Top-ranked Bobcats have big challenge in store Tuesday night against Keller.
Byron Nelson (Trophy Club, Texas), the No. 1-ranked team in the MaxPreps Top 25 high school volleyball rankings all season, will have its hands full Tuesday night in a matchup with
Keller (27-5). The Bobcats are riding a 67-match win streak with four left to play before the postseason.
Only six teams have gone undefeated while winning a state championship in Texas' largest classification —
The Woodlands (2013),
Amarillo (1994, 1998),
Cypress Creek (1989, 1993),
Clear Lake (1983) and
Harlandale (1968). The coach of Amarillo's two unbeaten title teams was Jan Barker, mother of Byron Nelson coach Brianne Groth.
One big Southern California match remains before the postseason — a Bay League meeting between No. 11
Redondo Union (Redondo Beach) and No. 16
Mira Costa (Manhattan Beach). Bragging rights are on the line and the outcome likely would affect postseason seeding as the Southern Section is going away from its pool play of recent years in favor of a 12- or 16-team, single-elimination Division 1 bracket beginning Oct. 21.
There has been plenty to celebrate over the past year for No. 1 Byron Nelson. The Bobcats haven't lost a match since Aug. 16, 2024 and haven't dropped a set this season since Aug. 15. (PHOTO: Gregory LaGrange)
As it stands, No. 2
Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth) is locked into the top seed with Redondo, No. 3
Mater Dei (Santa Ana), Mira Costa and No. 4
Marymount (Los Angeles) rounding out the top five. A win by Mira Costa could shuffle things. The team that wins the section title will be the top seed in the Southern California regional and have to battle all over again with No. 6
Torrey Pines (San Diego) and
Cathedral Catholic (San Diego) likely thrown in the mix.
Hamilton Southeastern put the lone blemish on Westfield's schedule, beating the Shamrocks 15-13 in a five-set thriller Sept. 17.
MaxPreps Top 25 volleyball rankings
1. Byron Nelson (Trophy Club, Texas)
Record: 32-0 |
Last week: 1
Texas A&M commit
Sophee Peterson topped the 1,000-assist mark for the year as hitters
Ashlyn Seay and
Kylie Kleckner continue their torrid hitting with 5.0 and 4.7 kills per set, respectively.
2. Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth, Calif.)Record: 36-3 |
Last week: 2
The Trailblazers finished 10-0 in Mission League play after beating Bishop Alemany (Mission Hills) on Monday.
3. Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.)Record: 28-4 |
Last week: 3
Close the regular season Tuesday against JSerra Catholic (San Juan Capistrano).
4. Marymount (Los Angeles, Calif.)Record: 34-5 |
Last week: 4
Wrap up the regular season Tuesday against Chaminade (West Hills).
5. Xavier College Prep (Phoenix, Ariz.)Record: 25-2 |
Last week: 5
Vivian Hickman has 325 assists and 129 kills for the Gators.
6. Torrey Pines (San Diego, Calif.)Record: 25-4 |
Last week: 6
The Falcons took home the Westview tournament title without dropping a set.
7. Carroll (Fort Wayne, Ind.)Record: 31-0 | Last week: 7
Beat No. 21 Roncalli on Saturday but dropped their first set of the season in the 3-1 victory.
8. Assumption (Louisville, Ky.)Record: 28-4 |
Last week: 8
Notre Dame Academy and DuPont Manual remain on the regular-season slate before the Rockets look for their 25th state title.
9. Cornerstone Christian (San Antonio, Texas)Record: 31-4 |
Last week: 9
Season complete.10. Archbishop Mitty (San Jose, Calif.)Record: 23-3 |
Last week: 10
Makenna Crosson and
Chayse Courtney lead the hitting attack while
Laurie Nguyen has 195 assists on the season.
11. Redondo Union (Redondo Beach, Calif.)Record: 28-6 |
Last week: 11
The Sea Hawks look to spoil Mira Costa's senior night and earn redemption for the Sept. 25 league loss to the Mustangs.
12. Hamilton Southeastern (Fishers, Ind.)Record: 28-3 |
Last week: 12
Madison Miles and
Merritt Sliwa are both hitting better than 32 percent for the Royals.
13. Harrisburg (S.D.)Record: 21-2 |
Last week: 13
Won the Skyhawk Invite with sweeps of host Skutt Catholic (Omaha, Neb.), Olathe West (Olathe, Kan.), Papillion-LaVista South (Papillion, Neb.) and Saint Thomas Aquinas (Overland Park, Kan.)
14. Alpharetta (Ga.)Record: 34-1 |
Last week: 14
Begin the quest for a three-peat Tuesday against Douglas County (Douglasville) in the opening round of the AAAAAA postseason.
15. Calvary Christian (Clearwater, Fla.)Record: 24-1 |
Last week: 15
Await the winner of Tampa Catholic (Tampa)-Brooks DeBartolo Collegiate (Tampa) in the Class 3A District 9 tournament.
16. Mira Costa (Manhattan Beach, Calif.)Record: 23-8 |
Last week: 16
Wisconsin commit
Audrey Flanagan leads the Mustangs with 254 kills despite missing time early in the year playing with USA Volleyball.
17. Benet Academy (Lisle, Ill.)Record: 25-2 |
Last week: 17
Lynney Tarnow had eight kills and
Brooklynne Brass added seven in a sweep of Marina Catholic (Chicago Heights) last week.
18. Mother McAuley (Chicago, Ill.)Record: 24-3 |
Last week: 18
Campbell University commit
Cayla Prohaska leads the Mighty Macs with 211 kills.
19. Marist (Chicago, Ill.)Record: 22-4 |
Last week: 19
Coach Jordan Vidovic is looking for his fourth straight title after winning two boys titles in the spring and a girls crown last fall.
20. Winter Park (Fla.)Record: 24-1 |
Last week: 20
The Wildcats play Wednesday against the winner of Timber Creek (Orlando) and University (Orlando) in the Class 7A District 4 bracket.
21. Roncalli (Indianapolis, Ind.)Record: 26-5 |
Last week: 21
Open the Class 3A postseason with a Tuesday match against Rushville in the Section 28 bracket.
22. Mercy (Farmington Hills, Mich.)Record: 26-3 |
Last week: 23
Kate Kalczynski had 28 kills,
Cree Hollier added 12 and freshman
Kaelyn Easton dished up 49 assists in the five-set win over Marian (Bloomfield Hills) last week.
23. Divine Savior Holy Angels (Milwaukee, Wis.)Record: 37-3 |
Last week: 24
Coach Caitie Ratkowski earned her 400th victory over the weekend as the Dashers swept Arrowhead while also grabbing the DSHA Invite title.
24. Seton (Cincinnati, Ohio)Record: 20-0 |
Last week: 25
Next 25
27.
Skyview (Nampa, Idaho), 21-6
28.
Cathedral Catholic (San Diego, Calif.), 20-6
29.
Prestonwood Christian (Plano, Texas), 29-4
30.
Mansfield (Texas), 40-1
31.
Corona del Sol (Tempe, Ariz.), 27-3
32.
Saint Thomas Aquinas (Overland Park, Kan.), 25-5
33.
Orangewood Christian (Maitland, Fla.), 21-4
34.
Plano West (Plano, Texas), 24-4
35.
Austin (Texas), 33-5
36.
Keller (Texas), 27-5
37.
Lafayette (Wildwood, Mo.), 29-1
38.
Lovett (Atlanta, Ga.), 36-3
39.
Hebron Christian (Dacula, Ga.), 44-2
40.
Dawson (Pearland, Texas), 32-4
41.
Buford (Ga.), 27-3
42.
Rockford (Mich.), 30-1
43.
O'Connor (Helotes, Texas), 33-5
44.
Allen (Texas), 31-5
45.
McGill-Toolen (Mobile, Ala.), 40-2
46.
Tompkins (Katy, Texas), 30-5
47.
Norris (Firth, Neb.), 31-0
