and a 3-0 win over Trinity Catholic. Will meet Berkeley Prep in the semifinals.

32. (37) Huntsville (Ala.), 48-5
Alabama Class 6A state champion. Season over.

33. (38) Mater Dei (Breese, Ill.), 36-1
Defeated defending champion Catholic Academy (Joliet, Ill.) 2-1 to claim the Illinois Class 3A state championship. Also defeated Payton (Chicago) in the semifinals.



34. (34) St. Francis (Mountain View, Calif.), 29-5
Defeated Westmont (Campbell, Calif.) 25-8, 25-16, 25-16 in the second round of the Central Coast Section playoffs.

35. (39) Penn (Mishawaka, Ind.), 39-1
Indiana Class 4A state champion. Season over.

36. (40) Los Alamitos (Calif.), 28-5
Advanced to the Southern Section 1AA semifinals by defeating Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.) 3-1 in the second round and San Clemente (Calif.) 3-2 in the quarterfinals. Will face Long Beach Poly in the semifinals.

37. (43) Redondo Union (Redondo Beach, Calif.), 27-7-1
Defeated defending Division I state champion Newport Harbor (Newport Beach, Calif.) 3-1 in the Southern Section Division 1AA quarterfinals to advance to a semifinal match against Lakewood (Calif.).

38. (44) Merion Mercy Academy (Merion Station, Pa.), 35-0
Won three matches in regional play against Susquehannock (Glen Rock, Pa.), Southern Lehigh (Center Valley, Pa.) and Archbishop Wood (Warminster, Pa.). Advances to state quarterfinals.

39. (45) Central Catholic (Portland, Ore.), 30-4
Defeated Jesuit 3-1 to capture Oregon Class 6A state championship.



40. (46) Chaparral (Parker, Colo.), 32-1
Defeated Pine Creek 3-0 for the Colorado Class 5A state championship.

41. (47) Walton (Marietta, Ga.), 42-7
Georgia AAAAA state champion. Season over.

42. (48) Ravenwood (Brentwood, Tenn.), 49-8
Tennessee Class AAA state champion. Season over.

43. (NR) Lakewood (Calif.), 25-6
The Lancers pulled off the upset of the Southern Section 1AA tournament by blanking Harvard-Westlake, which was ranked No. 1 in the Southern Section coaches poll, 3-0. Lakewood then defeated Huntington Beach 3-1 to reach a semifinal matchup with Redondo Union.

44. (31) Reagan (San Antonio), 51-5
Lost to King (Corpus Christi, Texas) in the Region 4 quarterfinal. Season over.

45. (41) Wayzata (Plymouth, Minn.), 30-3
Minnesota Class 3A state runner-up. Season over.



46. (42) Marian (Omaha, Neb.), 36-7
Nebraska Class A runner-up. Season over.

47. (49) Punahou (Honolulu), 20-2
Hawaii Division I state champion. Season over.

48. Jesuit (Portland, Ore.), 38-4
Oregon Class 6A runner-up.

49. Redlands East Valley (Calif.), 28-4
The Wildcats advanced to the semifinals of the Southern Section Division 1A tournament with 3-0 wins over Alta Loma, San Luis Obispo and Murrieta Valley.

50. Hebron (Carrollton, Texas), 42-7
Defeated Marcus to win the Region I championship and advance to the state tournament.