Cathedral Catholic, however, sliced through a loaded Durango field, winning six matches without dropping a set. It was reminiscent of the 2021 title won by
Marymount (Los Angeles) and ironically Cathedral Catholic downed the reigning MaxPreps National Champions to win the Durango crown.
The Dons, just like the Sailors last season, are deep with talent as junior middle
Jenna Hanes was named tournament MVP while senior outside hitters
Julia Blyashov and
Milan Bayless were picked for the all-tournament team along with senior middle
Mia Compas. In last week's Dave Mohs tournament victory sophomore libero
Maya Evens nabbed MVP honors.
And just like last season when Marymount downed
Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.) for the Durango title, the Dons dispatched another SoCal foe. Prophetic for the Dons' state and national championship hopes?
There's a lot of volleyball still to be played, including the
GEICO Girls Volleyball Invitational on Oct. 7-8 and the brutal Southern Section and Southern California playoffs. But the Dons appear, at least now, to be deep enough and confident enough to take anyone's best shot.
Cathedral Catholic is the new No. 1 team in the MaxPreps Top 25 after taking the Durango Fall Classic title over the weekend.
Photo: Jann Hendry
1. (Last week No. 2) Cathedral Catholic (San Diego), 24-0
Recap: The Dons sliced through the pool play and a loaded championship bracket at Durango without dropping a set to earn their second title in four years (2019).
Outlook: Sept. 20 at La Jolla, Sept. 22 at Point Loma
2. (1) Marian (Bloomfield Hills, Mich.), 22-0
Recap: The Mustangs handled business in their lone match, a 3-0 win over Divine Child.
Ava Sarafa is averaging nearly 10 assists per set.
Outlook: Sept. 21 vs. Gabriel Richard, Sept. 24 vs. Lake Orion
3. (4) Fayetteville (Ark.), 19-1
Recap: The Bulldogs had the highest finish by an Arkansas team in Durango history, losing four sets all weekend. The rebound win over an impressive 'Iolani squad sealed a third-place finish for Fayetteville, which placed
Kennedy Phelan and
Brooke Rockwell on the all-tournament team.
Outlook: Sept. 20 at Har-Ber, Sept. 22 at Rogers Heritage, Sept. 26 vs. Springdale
4. (3) McCutcheon (Lafayette, Ind.), 15-1
Recap: The Mavericks keep rolling as
Chloe Chicoine hammered 22 kills and
Isabella Humphrey added 11 in a sweep of Providence.
Raegan Burns had 19 digs and
Allie Shondell tossed up 34 assists in the victory.
Outlook: Sept. 20 at Brownsburg, Sept. 22 at Logansport
5. (5) Mother McAuley (Chicago), 16-0
Recap: Ellie White had 24 kills in the Mighty Macs' two victories last week and remain one of three unbeatens in the top 10.
Tess Hayes had 27 assists in the two matches.
Outlook: Sept. 20 vs. Fenwick, Sept. 22 at Marist
6. (7) Mira Costa (Manhattan Beach, Calif.), 13-2
Recap: The Mustangs, winners of the early season Ann Kang Invitational, won twice last week including a five-set thriller over Palos Verdes.
Tanon Rosenthal had 24 kills and
Drew Wright added 20 in the victory. The losses are to Sierra Canyon and Mater Dei.
Outlook: Sept. 21 at Santa Monica
7. (8) Cornerstone Christian (San Antonio), 44-2
Recap: The Warriors are closing in on 50 wins for the season as
Nayeli Gonzalez (422 kills) and
Megan Fitch (403 kills) pace a hitting attack with five players over 100 kills.
Taylor Anderson and
Kaia Thiele have combined for more than 1,000 assists thus far.
Outlook: Sept. 20 vs. United South, Sept. 20 vs. Alexander
8. (10) Hamilton Southeastern (Fishers, Ind.), 13-1
Recap: The Royals got a pair of wins over Westfield and Sacred Heart as
Macy Hinshaw,
Lauren Harden,
Avery Hobson and
Ava Hunter set the tone. The loss was a first-match defeat to No. 4. McCutcheon.
Outlook: Sept. 22 at Zionsville, Sept. 24 vs. Pendleton Heights
9. (15) Tompkins (Katy, Texas), 25-4
Recap: The Falcons have reeled off five straight wins, including two sweeps last week.
Cindy Tchouangwa had 22 kills and 20 digs in the two victories while
Erica Dellesky tallied 28 assists.
Outlook: Sept. 20 vs. Jordan, Sept. 22 at Paetow
10. (6) Assumption (Louisville, Ky.), 20-4
Recap: The Rockets lost three times last week, but each was to a team in the MaxPreps Top 25 (Mater Dei, Marymount and Sierra Canyon).
Charlotte Moriarty was an all tournament pick at Durango in their sixth-place finish.
Outlook: Sept. 25 vs. Sacred Heart, Sept. 29 vs. Mother McAuley
11. (18) Yorktown (Ind.), 18-2
Recap: Sophomore
Charlotte Vinson pounded 16 kills in a sweep of Muncie Burris. The Tigers boast wins over Penn, New Castle, McCutcheon and Roncalli while the losses are to Brebeuf Jesuit Preparatory and Hamilton Southeastern.
Outlook: Sept. 21 at Greenfield-Central, Sept. 22 vs. Cathedral, Sept. 24 vs. Carroll, Sept. 24 vs. Fort Wayne Concordia Lutheran
12. (11) Dike-New Hartford (Dike, Iowa), 22-1
Recap: New Louisville commit
Payton Petersen continues to lead the Wolverines with 1,227 career kills. Her commitment comes on the heels of sister
Jadyn Petersen announcing her intent to play at Northern Iowa.
Outlook: Sept. 20 vs. Aplington-Parkersburg, Sept. 24 at Mount Vernon Invitational (Mount Vernon, Iowa City Liberty, Pleasant Valley)
13. (17) Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.), 16-4
Recap: The Monarchs won the Silver Bracket title after falling to Punahou in the qualifying round. Freshman hitter
Layli Ostovar landed on the all-tournament team. Mater Dei started the week with a win over Assumption with the balanced hitting attack of
Isabel Clark,
Babi Gubbins,
Liv Hertzog and Ostovar.
Outlook: Sept. 20 vs. Orange Lutheran, Sept. 22 at Santa Margarita
14. (22) Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth, Calif.), 22-3
Recap: The Trailblazers powered their way to a fifth-place Durango finish with a win over Assumption as
Olivia Babcock was named to the all-tournament team.
Outlook: Sepy. 20 vs. Alemany, Sept. 22 at Notre Dame Academy
15. (20) Oconomowoc (Wis.), 22-1
Recap: The Raccoons swept their way to a Charger Classic title with seven victories.
Cordelia Kearns leads the Oconomowoc attack with 226 kills on the season while
Lilly Wagner throws up 10.2 assists per match.
Outlook: Sept. 20 vs. Arrowhead
16. (23) Marymount (Los Angeles), 12-5
Recap: The Sailors were close to grabbing back-to-back Durango titles before running into champion Cathedral Catholic.
Torrey Stafford,
Kate Martin and
Alexa Trapani were chosen for the all-tournament team.
Outlook: Sept. 20 at Marlborough, Sept. 22 vs. Alemany
17. (24) Prestonwood Christian (Plano, Texas), 27-1
Recap: Sophomore
Macaria Spears leads three hitters over 200 kills as the Lions have two setters,
Camille Edwards and
Taylor Cook, with more than 200 assists. The lone blemish on the schedule was a tournament loss to No. 7 Cornerstone Christian.
Outlook: Sept. 20 vs. John Paul II, Sept. 22 at Trinity Christian, Sept. 26 at Ursuline Academy
18. (25) Highland Park (Dallas), 28-2
Recap: The Scots rolled past Nimitz and Lake Highland as they also celebrated coach Michael Dearman's 800th win.
Outlook: Sept. 20 at Irving, Sept. 23 vs. Berkner
19. (NR) St. James Academy (Lenexa, Kan.), 12-0
Recap: The Thunder are led by Prep Dig top-rated sophomore
Reese Messer and a trio of 2024 standouts in
Heidi Devers,
Mya Bolton and
Ava Spachek.
Outlook: Sept. 20 at Aquinas, Sept. 20 at Blue Valley North, Sept. 22 at Bonner Springs, Sept. 22 at Shawnee Mission North
20. (13) North Allegheny (Wexford, Pa.), 13-1
Recap: The Tigers keep rolling with two wins over North Hills in the past week..
Mia Tuman led the first victory with 26 assists, six digs and an ace.
Outlook: Sept. 21 at Butler, Sept. 24 at Cumberland Valley Invitational
21. (19) Wayzata (Plymouth, Minn.), 9-1
Recap: The Trojans rebounded from their first loss of the season with wins over Champlin Park and a sweep of East Ridge.
Outlook: Sept. 21 vs. St. Michael-Abertville
22. (NR) Pope (Marietta, Ga.), 28-4
Recap: The Greyhound make their first appearance in the MaxPreps Top 25 after a three-win week in which they beat Sprayberry, Buford and St. Pius X Catholic.
Sophie Harvey pounded 13 of her 313 kills on the season in the win over Buford and
Cooper Abney dished up 22 assists.
Outlook: Sept. 20 vs. Alpharetta, Sept. 22 vs. Blessed Trinity
23. (16) Buford (Ga.), 21-5
Recap: The Wolves rebounded from the loss to Pope with a sweep of St. Pius X Catholic.
Ashley Sturzoiu has 12 kills in the victory and
Polly Cummings added 24 assists.
Outlook: Sept. 20 vs. Dacula, Sept. 22 vs. Seckinger, Berkmar and Peachtree Ridge
24. (15) Byron Nelson (Trophy Club, Texas), 28-2
Recap: The Bobcats dropped a five-set match to Fossil Ridge in which sophomore
Sydnee Peterson dropped 19 kills and
Samantha Hoppes added 16.
Anna Koster and
Keatyn Rodgers combined for 52 assists.
Outlook: Sept. 20 vs. Keller, Sept. 23 at Timber Creek
25. (9) Redondo Union (Redondo Beach, Calif.), 18-6
Recap: The Sea Hawks finished strong at Durango with wins over Vista Murrietta and Archbishop Mitty after a loss to Mountain View in bracket play and a qualifying round loss to No. 3 Fayetteville. Redondo had been rolling as of late with wins over Mater Dei and Marymount prior to Durango.
Outlook: Sept. 21 vs. Palos Verde, Sept. 23 at Peninsula
On the bubble: Benet Academy (Lisle, Ill.), 15-1;
Sequoyah (Canton, Ga.), 22-2,
Alpharetta (Ga.), 23-3;
Cypress Ranch (Houston), 30-2;
Punahou (Honolulu), 10-5;
Westminster Christian (Miami), 11-0;
Nolensville (Tenn.), 29-4;
Cleveland (Tenn.), 30-3;
Aquinas (Overland Park, Kan.), 14-1;
Papillion-LaVista South (Papillion, Neb.), 17-3
