Papillion-LaVista is MaxPreps Preseason Xcellent 25 Volleyball No. 1

The Papillion-LaVista South (Neb.) Titans begin the 2011 volleyball season right where they left off in 2010, and you better get used to it.

With the top three players on the squad just starting their junior year at Papillion-LaVista South, the Titans could be atop the MaxPreps Xcellent 25 National Volleyball Rankings for some time to come. Twins Amber Rolfzen and Kadie Rolfzen are regarded as among the top two frontline players in the country and setter Kelly Hunter has proven herself to be among the best in the state of Nebraska.

Two years ago, the group won an AAU national championship and this summer the Rolfzens played on the Youth National squad that played in Turkey for Team USA. The Titans also went 41-0 last year and ended the season ranked No. 1 in the Xcellent 25.

So it's no wonder that the Titans begin the season ranked No. 1 in the country.



The real question is who is No. 2? Many have a shot at moving up to challenge the Titans for the top spot, including perennial Florida favorite Berkeley Prep and a pair of defending Texas state champions in Lovejoy and Lake Travis.

The season has already started in some states with Texas already two weeks into the year. Here's a look at the Top 25 volleyball teams to start the 2011 season.

MAXPREPS XCELLENT 25 NATIONAL VOLLEYBALL RANKINGS

1. Papillion-LaVista South (Papillion, Neb.), 41-0
Who else but the Titans could begin the season at No. 1? Papillion-LaVista South won the Nebraska Class A state championship last season and finished on top of the Xcellent 25 rankings. The Titans also return three of the best players in the state in 6-3 junior twins Amber and Kadie Rolfzen and junior setter Kelly Hunter (5-11). The Rolfzens are both preseason MaxPreps All-Americans and are playing on the Team USA Youth National squad in Turkey this month. They, along with Hunter, earned all-state honors last season. Amber Rolfzen had 377 kills last season while Kadie had 405. Hunter set the two twins and finished with 541 assists, 249 digs and 212 kills.

2. Berkeley Prep (Tampa, Fla.), 30-2
The Buccaneers won two straight 3A state championships in Florida, but with redistricting for the 2011 season they will now play in Class 4A. Berkeley Prep still figures to have one of the top teams in the country with MaxPreps All-American candidate Jordan Burgess (6-0), a senior outside hitter, and senior setter Mackenzie Dagostino. The Buccaneers will be a young club with only three seniors and six sophomores to go with three juniors. Burgess had 540 kills last year while Dagostino had 192 to go with 1,018 assists.

3. Lovejoy (Lucas, Texas), 46-3
After defeating the Texas 5A and 4A state champions during the regular season, Lovejoy was recognized as the top team in Texas last year regardless of division after capturing the 3A state championship. The Leopards already have two losses this year, but they have played without Team USA member Andi Molloy, who has been competing in Turkey at the Youth Nationals. Lovejoy lost just two starters from last year's squad and returns MaxPreps Preseason All-American Ebony Nwanebu at middle blocker. Lovejoy is ranked No. 1 in the Texas Girls Coaches Association 3A state rankings.

4. Lake Travis (Austin, Texas), 49-3
The Cavaliers are loaded this year thanks to the return of every major contributor from last year's state championship squad. Besides returning all-state setter Katy Beals and all-state outside hitter Amy Neal, the Cavaliers also return all-district standouts Piper Toler, Sierra Patrick and Cassie Wang. Lake Travis begins the season ranked No. 1 in the Texas Girls Coaches Association 4A state rankings.



5. Bishop Miege (Shawnee Mission, Kan.), 38-4
The Stags have won 20 state championships in Kansas and coach Gwen Pike is already in a Hall of Fame (National High School Athletic Coaches Association), so they figure to be in the Top 25 somewhere. The return of state MVP Shelby Workman and all-state outside hitter Anna Church makes the Stags the team to beat in the Kansas 5A state playoffs again and a Top 5 team in the nation to start the season.

6. Mercy (Louisville, Ky.), 35-6
Mercy actually begins the season ranked second in the state by the Kentucky High School Volleyball Coaches Association, but we'll give the nod to the Jaguars after they finished second to Assumption last year while returning three all-state players in Amanda Crask, Lauren Schneidtmiller and Courtney Crable.

7. Pope (Marietta, Ga.), 54-1
The Greyhounds look to make it three state titles in a row and they should have the firepower to get the job done. Ranked No. 1 in the AAAA state coaches poll to start the season, Pope already has a win over defending AAAAA state champ Walton. MaxPreps Preseason All-American Mary Hannah Arrington returns at outside hitter along with 6-4 middle hitter Katie Bange and setter Mikaela Tracy.

8. Palo Alto (Calif.), 41-1
The Vikings were the surprise team in California last year with an upset win over Long Beach Poly in the Division I state finals. However the Vikings start the season as the team to beat in California thanks to the return of 6-5 middle hitter Melanie Wade and 6-2 outside hitter Maddie Kuppe. Wade had 537 kills last year while Kuppe had 227. The Vikings also return senior setter Kimmy Whitson, who registered 1,148 assists.

9. Cardinal Gibbons (Raleigh, N.C.), 21-2
The Crusaders have won back-to-back North Carolina 3A state championships and return one of the nation's top players in MaxPreps Preseason All-American Madison Bugg. Cardinal Gibbons also returns the top setters from last year's squad in Victoria Phillips and Eleanor Derouin, along with middle blocker Carolyn Albright.

10. Muncie Burris (Ind.), 39-0
The Owls have won 14 straight Indiana state championships and the program owns a national record 22 state titles overall. Muncie Burris returns one of the nation's best all-around players in MaxPreps Preseason All-American Taylor Morey. The Owls have won 87 straight matches entering the 2011 season.



11. Xavier College Prep (Phoenix), 41-5
The Gators won their fourth straight state championship last season with a 3-2 win over Hamilton in the Class 5A-I finals. Xavier College Prep returns one of the top players in the state of Arizona in senior all-around standout Bianca Arellano, who had 272 kills, 57 aces and 1,259 assists while earning all-state honors as a junior. All-state libero Amanda Benson returns for her junior season after registering 491 digs last season. The Gators also have middle blocker Megan O'Sullivan, a 6-2 junior who had 286 kills and 103 blocks as a sophomore.

12. Chaparral (Parker, Colo.), 32-1
The Wolverines were barely challenged last year in winning the Colorado 4A state championship, as they dropped just 18 games on the season and had a single loss to Grandview during the regular season. State MVP and MaxPreps Preseason All-American Nicole Dalton (6-2) returns after slamming 473 kills last season. She's joined by seven other letterwinners who return from last year's squad.

13. East Lake (Tarpon Springs, Fla.), 29-2
The Eagles lost just two games last season en route to winning the Class 5A state championship in Florida. East Lake also loses just two seniors from that team while returning 13 letterwinners. Tops on the list are 6-0 middle Brianna McComeskey (257 kills), 5-8 outside hitter Brittnay Estes (229 kills), 5-9 outside hitter Jackie Wegner (178 kills), 5-6 libero Brooke Burkett (435 digs) and 5-8 setter Rachel Reed (909 assists).

14. Assumption (Louisville, Ky.), 39-4
The Rockets are always one of the top teams in the state of Kentucky, returning from a state championship season in 2010. Assumption plays one of the toughest tournament schedules in the country and it lost the majority of last year's starters, but the Rockets were still ranked No. 1 in the state to begin the season by the Kentucky Volleyball Coaches Association.

15. Carroll (Southlake, Texas), 41-6
The Dragons had their best season ever last year and look to improve on that finish with a state title in 2011. The winners of the Duncanville Tournament of Champions last week, the Dragons are ranked No. 1 in the Texas Girls Coaches Association 5A state rankings and are 15-1 to start the season, with the lone loss coming against Lovejoy at the Allen Texas Open. The Dragons have one of the top liberos in the country in MaxPreps Preseason All-American Caitlin Nolan as well as four-year standouts Sutton Sunstrom, Kayden Cook and Jenelle Jennings.

16. Walton (Marietta, Ga.), 42-7
The Class AAAAA state champion in Georgia last season, Walton returns three all-state players from that team, including MaxPreps Preseason All-American Kelly Murphy, who was also the Gatorade State Player of the Year. Also back are outside hitter Katherine Plessy and junior setter Hannah Rooks. Walton has one loss already, but it came against defending AAAA state champion Pope.



17. Plant (Tampa, Fla.), 24-6
The winner of five consecutive state championships and eight in the last 10 years in Florida, Plant was not expected to challenge for the state title in 2010, but defeated Orlando Boone in three games for the title. Setter Maren Douglas returns from a junior season in which she had 1,009 assists. Also back is 6-2 middle blocker Brynne Fruhmorgen (155 kills, 87 blocks).

18. Lakewood (Calif.), 25-7
Although they finished third in the Moore League last season, the Lancers made a run at the Southern Section Class 1A championship with an upset over top seed Harvard-Westlake. Lakewood returns four players who earned All-Moore League status, including libero Tiffany Cobian, middle blockers Chrissy Tuua (6-0) and Ani Green (6-1) and libero Heather Eggers.

19. York (Elmhurst, Ill.), 34-6
The Dukes advanced farther in the state tournament than any volleyball team in school history with a fourth-place finish in the Class 4A tournament. York begins the season ranked No. 1 in the state by the Chicago Tribune and returns outside hitter Caroline Rose (334 kills), outside hitter Melissa Deatsch (245 kills), 6-1 middle blocker Sam Schrenker (107 kills, 171 blocks), setter Katie Gallagher (421 assits) and 6-0 middle blocker Morgan Semmelhack (156 kills, 83 blocks).

20. St. Ursula Academy (Toledo, Ohio), 26-1
Although all-state honoree Veronica Zimmerman is gone, St. Ursula Academy still has a number of talented players returning from last year's Ohio Division I state championship team. Cassidy Croci was all-state honorable mention while Maddie Burnham was all-league second team as a sophomore and Madison Strall, Emma Romstadt and Madison Haupricht all earned all-league honorable mention status.

21. Bishop Kelley (Tulsa, Okla.), 39-5
The Comets have won four straight state championships in Oklahoma and 14 in their history. They also return one of the top middle hitters in the nation in Inky Ajanaku, who was named the top player in the Tulsa Metro Area last season while registering 344 kills. After winning four straight 5A state titles, Bishop Kelley moves up to the 6A level this year.

22. Marian (Bloomfield Hills, Mich.), 69-6-1
The winners of two straight Division I state championships in Michigan, Marian will be seeking a third behind the talents of junior all-state setter Mary Henry, who had 1,601 assists last year. Kari Fidelholtz also returns after registering 227 kills as a junior.



23. St. James Academy (Lenexa, Kan.), 44-1
The Thunder were one of the top teams in the country last season after winning the Kansas 4A state championship and losing one game all season. St. James Academy loses Gatorade State Player of the Year Hanna Forst, but it returns setter Paige Brown (1,011 assists), 6-1 middle hitter Katie Dulek (132 kills, 90 blocks) and sophomore outside hitter Arianna Person (179 kills).

24. Aiken (S.C.), 35-1
Only two seniors are gone from a team that lost just once and won the South Carolina 4A state championship. The Fighting Green Hornets lose all-state honoree Jessica Ray, but they return all-state libero Monica Cardona. Aiken also returns setter Meredith Clemmens, McKenna Dyer, hitter Anna Tovo and Natasha Dicks, all of whom came up big in the state championship match last year.

25. Avon (Ind.), 28-8-1
Avon begins the year ranked No. 1 in the Indiana Girls Coaches Association 4A state rankings thanks to the return of four key players from last year's squad. The top two hitters from last year, Katie Higginbotham (384 kills) and Jill Steinmetz (200 kills) return along with setter Madi Reeves (883 assists) and hitter Kayla Springer (127 kills).