The Durango Volleyball Classic played a major role in changing the look of this week's MaxPreps Xcellent 25 National Volleyball Rankings, as six teams ranked among the Top 25 lost at the Las Vegas event.
Torrey Pines (San Diego), however, did not lose a game and defended its Durango title and jumped into the Top 25 at No. 6. The Falcons, 9-0 on the season, beat Kamehameha (Honolulu) in the finals to win the 64-team invitational.
Kamehameha, meanwhile, jumped into the Top 25 at No. 11. In earning Durango silver, the Warriors defeated previously ranked No. 5 Horizon (Scottsdale, Ariz.) and Archbishop Mitty (San Jose, Calif.), ranked No. 25 last week.
Horizon, which took third at Durango, dropped to No. 13 and fifth-place Mitty moved up a spot to No. 24. Three California teams that lost at Durango – Valley Christian (San Jose), Mater Dei (Santa Ana) and Los Alamitos – dropped from the Top 25.
Mercy (Louisville, Ky.) remained No. 1 as it swept through the Berkeley Prep Premiere Invitational to run its record to 21-0. It marked the seventh time in 11 years that Mercy has won the Berkeley event.
In addition to Torrey Pines and Kamehameha joining the Top 25, Benet (Lisle, Ill.) returned to the Xcellent 25 and East Troy (Troy, Wisc.), Cardinal Gibbons (Raleigh, N.C.) and Ravenwood (Brentwood, Tenn.) gained rankings recognition for the first time this year.
MaxPreps Xcellent 25 National Volleyball Rankings presented by the Army National Guard
Winning the Durango Invitational is worth a ton in high school volleyball. How much? Torrey Pines moves from not being ranked to No. 6 in the Xcellent 25.
Photo by Jann Hendry
1. (Last week 1) Mercy (Louisville, Ky.), 21-0The Jaguars won the Berkeley Prep Premiere Volleyball Tournament by sweeping four teams, including host Berkeley Prep in the finals behind
Courtney Crable's nine kills and six aces.
Devon Rachel added six kills. The Jaguars visit Floyd Central (Ind.) on Wednesday.
2. (2) The Woodlands (Texas), 27-0The Highlanders beat Lufkin (Texas) 3-0 on Friday and have won 63 of 67 games this season. Led by
Rachel Reed's 77 blocks, the Highlanders visit Kingwood (Texas) on Tuesday.
3. (3) St. James Academy (Lenexa, Kan.), 13-0The Thunder defeated St. Pius X (Festus, Mo.) on Saturday to win the Tournament of Champions. They visit 11-4 and previously ranked Bishop Miege (Shawnee Mission, Kan.) on Thursday.
4. (4) New Trier (Winnetka, Ill.), 8-0New Trier defeated Niles West (25-15, 25-17) for its 42nd win in its last 44 matches. New Trier hosts Glenbrook South (Glenview, Ill.) on Tuesday.
5. (7) Dakota (Macomb, Mich.), 22-0Dakota won six games and the title at the Portage Central Tournament. Dakota has outscored its foes 46-4 this season.
Carli Snyder is averaging seven kills per set, has 37 aces and just less than six assists per game.
Megan Manierski is averaging 10.3 assists per set. Dakota hosts 15-2-1 Romeo (Mich.) on Tuesday.
6. (NR) Torrey Pines (San Diego), 9-0Reily Buechler was named MVP of the Durango Classic as Torrey Pines went unbeaten and defended its team title. Three teammates were also named to the all-tournament team. The Falcons host Poway (Calif.) on Wednesday.
7. (9) New Castle (Ind.), 15-0The Trojans won twice last week. With
Lauryn Gillis averaging more than five kills per set and transfer
Kiley Lingenfelter averaging 10 assists, New Castle visits Pendleton (Ind.) on Tuesday.
8. (10) Bettendorf (Iowa), 18-0Having lost just one game this season, the Bulldogs swept the Wahlert Tournament by blanking six foes. They host Muscatine (Iowa) on Tuesday.
9. (11) Churchill (San Antonio), 31-1With wins over MacArthur (San Antonio) and Johnson (San Antonio), Churchill ran its win streak to 24 matches. The Lancers visit New Braunfels (Texas) on Tuesday.
10. (12) Carroll (Southlake, Texas), 30-1
Tiyana Hallums, Kamehameha
Photo by Jann Hendry
Carroll beat Halton (Texas) on Friday and hosts Northwest (Justin, Texas) on Tuesday.
11. (NR) Kamehameha (Honolulu), 20-1KHS lost in the finals at Durango after defeating highly ranked teams Archbishop Mitty in the quarterfinals (2-1) and Horizon in the semifinals (2-0).
Alohi Robins-Hardy,
Tiyana Hallums and
Mia Heirakuji were all-tournament selections. The Warriors visit Punahou (Honolulu) on Tuesday.
12. (22) Bishop Kenny (Jacksonville, Fla.), 12-0The Crusaders, who have won 33 of 36 games, shut out Jacksonville rivals Bolles and Parker last week and visit once-beaten Ponte Vedra (Fla.) on Tuesday.
13. (5) Horizon (Scottsdale, Ariz.), 9-1 Behind all-tournament choices
Sierra Nobley and
Jordan Anderson, Horizon took third at Durango beating Lakewood (Calif.), 2-1 (17-25, 25-15, 25-14). Horizon hosts Pinnacle (Phoenix) on Tuesday.
14. (12) Lafayette (Wildwood, Mo.), 15-1-1Led by twin sisters
Maggie Scott and
Jackie Scott and senior
Lily Johnson, the Lancers went 6-0-1 in winning the Springfield Classic. They tied Glendale 1-1 (22-25, 25-20) in the opening round, then beat the Falcons 2-0 (25-11, 25-12) in the finals. They visit Parkway West (Ballwin, Mo.) on Tuesday.
15. (17) Carmel (Ind.), 17-1Since losing to Sacred Heart (Louisville, Ky.), the Greyhounds have blanked 14 foes, and most recently swept the Warren Central Invitational with a 4-0 record. They host North Central (Indianapolis) on Tuesday.
16. (16) St. Francis (Wheaton, Ill.), 14-1The Spartans, winners of 14 straight, won twice last week and host Chicago Christian (Palos heights, Ill.) on Wednesday.
17. (NR) Benet Academy (Lisle, Ill.), 16-1The Redwings jumped back into the Top 25 in a big way as they won the Wheaton Classic championship at Wheaton Warrenville South for a third-straight year and also claimed top honors in an 11th straight regular-season tournament. Setter
Stephanie Sinnappan had 20 assists and six aces as the Redwings beat 18-2 Plainview North in the finals.
Caroline Wolf was named tournament MVP. Benet hosts Nazareth Academy (LaGrange, Ill.) and North (Naperville, Ill.) on Tuesday.
18. (18) Yorktown (Ind.), 17-0Having lost just six games this season, Yorktown shut out Southside (Muncie, Ind.) and Richmond (Ind.) last week, and blanked 15-2 Wes-Del (Gaston, Ind.) on Monday. The Tigers play Pendleton Heights (Ind.) on Thursday.
19. (19) Hillcrest (Simpsonville, S.C.), 27-1The Rams saw their winning streak come to an end, but led by senior
Maddie Palmer they bounced back to come through the loser's bracket to capture the Dorman Tournament of Champions for the third year in a row. The 15-team, two-day tournament included schools from South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Tennessee and West Virginia. The Rams, who visit Greenwood (S.C.) on Tuesday, have won 55 of their 59 games this season.
20. (21) Mother McAuley (Chicago), 12-2In front of an estimated 2,000 fans, the Macs beat rival Marist (Chicago), 2-0 (25-11, 25-15) last week as
Courtney Joyce dished out 22 assists. The Macs visit Regina (Wilmette, Ill.) on Tuesday.
21. (NR) East Troy (Wis.), 21-0The Trojans have won 44 of 50 games this season as sophomore
M.E. Dodge has 155 digs and 213 kills and setter
Brittney Jakscht is averaging better than 10 assists per outing. They host Edgerton (Wis.) on Tuesday.
22. (NR) Cardinal Gibbons (Raleigh, N.C.), 12-0The Crusaders have lost but one game this year (Aug. 20) and outscored their foes, 36-1. They have won 19 matches straight. Led by
Briley Brind'Amour, they host Orange (Hillsborough, N.C.) on Tuesday.
23. (24) Winter Park (Fla.), 14-1
Clare Powers, Archbishop Mitty
File photo by Jann Hendry
After suffering their first loss of the season, the Wildcats bounced back to blank Orlando schools University and Lake Nona, 3-0. They play Timber Creek (Orlando, Fla.) on Tuesday.
24. (25) Archbishop Mitty (San Jose, Calif.), 15-2The Monarchs finished fifth at Durango, losing only to runner-up Kamehameha.
Clare Powers and
Kelsey Crawford were named all-tournament. They host Homestead (Cupertino, Calif.) on Tuesday.
25. (NR) Ravenwood (Brentwood, Tenn.), 32-3The Raptors beat previously ranked Brentwood twice last weekend to avenge an earlier season loss to their crosstown rivals. Their other losses this season have been against No. 1 Mercy and No. 20 Mother McAuley. Ravenwood has outscored its opponents 77-14 and will visit Independence (Thompson Station, Tenn.) on Tuesday.
Dropped Out:Boca Raton (Fla.)
Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.)
Valley Christian (San Jose, Calif.)
Brentwood (Tenn.)
Los Alamitos (Calif.)
Notre Dame Academy (Park Hills, Ky.)