Behind the play of state player of the year
Sophie Taylor and coach of the year Mandy Havens,
Giles (Pearisburg) won Virginia's Class 1 state championship and claimed the No. 1 spot in the Small Town Top 25 high school volleyball rankings.
Giles (26-2) roared through the postseason, dropping just one set in six matches including a 3-0 win over
Middlesex (Saluda) in the final. The championship is the second for the Spartans, who also won in 2020.
The Small Town Top 25 is based on the MaxPreps computer ratings. To be eligible for inclusion, schools must have an enrollment under 1,000 students in towns with a population under 10,000.
Giles celebrates after sweeping Middlesex 3-0 for Virginia's Class 1 state championship.
With a rating of 38.1, Giles edged out No. 2
Norris (Firth, Neb.) by over two rating points.
Havens has coached both state championship teams at Giles and earned VHSL Class 1 Coach of the Year honors. She has a record of 214-60 in 11 seasons with the program.
Taylor earned Class 1 Player of the Year honors after racking up 668 kills with 50 blocks, 33 aces and 324 digs. Headed to Ole Miss, Taylor has made the all-state team four times and is a three-time state player of the year. Junior
Kylee Snider joined Taylor on the all-state team.
Norris won its second straight Class B state championship in Nebraska with a four-set victory over
Elkhorn North (Elkhorn).
Chelan finished No. 3 in the rankings after capturing its sixth straight Class 1A state championship in Washington.
No. 4
Goliad avenged a loss in last year's Texas Conference 3A Division 1 state championship to
Bushland with a three-set victory over the Spartans.
Guntersville won Alabama's Class 5A state championship and went 64-5 to lead the nation in victories.
Read on for a complete look at the final Small Town Top 25. Teams are listed with their record and MaxPreps computer rating.
Small Town Top 25
1.
Giles (Pearisburg, Va.), 26-2, 38.1
2.
Norris (Firth, Neb.), 35-1, 36.1
3.
Chelan (Wash.), 23-2, 35.7
4.
Goliad (Texas), 44-3, 35.2
5.
Guntersville (Ala.), 64-5, 34.6
6.
Portville (N.Y.), 37-3-2, 34.5
7.
Maplewood (Guys Mills, Pa.), 23-2-1, 34.5
8.
Eaton (Colo.), 25-4, 33.8
9.
Shepherd (Mont.), 42-5-1, 33.6
10.
Chester (S.D.), 33-1, 32.6
13.
North Sanpete (Mt. Pleasant, Utah), 32-0, 32.2
14.
Dakota Valley (North Sioux City, S.D.), 34-3, 32.1
15.
Walnut (Miss.), 36-3-1, 31.4
16.
Milford (Neb.), 33-1, 31.36
17.
Denver (Iowa), 50-1, 31.35
18.
Silver Lake (Kan.), 46-1, 31.1
19.
Andale (Kan.), 36-1, 30.35
20.
Simla (Colo.), 27-2, 30.31
21.
Wimberley (Texas), 46-6, 29.6
22.
Waverly (Neb.), 30-6, 29.5
23.
Fleming (Colo.), 25-4, 29.3
24.
Hawley (Minn.), 32-2, 29.03
25.
Cherokee County (Centre, Ala.), 51-9, 29.00
