The Archbishop Mitty Monarchs were able to go wire-to-wire as the No. 1 team in the country in the MaxPreps Xcellent 25 volleyball rankings, due mainly to an outstanding senior class that included five players that earned AVCA All-American honors.
Whether or not the Monarchs remain at the top of the national rankings next year remains to be seen. While few key players return next year, the program has been one of the best in the state of California for the better part of two decades, and that doesn’t figure to end under the watch of coach Bret Almazan-Cezar.
So which teams figure to start next season as the best in the country? While it may be a bit too early to tell, a look at the top returning players and the top graduating players from each team on this extended version of the Xcellent 50 Volleyball Rankings shows that teams from Kentucky, Florida, Georgia and California will most likely be in the mix.
Assumption of Louisville, which was upset in the district finals this year and did not advance to the state tournament, could be the team to beat. The Rockets return four all-state players from this year’s squad. Meanwhile in Tampa, Fla., Berkeley Prep has four all-county players back from a team that won the 3A state championship.
In California, a Division IV school, La Jolla Country Day, could be the team to beat. The Torreys return seven players that earned all-section honors during a state championship season. In Georgia, Pope returns all but one starter from a team that won the AAAAA state championship.
Following is a final look at the MaxPreps Xcellent 50 Volleyball Rankings for the 2009 season, along with the top graduating players from each team (losses) and the top returning players (returns). 
Shannon Fleming, Archbishop Mitty
File photo by Dirk Dewachter
MaxPreps Xcellent 25 Volleyball Rankings
1. Archbishop Mitty (San Jose, Calif.), 39-0
Finish: California Division II champions. Losses: Rachel Williams, Gatorade Player of the Year, AVCA All-American; MaxPreps All-American; Kristina Graven, AVCA All-American; MaxPreps All-American; Joan Caloiaro, AVCA All-American Honorable Mention; Shannon Fleming, AVCA All-American Honorable Mention; Ryan Shaffer, AVCA All-American Honorable Mention. Returns: Ronni Lewis, Libero, 326 digs.
2. Ursuline Academy (Cincinnati, Ohio), 29-0
Finish: Ohio Division I state champions. Losses: Dani Reinert, Gatorade Player of the Year, AVCA All-American, All-State; MaxPreps All-American; Jade Henderson, AVCA All-American Honorable Mention, All-State. Returns: Kori Moster, All-State Second Team; Christina Beer, Cincinnati Enquirer All-Stars Honorable Mention.
3. Shakopee (Minn.), 32-0
Finish: Minnesota AAA state champions. Losses: Ashley Wittman, National Gatorade Player of the Year, AVCA All-American; MaxPreps All-American; Mollie Geske, All-State; Elizabeth Benusa, All-League; Jean Theis, All-League. Returns: Claire Sames, All-League Honorable Mention; Megan Westlund, All-League Honorable Mention.
4. Muncie Burris (Muncie, Ind.), 40-0
Finish: Indiana 2A state champions. Losses: Taylor Unroe, Gatorade Player of the Year, AVCA All-American; MaxPreps All-American; Allyson Morey, All-State. Returns: Taylor Morey, All-State; Chelsea Toth, All-State. 
Morgan Broekhuis, Colorado Springs Christian
File photo by Ray Chen
5. Colorado Springs Christian (Colorado Springs, Colo.), 30-0
Finish: Colorado 3A state champions. Losses: Morgan Broekhuis, Gatorade Player of the Year, AVCA All-American; MaxPreps All-American; Brianne Vande Griend, AVCA All-American Honorable Mention, All-State; Hannah Walker, All-State; Heather Poll, All-State Second Team. Returns: Lauren Santarelli, All-State Honorable Mention; Stephanie Schlis, All-State Honorable Mention.
6. Amarillo (Texas), 48-3
Finish: Texas 5A state champions. Losses: Eden Williams, AVCA All-American, All-State, MaxPreps All-American; Micah Nolan, All-State; Sheridan Burgess, All-District MVP; Danielle Barker, All-District; Neely Borger, All-District; Caitlin Wallace, All-District. Returns: Hollie Hawkins, 91 kills; Michelle Russell, 85 kills; Sarah Erhart, 67 kills.
7. Catholic Academy (Joliet, Ill.), 41-1
Finish: Illinois 3A state champions. Losses: Annemarie Hickey, Gatorade Player of the Year; MaxPreps All-American; Stephanie Keca, All-State Honorable Mention; Jennifer Murphy, All-State Honorable Mention; Alyssa Warren, All-State Honorable Mention. Returns: Lainey Wyman, All-Conference.
8. Plant (Tampa, Fla.), 29-1
Finish: Florida 6A state champions. Losses: Maddie Martin, Gatorade Player of the Year, AVCA All-American; MaxPreps All-American; Ali McCurdy, AVCA All-American; MaxPreps All-American; Becca Howard, AVCA All-American Honorable Mention; Leah Jordan, All-Hillsborough County Second Team; Katie Daorai, All-Hillsborough County Honorable Mention. Returns: Alex Johnson, All-Hillsborough County.
9. Martin County (Stuart, Fla.), 31-1
Finish: Florida 5A state champions. Losses: Elise Walch, AVCA All-American; MaxPreps All-American. Returns: Nicole Walch, 351 kills; Molly O’Neil, 162 kills; Mallori Moffat, 576 assists, 105 kills.
10. Newport Harbor (Newport Beach, Calif.), 32-6
Finish:California Division I champion. Losses: Kirby Burnham, All-CIF; Katey Thompson, All-CIF; Kelly Heenan, All-League. Returns: Cinnamon Sary, All-League; Maddy Brown, All-League Honorable Mention. 
Carly Wopat (2) and Paige Craine (6), Dos Pueblos
File photo by Marc Liberts
11. Dos Pueblos (Goleta, Calif.), 32-3
Finish: Southern California runner-up. Losses: Samantha Wopat, MaxPreps All-American, All-CIF; Carly Wopat, MaxPreps All-American, CIF MVP; Sammie Brown, All-CIF Second Team. Returns: Jordan Roberts, Taylor Racich.
12. Berkeley Prep (Tampa, Fla.), 29-3
Finish: Florida 3A state champions. Losses: Lindsey Young, AVCA All-American Honorable Mention, All-Hillsborough County; Chelsea Parker, All-Hillsborough County Honorable Mention. Returns: Jordan Burgess, All-Hillsborough County; Mackenzie Dagostino, All-Hillsborough County; Natasha Rowland, All-Hillsborough County Second Team; Ginny Willis, All-Hillsborough County Honorable Mention.
13. JH Rose (Greenville, N.C.), 26-0-2
Finish: North Carolina 4A state champions. Losses: Emily Neideffer (221 kills), Pammy Craigle (361 assists), Emily Mannie (317 assists). Returns: Caroline Douglas (287 kills).
14. Marian (Omaha, Neb.), 42-1
Finish: Nebraska A state champions. Losses: Julianne Mandolfo, All-State; Ellie Pesavento, All-State Third Team; Melanie McCormick, All-Metro Conference Second Team. Returns: Lauren Sieckmann, Gatorade Player of the Year; Andrea Spaustat, All-Metro Conference Second Team.
15. Randall (Amarillo, Texas), 42-1
Finish: Texas 4A state champions. Losses: Ashley Davis, All-State; Aubree Piper, All-State; Raegan Shelton, All-Amarillo Super Team. Returns: Tori Jobe, All-Amarillo Super Team.
16 Cardinal Gibbons (Raleigh, N.C.), 25-1
Finish: North Carolina 3A state champions. Losses: Avery Striebel, AVCA All-American; Christina Dorismond, 230 kills. Returns: Madison Bugg, Gatorade Player of the Year; Carolyn Albright, 136 kills; Victoria Phillips, 652 assists; Mandie Kramer, 311 digs.
17. Huntsville (Ala.), 61-2
Finish: Alabama 6A state champions. Losses: Chelsea Wintzinger, Gatorade Player of the Year; MaxPreps All-American; Anna McRae, All-State. Returns: Jessica Lewis, 6A All-Tournament Team; Lindsey Wintzinger, 6A All-Tournament Team.
18. Pope (Marietta, Ga.), 52-2
Finish: Georgia AAAAA state champions. Losses: Hannah Farmer, All-State. Returns: Mary Hoey, Gatorade Player of the Year, All-State; Danielle Thompson, MaxPreps All-American; State MVP; Mary Hannah Arrington, All-State.
19. Marian (Bloomfield Hills, Mich.), 77-2
Finish: Michigan Class A state champions. Losses: Rachel Charles, Gatorade Player of the Year, AVCA All-American Honorable Mention; Alexandra Cocklin, AVCA All-American Honorable Mention, State MVP; Erin Cooney, All-State. Returns: Allessandra Dietz, All-State Second Team; Alexandra Lovell, All-State Third Team.
20. Mercy (Louisville, Ky.), 32-6
Finish: Kentucky state champion. Losses: Madison Hardy, KVCA All-State; Caitlin Welch, KVCA All-State. Returns: Jewell Dobson, KVCA All-State Honorable Mention.
21. Cheyenne Mountain (Colorado Springs, Colo.), 31-0
Finish: Colorado 4A state champions. Losses: Kendall Gaffney, State 4A Player of the Year; Natasha Ray, All-State; Kayla Johnson, All-State Honorable Mention. Returns: Janae Vander Ploeg, 168 kills.
22. Bishop Miege (Shawnee Mission, Kan.), 40-4
Finish: 5A state champions. Losses: Laura Skaggs, All-State Second Team. Returns: Grace Whitley, All-State; Shelby Workman, All-State.
23. Brebeuf Jesuit Prep (Indianapolis), 34-1
Finish: Indiana 3A state champions. Losses: Lauren Rafdal, All-State; Cali Estes, All-State. Returns: Sloane White, All-State; Natalie Wichern, All-State; Jeme Obeime, All-State.
24. Dobyns-Bennett (Kingsport, Tenn.), 51-3
Finish: Tennessee 3A state champions. Losses: Megan Devine, Gatorade Player of the Year, TSWA All-State. Returns: Meredith Hardy, TSWA All-State; Jamie Rutledge, TSWA All-State.
25. Central Catholic (Portland, Ore.), 41-1
Finish: Oregon 6A state champions. Losses: Ali Skayhan, All-State; Allison Farley, All-State Honorable Mention. Returns: Martenne Bettendorf, All-State Second Team.
26. Assumption (Louisville, Ky.), 34-5
Finish: Eliminated in District finals. Losses: Lindsey Roth, Captain; Lexi Krall, Captain. Returns: Jeni Houser, KVCA All-State; Courtney Robinson, KVCA All-State Second Team; Jackie Napper, KVCA All-State; Claire Gerwig, KVCA All-State Honorable Mention.
27. Yorktown (Ind.), 37-2
Finish: Indiana 3A runner-up. Losses: Bailey Barker, AVCA All-American Honorable Mention, All-State; Emily MacIntyre, AVCA All-American Honorable Mention, All-State; Laura Avila, All-State. Returns: Jill Hopper, All-State.
28. Coffman (Dublin, Ohio), 29-1
Finish: Ohio Division I runner-up. Losses: Andrea Baylin, AVCA All-American Honorable Mention, All-State; Alex Blair, All-State Second Team. Returns: Lindsey Zitzke, All-State Second Team.
29. Muncie Central (Muncie, Ind.), 35-4
Finish: Indiana 4A champion. Losses: Alyssa Sorrell, Abbie Allardt. Returns: Jamie Drummer, All-State; Marquita Marshall, All-State; Christina LeBlanc (1,057 assists).
30. Westlake (Austin, Texas), 39-7
Finish: Texas 5A runner-up. Losses: Sara Shaw, Gatorade Player of the Year, AVCA All-American, State Player of the Year; Returns: Tessa Hunt, All-District; Avery Edwards, All-District Second Team; Ella Praisner, All-District Second Team; Kenzie Hume, All-District Second Team.
31. O’Connor (Helotes, Texas), 40-4
Finish: Lost in Regional Final. Losses: Kaelen Valdez, All-State; Lauren Bohlen, All-District; Sarah Cardenas, All-District; Beth Soukop, All-District; Stacie Murrah, All-District Second Team; Meaghan Patterson, All-District Second Team. Returns: Dominique Gonzalez, All-State.
32. Reagan (San Antonio, Texas), 44-2
Finish: Lost in Regional Quarterfinal. Losses: Preslie Alexander, All-State; Kacy Griffin, All-District; Kayci Evans, All-District; Rachel James, All-District; Lindsay Hill, All-District; Joanna Heep, All-District Second Team; Erin Brown, All-District Second Team. Returns: Kayla Keller, All-State.
33. Jesuit (Portland, Ore.), 29-2
Finish: Oregon 6A runner-up. Losses: Ali Grauert, All-State; Hayley Feest, All-State. Returns: Elizabeth Brenner, Gatorade Player of the Year.
34. Redlands East Valley (Redlands, Calif.), 37-4
Finish: California Division II runner-up. Losses: Johnna Fouch, All-CIF Returns: Krista Vansant, All-CIF MVP; Alyssa Mason, All-CIF Second Team.
35. Wakefield (Raleigh, N.C.), 25-1
Finish: Lost in North Carolina 4A East semifinals. Losses: Kathleen Slay, AVCA All-American; MaxPreps All-American; Elizabeth Campbell, All-Conference; Cally Pfeiffer, All-Conference; Catherine Coston, All-Conference Honorable Mention; Grace Cho, All-Conference Honorable Mention. Returns: Kylie Sicking, All-Conference Honorable Mention.
36. Ozark (Mo.), 34-3-3
Finish: Missouri Division 4 champion. Losses: Sydney Potts, All-State; Taylor Jordan, All-Region Second Team. Returns: Jade Hayes, Gatorade Player of the Year; Meghan Stacy, All-Region Honorable Mention.
37. Blue Springs (Mo.), 31-5-1
Finish: Missouri Division 4 runner-up. Losses: Lisa Henning, AVCA All-American; MaxPreps All-American; Kirsten Erikson, All-State. Returns: Kieley Culbertson, All-State Second Team; Taryn Miller, All-District Second Team; Emily Bragaw, All-District Second Team.
38. Aquinas (Overland Park, Kan.), 34-5
Finish: Kansas 5A runner-up. Losses: Margaret Clark, All-State; Kelsey Sullivan, All-State; Meghan Baska, All-State Honorable Mention. Returns: Lauren Ford, All-State Second Team.
39. Ankeny (Iowa), 37-1
Finish: Iowa 4A champion. Losses: Amber Aschoff, All-State; Iwa Bellisario, All-State; Lindsay Petersen, All-State Second Team; Rheanna Egli, All-State Third Team. Returns: Erin Roggenburg, 211 kills; Maddie Manning, 128 kills; Taylor Goetz, 353 assists.
40. Los Alamitos (Calif.) 30-9
Finish: Lost in Southern Section Finals. Losses: Emily Hartong, All-CIF Second Team; Christina Harris, All-County Honorable Mention. Returns: Jane Croson, All-CIF; Halli Amaro, All-County Second Team.
41. Mira Costa (Manhattan Beach, Calif.), 26-8
Finish: Lost in Southern Section semifinals. Losses: Falyn Fonoimoana, MaxPreps All-American, All-CIF; Sheridan Taylor, All-Daily Breeze; Alyssa Anderson, All-Daily Breeze. Returns: Emma White, All-Daily Breeze.
42. St. Francis (Wheaton, Ill.), 34-3
Finish: Lost to Catholic Academy at Sectionals. Losses: Kelsey Robinson, All-State; Kristen Kelsay, All-State Honorable Mention; Gab Zito, All-West Chicago Honorable Mention; Cassie Rio, All-West Chicago Honorable Mention. Returns: Meg Vonderhaar, All-West Chicago; Gina Madonia, All-West Chicago Honorable Mention.
43. St. Joseph's Academy (Baton Rouge, La.) 43-1
Finish: Louisiana Division I champion. Losses: Cori Martone, District MVP; Ashley Legendre, All-District; Caroline May, All-District; Morgan Adams, District Defensive Player of the Year.
44. Ursuline Academy (Wilmington, Del.) 17-1
Finish: Delaware state champion. Losses: Maria Henley, Gaotorade State Player of the Year. Courtney Seitz, All-State Second Team. Returns: Rachel Wiechecki, All-State Second Team.
45. Merion Mercy Academy (Merion Station, Pa.), 38-4-2
Finish: Pennsylvania AA champion. Losses: Katrina Pisch, All-State. Returns: Shelby Manthorpe, State Tournament MVP, All-State; Stacy Manthorpe, All-State.
46. Eden (N.Y.), 35-1
Finish: New York Class B champion. Losses: Stacey Smith, All-State; Hanna Herc, All-State; Katie Eschner, All-State; Hailee Herc, All-State Second Team. Returns: Heather Feldman, All-State.
47. Sacred Heart (Louisville, Ky.), 32-12
Finish: Kentucky runner-up. Losses: Kelsey Dunaway, KVCA All-State; Emily Juhl, KVCA All-State; Catlin Dotson, KVCA All-State Second Team. Returns: Monica McGreal, MB.
48. Ravenwood (Brentwood, Tenn.), 49-3
Finish: Tennessee AAA runner-up. Losses: Meredith Richardson, All-MidState, TSWA All-State; Stephanie Cerino, All-MidState Second Team. Returns: Madelyn Hutson, All-MidState Player of the Year, TSWA All-State; Alyssa Ivey, All-MidState, TSWA All-State; Micaela Bailey, All-MidState Second Team.
49. La Jolla Country Day (La Jolla, Calif.), 38-1
Finish: California Division IV champion. Losses: Cheyenne Giesecke, All-San Diego Section; Jessie Altman, All-San Diego Section. Returns: Lauren Birks, All-San Diego Section; Mollie Rogers, All-San Diego Section; Chloe Mathis, All-San Diego Section; Maya Hood, All-San Diego Section; Kendall Peterkin, All-San Diego Section; Kelsey Plum, All-San Diego Section; Gillian Howard, All-San Diego Section.
50. New Bedford (Mass.) 23-0
Finish: Massachusetts AAA champion. Losses: Kiana Raposo, Standard Times Super Team. Returns: Maura Manley, All-Scholastic, Standard Times Player of the Year; Cheyenne Howard, Standard Times Super Team; Kristina Thompson, Standard Times Super Team; Nicole Peixoto, Standard Times Super Team; Haley Sullivan, Standard Times Super Team Honorable Mention.
