Corona del Mar takes over the top spot in the first regular-season set of rankings.
Video - Xcellent 25 Volleyball Rankings: Sept. 8
MaxPreps breaks down the latest edition of the Xcellent 25.The season may be young for Corona del Mar (Newport Beach, Calif.), yet CDM finds itself ranked atop the MaxPreps Xcellent 25 National Volleyball Rankings presented by the Army National Guard.
Despite having played just one match, the Sea Kings edged Indianapolis Cathedral for this week's top spot. Cathedral, ranked No. 16 in MaxPreps' Preseason Top 50, has started the season with 13 straight wins and has not lost a set in its last 10 matches.
A pair of Florida teams – P.K. Yonge (Gainesville) and Winter Springs – moved to Nos. 3 and 4, respectively, while Santa Margarita of California rounds out the Top 5. Also joining the Top 10 this week is unbeaten and ninth-rated Yorktown (Ind.).
Previous No. 1 St. James Academy (Lenexa, Kan.) lost its season-opening match and plummeted to No. 23.
New to the Top 25 this week are Marian Central Catholic (Woodstock, Ill.), Saint Francis (Mountain View, Calif.) and Mother McAuley (Chicago).
MaxPreps Xcellent 25 National Volleyball Rankings presented by the Army National Guard
Corona del Mar is the new No. 1 team in the nation.
Photo by Heston Quan
CDM lost its season-opening set, 25-19, but then won three straight to beat always talented Marymount (Los Angeles), 3-1.
2. (16) Cathedral (Indianapolis), 13-0After winning its first three matches by a 3-2 margin, Cathedral has won 10 straight matches without losing a set.
3. (6) P.K. Yonge (Gainesville, Fla.), 4-0Impressive season openers put Yonge's win streak at 23.
4. (7) Winter Springs (Fla.), 3-0Winter Springs is outscoring opponents at a near 2-1 pace.
5. (NR) Santa Margarita (Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif.), 10-0Santa Margarita went 8-0 to win the prestigious Ann Kang Tournament and defeated No. 17 Punahou (Honolulu) in the final.
6. (14) St. Ursula Academy (Toledo, Ohio), 8-0SUA has lost just one set in winning its first eight matches, including 2-1 over previously ranked Mount Notre Dame (Cincinnati).
7. (9) Carroll (Southlake, Texas), 27-3Eleven straight victims of Carroll include Texas powers Lovejoy (Lucas) and Allen.
8. (8) Xavier College Prep (Phoenix), 1-0Lanie Wagner led Xavier to 3-0 win over Basha (Chandler) to start the season impressively.
9. (NR) Yorktown (Ind.), 10-0Freshman
Kenzie Knuckles is averaging 4.3 kills as Yorktown has won all 26 sets to start its season 10-0.
10. (10) Jesuit (Portland, Ore.), 1-0An impressive season-opening win ran Jesuit's winning streak to 38.
11. (11) Parkland (Allentown, Pa.), 1-0Parkland dismantled crosstown rival William Allen (Allentown) for its 28th win in a row.
12. (NR) Marian Central Catholic (Woodstock, Ill.), 8-0The Hurricanes surprised former No. 3 St. Francis (Wheaton), 2-1.
13. (22) Dripping Springs (Texas), 29-2Dripping Springs has won 22 straight.
14. (NR) Webb (Knoxville, Tenn.), 21-0The Spartans have lost just one set while winning 48 this season and ended Brentwood's winning streak at 70.
15. (3) St. Francis (Wheaton, Ill.), 1-1Despite strong front row play, St. Francis lost to Marian Central (Woodstock).
16. (NR) Saint Francis (Mountain View, Calif.), 5-0The Lancers beat Archbishop Mitty (San Jose) to win the talent-rich Milpitas Spikefest.
17. (19) Coronado (Henderson, Nev.), 2-0All-American
Cali Thompson has 77 assists in a pair of 3-0 victories.
18. (19) Punahou (Honolulu), 10-1Punahou's only loss was in the final of the Kang Invite to No. 5 Santa Margarita (Calif.).
19. (15) Archbishop Mitty (San Jose, Calif.), 4-1Mitty's win streak of 10 was snapped by No. 16 St. Francis (Mountain View).
20. (20) Immaculate Heart Academy (Washington Township, N.J.), 0-0IHA opens its season Wednesday hosting Valley (Wayne).
21. (NR) Mother McAuley (Chicago), 4-0Senior
Jane DeJarld has lead Mother McAuley to a 4-0 start.
22. (25) Brentwood (Tenn.), 21-1The Bruins' win streak reached 70 before losing to unbeaten Webb. Their new streak stands at a dozen.
23. (1) St. James Academy (Lenexa, Kan.), 2-1The Thunder lost their season opener to Northwest (Olathe), then beat Kentucky powers Assumption and Sacred Heart.
24. (12) Notre Dame Academy (Park Hills, Ky.), 6-1NDA lost to twice-beaten Mercy (Louisville).
25. (4) Aliso Niguel (Aliso Viejo, Calif.), 2-1The Wolverines lost their opener to San Juan Hills, then won twice.
Dropped out: Churchill (San Antonio), Mount Notre Dame (Cincinnati), Marian (Omaha, Neb.), Prior Lake (Minn.), Redondo Union (Redondo Beach, Calif.).
