The Mater Dei football team might have some competition when it comes to national rankings. After grabbing the Volleypalooza title in Texas and then returning home for a win over Redondo Union, the Monarchs jump to No. 3 in this week's MaxPreps Top 25 high school volleyball rankings.
Mater Dei went 9-0 at Volleypalooza — though the Monarchs did drop a five-set thriller to No. 2 Flower Mound during the trip for the only blemish on the record.
And while the Monarchs have started red hot, so too has Assumption, the Kentucky power which vaults to the No. 1 spot after a 10-0 start to the year. The Rockets have two big weekends upcoming with the Adidas LIVT and the Durango Classic. Strong showings could help boost the team's chances of another national title under head coach Ron Kordes. But it's still early.
Michigan and California each add multiple teams to the rankings this week. Read on for the full rankings.
Jalyn Gibson, Brandeis
Photo by Kenneth Toso
Highlights: The Rockets are off to a hot start as
Sydney Helmers is hammering 5.5 kills per set. Ron Kordes' team will be challenged with the Adidas LIVT and Durango in back-to-back weekends.
This week: Sept. 7 at Mercy, Sept. 10-11 Adidas LIVT
Highlights: Four Jags —
Gabby Walker,
Izabella Ortiz,
Maddie Cox and
Catherine Young — all have more than 170 kills on the season. Flower Mound split two matches with Mater Dei.
This week: Sept. 7 at Boyd, Sept. 10 at Coppell
3. (NR) Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.), 13-1
Highlights:
The Monarchs backed up their Volleypalooza title with a 3-0 win over
Redondo Union. Schilling leads the offensive attack with 108 kills,
while four other girls have more than 50. Senior
Shanelle Puetz is tossing up better than 10 assists per set. Lone loss was a five-setter to Flower Mound.
This week: Sept. 7 at Lakewood, Sept. 9 vs. Vista Murrieta
4. (6) St. Pius X Catholic (Atlanta), 15-1
Highlights: Golden Lions fell to Ponte Vedra in finals after winning six matches at the Nike TOC Southeast tournament.
This week: Sept. 5 vs. Southwest DeKalb, Stone Mountain; Sept. 10 vs. St. John Paul II, Mt. Carmel, Archbishop Hannan; Sept. 11 vs. Pensacola Catholic, St. Joseph's, McGill-Toolen
5. (2) Lovejoy (Lucas, Texas), 20-5
Highlights: Two of the losses are to Flower Mound and Mater Dei.
Rosemary Archer leads Leopards with 194 kills while All-American
Averi Carlson has dished up 450 assists.
This week: Sept. 7 at Plano, Sept. 10 at The Colony
6. (3) Papillion-LaVista South (Papillion, Neb.), 7-0
Highlights: Ava Legrand is averaging nearly 12 assists per set at the Titans have dropped one set in the young season.
This week: Sept. 7 vs. Pius X, Sept. 9 at Gretna
7. (7) The Woodlands (Texas), 27-3
Highlights: Losses are to teams with combined 65-14 record.
Claire Dewine had 11 kills in a three-set win over Seven Lakes.
This week: Sept. 7 at Tomball, Sept. 10 vs. Huntsville
8. (9) Marymount (Los Angeles), 5-0
Highlights: Sailors own wins over Vista Murrieta and Redondo Union. Senior
Kelly Belardi has shined along with
Elia Rubin and
Kerry Keefe.
This week: Sept. 7 vs. La Costa Canyon, Sept. 9 at Marlborough
9. (11) Redondo Union (Redondo Beach, Calif.), 7-2
Highlights: The two losses are to Mater Dei, Marymount.
This week: Sept. 14 vs. Peninsula
10. (1) Mount Notre Dame (Cincinnati), 4-1
Highlights: Cougars dropped a five-setter to St. Ursula Academy. All-American
Carly Hendrickson is averaging better than eight kills per set.
This week: Sept. 7 at Seton
11. (NR) Spain Park (Hoover, Ala.), 17-3
Highlights: Jaguars fell to McGill-Toolen in the Nike TOC Bronze championship. Spain Park has dropped nine sets all season.
This week: Sept. 9 vs. Hewitt-Trussville
12. (17) Hamilton Southeastern (Fishers, Ind.), 7-2
Highlights: After opening 0-2, Royals have reeled off seven straight.
This week: Sept. 7 vs. Yorktown, Sept. 9 vs. Fishers
13. (NR) Hudsonville (Mich.), 17-0-1
Highlights: Lone blemish is 1-1 tie vs. Lowell, the Division 1 runner-up last season.
This week: Sept. 16 at Caledonia
Highlights: Losses are to Mira Costa and Marymount. Big test Thursday vs. Mater Dei.
This week: Sept. 9 at Mater Dei
15. (10) Sacred Heart (Louisville, Ky.), 10-2
Highlights: Two losses are to Hamilton Southeastern and Assumption.
Tess Schrenger has 99 kills on the season.
This week: Sept. 7 vs. Highlands Latin, Sept. 9 vs. Mother McAuley (Chicago)
16. (NR) Marian (Bloomfield Hills, Mich.), 12-0
Highlights: Ava Brizard is averaging five kills per set as Mustangs have dropped one set on the season.
This week: Sept. 14 at Gabriel Richard
17. (24) North Raleigh Christian Academy (Raleigh, N.C.), 9-2
Highlights: Losses are to St. Pius X Catholic and St. Thomas Aquinas at Nike TOC.
This week: Sept. 9 vs. Durham Academy, Sept. 10 at Null
18. (18) Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas), 8-1
Highlights: Caroline Edgeworth is averaging 13.2 assists per set as Gaels have dropped three sets on the season.
This week: Sept. 9 at Centennial
19. (NR) Notre Dame Prep (Pontiac, Mich.), 15-0
Highlights: Fighting Irish haven't dropped a set this season behind
Alyssa Borellis (153 assists, 108 kills),
Bianca Giglio (101 kills) and
Sophia Sudzina (171 assists).
This week: Sept. 8 vs. Powers Catholic
20. (NR) Brandeis (San Antonio), 25-2
Highlights: Fell to Mater Dei in Volleypalooza semifinals as Broncos are paced by four hitters (
Jalyn Gibson,
Emma Halstead,
Carlee Pharris and
Leila Smalls) with more than 110 kills.
This week: Sept. 7 vs. Churchill, Sept. 10 at Reagan
21. (14) Fayetteville (Ark.), 4-1
Highlights: Kennedy Phelan averages 11.5 assists per set as Bulldogs' only blemish is a five-set loss to Nixa.
This week: Sept. 7 vs. Rogers, Sept. 9 vs. Southside, Sept. 11 vs. Bishop Kelly (Tulsa, Okla.)
22. (12) Yorktown (Ind.), 11-2
Highlights: Freshman
Charlotte Vinson is pacing Tigers with 132 kills and 142 digs.
This week: Sept. 7 at Hamilton Southeastern, Sept. 9 vs. Mt. Vernon
23. (NR) Archbishop Mitty (San Jose, Calif.), 7-0
Highlights: The Monarchs' longtime coach Bret Almazan-Cezar has moved on but not the program's winning ways.
This week: Sept. 7 vs. Menlo-Atherton, Sept. 9 vs. Menlo School
24. (NR) V.R. Eaton (Fort Worth, Texas), 20-1
Highlights: Eagles have dropped 10 sets all season.
This week: Sept. 7 at Bishop Lynch
25. (16) Maryville (Tenn.), 10-3Highlights: Two of three losses are to Male (Louisville, Ky.) and Dorman (Roebuck, S.C.)
This week: Sept. 8 vs. Cleveland, Sept. 9 at Lenoir City
On the bubble: Blessed Trinity (Roswell, Ga.), 18-2;
Bayside Academy (Daphne, Ala.), 24-2;
Fort Wayne Bishop Dwenger (Fort Wayne, Ind.), 9-1;
Mercy (Louisville, Ky.), 4-2;
Sequoyah (Canton, Ga.), 20-1;
Walton (Marietta, Ga.), 9-2;
Roncalli (Indianapolis), 14-2;
Penn (Mishawaka, Ind.), 14-0;
Aquinas (Overland Park, Kan.), 3-0;
Marin Catholic (Kentfield, Calif.), 6-1.
