Video: MaxPreps Top 25 high school volleyball rankingsCathedral Catholic climbs to No. 1 after impressive Durango showing.The Durango Fall Classic showed that it's good to get hot at the right time.
Cathedral Catholic (San Diego) put together an impressive run over the two-day tournament to capture the prestigious title for the first time. The Dons dropped one set all weekend in their emphatic run capped by a 20-25, 25-18, 25-23 finals win over Mercy (Louisville, Ky.). Middle blocker Lindsey Miller was named tournament MVP while outside hitters Madison Endlsey and Kira Smith and setter Kylie Adams joined the All-Tournament team.
The run vaulted the Dons to the top of the MaxPreps Top 25, while third-place finisher and unbeaten Marymount jumped to No. 2.
The number of highly ranked teams in the Durango championship bracket — eight of the final 16 — speaks to how impressive Cathedral Catholic's win is.
Mercy jumps into the rankings for the first time this season, landing at No. 12, while a pair of California teams with impressive showings in Las Vegas are among the four new teams to the rankings. Marin Catholic (Kentfield, Calif.), Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth, Calif.) join Mercy for their first foray into the Top 25 while Hawaii power Kamehameha Kapalama returns after a Silver bracket runner-up finish.
MaxPreps Top 25 national high school volleyball rankings
Photo by Jann Hendry
Cathedral Catholic players celebrate after winning the Durango Fall Classic finals over Mercy.
1. (Last week 12) Cathedral Catholic (San Diego), 15-3Last week: Won the Durango Fall Classic, beat Mercy 2-1 in the finals.
Highlights: Madison Endsley posted 18 kills and
Lindsey Miller added 16 in the Durango finals win over Mercy.
Teresa Atilano and
Kylie Adams combined to dish out 39 assists for the Dons while
Anna Pringle and
Kira Smith dug 25 balls. Miller was named tournament MVP and Endlsey, Smith and Adams joined the All-Tournament team.
This week: Sept. 25 at Point Loma (San Diego), Sept. 27 Patrick Henry (San Diego)
2. (9) Marymount (Los Angeles), 16-1Last week: Took third place in the stacked Durango championship bracket.
Highlights: Beat Mater Dei 2-1 in the quarterfinals, fell 2-0 to Mercy, beat Marin Catholic 25-20, 25-23 in third-place match.
Elia Rubin and
Marisse Turner were each named to the All-Tournament team.
This week: Sept. 24 vs. Redondo Union (Redondo Beach), Sept. 26 at Notre Dame (Sherman Oaks), Oct. 1 vs. Flintridge Sacred Heart (La Canada)
3. (1) Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.), 15-3Last week: Took fifth place at Durango.
Highlights: Mia Tuaniga averaged more than nine kills per match at Durango, while
Meg Brown had eight-plus kills per match and
Reagan Merk averaged five kills. Merk was an All-Tournament selection.
This week: Sept. 24 at Santa Margarita (Rancho Santa Margarita), Oct. 1 at JSerra Catholic (San Juan Capistrano)
4. (5) Byron Nelson (Trophy Club, Texas), 33-1Last week: Swept Carroll (Southlake) and V.R. Eaton (Fort Worth) 3-0.
Highlights: Paige Flickinger had 21 kills and 23 digs in the win over the Dragons, while
Giselle Santini added 20 digs and
Payton Chamberlain posted 47 assists.
This week: Sept. 24 vs. Timber Creek (Fort Worth), Sept. 27 at Fossil Ridge (Keller), Oct. 1 at Keller
5. (2) Assumption (Louisville, Ky.), 17-4Last week: Took seventh place at Durango with a 25-12, 25-15 win over Vista Murrieta. Posted 2-0 losses to Cathedral Catholic and Sierra Canyon.
Highlights: Anna DeBeer was named to the Durango All-Tournament team.
This week: Sept. 29 vs. Sacred Heart (Louisville), Sept. 30 vs. Make (Louisville)
6. (4) Flower Mound (Texas), 27-3Last week: Beat Nimitz (Irving) 3-0, beat Coppell 3-1.
Highlights: Kaylee Cox blasted 37 kills in the two wins, while
Caroline Dykes added 49 assists.
This week: Sept. 24 vs. Hebron (Carrollton), Sept. 27 vs. Lewisville, Oct. 1 at Marcus (Flower Mound)
7. (7) New Castle (Ind.), 17-1Last week: Won the "Y" Classic with 3-0 sweeps over McCutcheon and Providence in the finals.
Highlights: Mabrey Shaffmaster pounded 27 kills in the 25-23, 25-17, 25-21 win over Providence.
Laila Smith added 16 kills, while
Melani Shaffmaster dished out 27 assist in the title victory.
This week: Sept. 24 at Pendleton Heights (Pendleton), Sept. 26 at New Palestine, Sept. 28 vs. Cathedral (Indianapolis) at Lady Irish Invitational
8. (6) Green Hope (Cary, N.C.), 14-2Last week: Swept Green Level (Cary) and Hillside (Durham) 3-0.
Highlights: Sydney Dowler had 21 assists against Hillside, while
Rhea Ramkumar added 13 digs. Against Green Level, Dowler posted 23 assists.
This week: Sept. 24 vs. Riverside-Durham (Durham), Sept. 26 at Jordan (Durham), Sept. 30 at Athens Drive (Raleigh), Oct. 1 vs. Cary
9. (8) Padua Franciscan (Parma, Ohio), 13-0Last week: Swept Holy Name (Parma Heights) and Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin (Chardon) 3-0.
Highlights: Ella Mihacevich totaled 68 assists in the two wins, while
Kate Mihacevich had 13 kills vs. Notre Dame and
Samantha Ott had 14 kills vs. Holy Name.
This week: Sept. 24 vs. Walsh Jesuit (Cuyahoga Falls), Sept. 26 vs. Gilmour Academy (Gates Mills), Sept. 28 vs. St. Ursula Academy (Toledo), Oct. 1 at St. Joseph Academy (Cleveland)
10. (10) Torrey Pines (San Diego), 19-2Last week: Durango Silver bracket champions; beat O'Connor, Dr. Phillips, Centennial and Foothill, Pleasant Grove and Kamehameha Kapalama. Lost 2-1 to Vista Murrieta.
Highlights: Delaynie Maple posted 10 kills in the 25-14, 25-13 Silver Bracket finals.
Megan Kraft was named to Durango All-Tournament team.
This week: Sept. 25 vs. La Costa Canyon (Carlsbad)
11. (3) Redondo Union (Redondo Beach, Calif.), 21-3Last week: Fell 19-25, 25-17, 25-15 to Leon (Fla.) in the Durango Bronze bracket finals.
Highlights: Battled after pool play loss to James Logan to make it to Bronze bracket finals. Only losses are to James Logan, Leon and Torrey Pines.
This week: Sept. 24 at Marymount (Los Angeles)
12. (NR) Mercy (Louisville, Ky.), 12-4Last week: Fell 20-25, 25-18, 25-23 to Cathedral Catholic in Durango Fall Classic finals.
Highlights: Jaguars' setter
Elena Scott, middle blocker
Allison Holloway and outside hitter
Caitlin Carpenter earned All-Tournament honors.
This week: Sept. 24 vs. Bullitt East (Mt. Washington), Sept. 28 at Ursuline Academy (Cincinnati), Sept. 30 at Mount Notre Dame (Cincinnati)
13. (15) Papillion-LaVista (Papillion, Neb.), 20-0Last week: Monarchs downed Elkhorn South 26-24, 25-17 in LPS Classic finals.
Highlights: Norah Sis led the Monarchs with 11 kills in the finals.
This week: Sept. 24 at Gretna, Sept. 27 vs. Burke (Omaha), Sept. 27 vs. Kearney, Oct. 1 at Millard South (Omaha)
14. (NR) Kamehameha Kapalama (Honolulu), 31-3Last week: Fell 25-14, 25-13 to Torrey Pines in Durango Silver Bracket finals.
Highlights: Devin Kahahawai had 15 kills,
Keonilei Akana added 14 and
Bryanne Soares dug 20 balls and posted 40 assists in the semifinals win over Xavier College Prep.
This week: Sept. 24 vs. Punahou (Honolulu), Sept. 28 vs. Mid-Pacific Institute (Honolulu)
15. (13) Xavier College Prep (Phoenix), 18-3Last week: Took third in the Durango Silver bracket with a 25-20, 25-12 win over Pleasant Grove (Utah).
Highlights: Briana McKnight had 12 kills, while
Alexa Shiner added 21 assists against Pleasant Grove, while McKnight killed 14 and Shiner posted 30 assists in the loss to Kamehameha.
This week: Sept. 24 at Red Mountain (Mesa), Sept. 26 at Valley Vista (Surprise), Oct. 1 vs. Mesa
16. (14) Yorktown (Ind.), 17-1Last week: Lost 25-22, 25-20, 25-19 to No. 7 New Castle for first loss of season.
Highlights: Courtney Watkins had 16 kills and
Jaylynn Dunsmore added 10 in loss to New Castle.
Jenny Morey and
Ellee Stinson each had 12 digs and
Kate Vinson added 38 assists against Trojans.
This week: Sept. 25 vs. Greenfield-Central, Sept. 26 at Cathedral (Indianapolis), Sept. 28 vs. Fort Wayne Concordia Lutheran (Fort Wayne), Oct. 1 vs. New Palestine.
17. (16) The Woodlands (Texas), 33-3Last week: 3-0 sweeps over Conroe and Bridgeland (Cypress).
Highlights: Dylan Maberry posted 36 kills in the pair of wins, while
Allie Griffith had 22 digs against Bridgeland and
Clara Brower added 37 assists.
This week: Sept. 24 at Klein Collins (Spring), Sept. 27 vs. Klein Forest (Houston), Oct. 1 vs. Oak Ridge (Conroe)
18. (22) Benet Academy (Lisle, Ill.), 17-0Last week: Beat Marist 22-25, 29-27, 25-22 in the Wheaton Classic finals.
Highlights: Benet fought off match points against Marist in the second set of the finals to extend the match. Redwings libero
Hattie Monson was named Wheaton Classic MVP, while setter
Rachel Muisenga and outside hitter
Sophie Gregus earned All-Tournament nods.
This week: Sept. 24 vs. Carmel (Mundelein), Sept. 25 at Wheaton North, Sept. 30 at Lincoln-Way/Lincoln-Way East, Oct. 1 at Saint Viator (Arlington Heights)
19. (21) Cedar Falls (Iowa), 18-1Last week: Won the Waterloo West tournament with a 2-0 win over Hudson.
Highlights: Emerson Green posted 21 assists and
Kirsten Graves added 12 digs in the title-match victory.
This week: Sept. 24 at Iowa City, Sept. 28 vs. Grundy Center, Sept. 29 vs. Washington (Cedar Rapids), Oct. 1 vs. Xavier (Cedar Rapids)
20. (NR) Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth, Calif.), 26-2Last week: Beat Assumption 25-17, 25-22 in Durango Championship Bracket consolation semifinals.
Highlights: Jaylen Jordan (282) leads four Trailblazers with more than 100 kills on the season. Jordan was named to the Durango All-Tournament team.
This week: Sept. 24 at Paraclete (Lancaster), Sept. 26 vs. Viewpoint (Calabasas)
21. (24) Christian (Grand Rapids, Mich.), 19-1Last week: Won Portage Central Invitational with 2-0 win over Gull Lake.
Highlights: Jordyn Gates paced the Eagles with 20 assists and 13 digs in the title victory, while sophomore
Evelyn Doezema added 11 kills.
This week: Sept. 24 at East Grand Rapids, Sept. 26 at Wyoming, Sept. 28 at Rockford, Oct. 1 vs. Wayland
22. (17) Plano West (Plano, Texas), 25-4Last week: 3-0 sweeps over Plano and Boyd.
Highlights: Jill Pressly had 21 kills and 15 digs against Boyd, while
Iman Ndiaye added 17.
Morgan Carter had 23 digs, while
Ashley Le notched 24 assists and
Sydney Yap added 20.
This week: Sept. 24 vs. McKinney, Sept. 27 vs. Prosper, Oct. 1 at Plano East
23. (20) Ridge Point (Missouri City, Texas), 29-4Last week: 3-0 sweeps over Fort Bend Austin and Fort Bend Bush.
Highlights: Nia McCardell had 21 digs against Fort Bend Austin and 17 against Fort Bend Bush.
This week: Sept. 24 vs. Fort Bend Travis (Richmond), Sept. 26 at Fort Bend Elkins (Missouri City), Oct. 1 vs. Fort Bend Clements (Sugar Land)
24. (25) Alpharetta (Ga.), 30-2Last week: Fell 2-0 to Pace Academy in the finals of the Lovett Block Party championship.
Highlights: Evoni Lemons leads the Raiders with 277 kills on the season, while
Emily Hodsdon has 570 assists on the year.
This week: Sept. 26 vs. Blessed Trinity (Roswell), Sept. 28 vs. St. Pius X (Atlanta), Oct. 1 vs. Centennial (Roswell)
25. (NR) Marin Catholic (Kentfield, Calif.), 10-1Last week: Fell 25-20, 25-23 to No. 2 Marymount in the Durango Championship Bracket third-place game.
Highlights: Wildcats' setter
Leah LaBoy and outside hitter
Kari Geissberger were named to the Durango All-Tournament team.
This week: Sept. 25 vs. Sir Francis Drake (San Anselmo), Sept. 26 at San Marin (Novato), Sept. 27 at Terra Linda (San Rafael)
Dropped out: Ursuline Academy (Cincinnati), Marist (Chicago), Sterling (Ill.), Lovejoy (Lucas, Texas)
Next Five: Lovejoy (Lucas, Texas), Ursuline Academy (Cincinnati), 'Iolani (Honolulu), Skutt Catholic (Omaha, Neb.), Leon (Fla.)