But cue the coming plot twist ... the Durango Fall Classic.
From a national perspective, Durango has the opportunity to shake up the rankings as a strong showing among the loaded field can send a team's stock soaring. In addition to No. 2 Cathedral Catholic, six ranked teams will be in the field along with countless others who have either been ranked or sit just outside the MaxPreps Top 25.
Buckle up as the rankings could look completely different next week.
Sydney Austin, Buford
Photo: Chris Copek
Recap: The Mustangs plowed through the field of the Program Invitational this weekend without dropping a set to remain perfect on the season. Sophomore
Izzy Busignani leads a trio of hitters with more than 100 kills
Outlook: Sept. 14 vs. Divine Child
2. (2) Cathedral Catholic (San Diego), 17-0
Recap: Sophomore libero
Maya Evens was the MVP of the Dave Mohs Tournament as the Dons took down Marymount 28-26, 25-17 in the title game.
Outlook: Sept. 20 at La Jolla
3. (3) McCutcheon (Lafayette, Ind.), 11-1
Recap: The Mavericks swept Noblesville as
Chloe Chicoine hammered 25 kills and 13 digs.
Isabella Humphrey added 10 kills and 11 digs and
Raegan Burns chipped in 16 digs.
Outlook: Sept. 15 vs. Harrison
4. (5) Fayetteville (Ark.), 11-0
Recap: The Bulldogs went to Oklahoma over the weekend and brought home the Bishop Kelley tournament title, dropping one set while picking up wins over Bixby, Owasso, Broken Arrow, Jenks and Bishop Kelley (twice).
Outlook: Sept. 13 at Rogers, Sept. 14 vs. Southside
5. (14) Mother McAuley (Chicago), 14-0
Recap: The Mighty Macs were indeed that at the Adidas LIVT in beating Walton, Cardinal Gibbons, Mount Notre Dame and Sacred Heart. Mother McAuley held on for a 25-21 third-set win over Assumption in the title game as
Ellie White and
Gigi Navarrete powered the attack.
Outlook: Sept. 14 at St. Francis de Sales, Sept. 15 vs. Downers Grove
6. (6) Assumption (Louisville, Ky.), 15-1
Recap: The Rockets fell to the new No. 5 Mother McAuley in the finals of the LIVT after wins over Ryle, DuPont Manual and St. Ursula Academy. Junior hitter
Charlotte Moriarty leads four Rockets with more than 100 kills while
Whitney Woodrow is tossing up 13 assists per set.
Outlook: Durango Fall Classic
7. (7) Mira Costa (Manhattan Beach, Calif.), 11-2
Recap: Drew Wright had 12 kills in a sweep of Torrey Pines in the Mustangs' lone match of the week. Earlier wins are over Sierra Canyon, Marymount and Punahou.
Outlook: Sept. 15 at Palos Verdes
8. (8) Cornerstone Christian (San Antonio), 42-2
Recap: The Warriors reeled off seven straight matches following their finals loss at the Nike TOC Southeast.
Nayeli Gonzalez (388 kills) and
Megan Fitch (358 kills) keep pacing the Cornerstone attack.
Outlook: Sept. 13 at La Vernia, Sept. 16 at United
9. (9) Redondo Union (Redondo Beach, Calif.), 11-4
Recap: The Sea Hawks outlasted Marymount on Monday, winning the fifth set 15-7
Outlook: Sept. 15 at Culver City, Durango Fall Classic
10. (24) Hamilton Southeastern (Fishers, Ind.), 11-1
Recap: Following a season-opening loss to McCutcheon, the Royals have been regal including a five-set win over Yorktown last Tuesday.
Avery Hobson had 17 kills and
Lauren Harden added 14 while
Macy Hinshaw (29 assists) and
Ava Hunter (22 assists) found hitters in the victory.
Outlook: Sept. 17 at Sacred Heart
11. (11) Dike-New Hartford (Dike, Iowa), 16-1
Recap: The Wolverines kept pace with wins over Osage and Wapsie Valley as
Payton Petersen bumped her season kill total to 144.
Outlook: Sept. 13 vs. Denver, Sept. 17 Dike-New Hartford tournament
12. (15) Cleveland (Tenn.), 24-1
Recap: The Blue Raiders got 14 kills from
Addison Hurst and 11 from sophomore
Lauren Hurst in the sweep of Hardin Valley Academy as
Kinslee Mcgowan dished up 31 assists.
Outlook: Sept. 15 vs. Walker Valley, Sept. 19 vs. Knoxville Catholic
13. (13) North Allegheny (Wexford, Pa.), 10-1
Recap: The Tigers took the Upper St. Clair tournament title, going 5-1 in pool play before wins over Morgantown and North Catholic then downing Canon-McMilan in the finals.
Outlook: Sept. 14 at Pine-Richland, Sept. 15 vs. North HIlls, Sept. 19 vs. North Catholic
14. (17) Byron Nelson (Trophy Club, Texas), 27-1
Recap: Samantha Hoppes (18),
Kylie Kleckner (14) and
Sydnee Peterson (13) all posted double-digit kills in a three-set win over Southlake Carroll, avenging the lone loss of the season.
Anna Koster and
Keatyn Rodgers combine for 45 assists.
Outlook: Sept. 13 at Haltom, Sept. 16 at Fossil Ridge
15. (18) Tompkins (Katy, Texas), 23-3
Recap: Cindy Tchouangwa,
Tendai Titley and
Skylar Skrabanek each have tallied more than 150 kills while
Presley Powell and
Erica Dellesky lead the Falcons with 353 and 328 assists, respectively.
Outlook: Sept. 13 vs. Morton Ranch, Sept. 16 at Mayde Creek
16. (23) Buford (Ga.), 19-4
Recap: Sydney Austin and
Ashley Sturzoiu each pounded 13 kills in a sweep of Central Gwinnett as
Grace Moon had 22 assists.
Outlook: Sept. 13 vs. Mill Creek, Sept. 15 at Pope
17. (10) Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.), 8-3
Recap: The Monarchs fell to San Clemente in the semis of the Dave Mohs and will either remain in the MaxPreps Top 25 or fall out with a match against No. 6 Assumption and then a trip to Durango.
Outlook: Sept. 13 at JSerra Catholic, Sept. 14 vs. Assumption
18. (16) Yorktown (Ind.), 15-2
Recap: The losses are to Brebeuf Jesuit Preparatory and Hamilton Southeastern but are offset with wins over McCutcheon and Penn. Sophomore
Charlotte Vinson continues to pace Yorktown with 166 kills.
Outlook: Sept. 13 vs. New Castle, Sept. 15 at Muncie Burns, Sept. 17 at Shelbyville
19. (4) Wayzata (Plymouth, Minn.), 8-1
Recap: The Trojans ran their win streak to 61 before losing 2-0 to Northfield. They started a new one immediately following the loss with a 2-1 win over Champlin Park
Outlook: Sept. 13 at East Ridge
20. (20) Oconomowoc (Wis.), 13-1
Recap: Lilly Wagner dished up 33 assists in a sweep of Catholic Memorial as junior hitter
Olivia Kwiatkowski and
Anna Bjork combined for 19 kills.
Outlook: Sept. 13 vs. Mukwonago, Sept. 15 at Waukesha South
21. (21) Papillion-LaVista South (Papillion, Neb.), 11-2
Recap: The Titans dropped one match against some of Kansas' best competition as
Lauren Medeck and
Stella Adeyemi continue to lead the attack.
Outlook: Sept. 13 vs. Burke
22. (NR) Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth, Calif.), 15-2
Recap: The Trailblazers own wins over Marymount, Redondo Union and Mira Costa as
Olivia Babcock (193 kills) leads a trio of hitters over 100 kills.
Outlook: Sept. 14 vs. Harvard-Westlake, Durango
23. (12) Marymount (Los Angeles), 7-3
Recap: The Sailors dropped a five-setter to Redondo as the reigning MaxPreps National Champions get everyone's best shot each night. A good showing at Durango could help Marymount regain ground in the rankings.
Outlook: Sept. 13 vs. Notre Dame Academy, Durango
24. (25) Prestonwood Christian (Plano, Texas), 24-1
Recap: The youthful Lions keep winning behind a trio of hitters led by sophomore
Macaria Spears (293 kills).
Outlook: Sept. 13 vs. Bishop Lynch, Sept. 15 at Nolan Catholic
25. (NR) Highland Park (Dallas), 26-2
Recap: The Scots' two losses are to the team right above them, Prestonwood Christian, but they have only dropped 12 sets all season.
Outlook: Sept. 13 at Nimitz, Sept. 16 vs. Lake Highlands
On the bubble: St. James Academy (Lenexa, Kan.), 11-0;
Cypress Ranch (Houston), 27-2;
Alpharetta (Ga.), 21-3,
Westminster Christian (Miami), 10-0;
Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas), 6-3;
Sequoyah (Canton, Ga.), 15-2;
Skutt Catholic (Omaha, Neb.), 10-4;
Brebeuf Jesuit Preparatory (Indianapolis), 13-2;
Skyline (Ann Arbor, Mich.), 16-1;
Punahou (Honolulu), 8-2.
