In most cases, the playoffs are a win-or-go home proposition. It adds to the heightened sensation of postseason play, making victories that much sweeter and losses equally as heartbreaking. It also has the power to shuffle the MaxPreps Top 25 high school volleyball rankings in a hurry.
Indiana is an example of that as
Hamilton Southeastern (Fishers), a team which had hovered in the lower half of the top 10 most of the season, rose up to down former No. 3
McCutcheon (Lafayette) in the Class 4A regional championship. The Royals' victory moved them up three spots to No. 4 while McCutcheon, which opened the season with a win over Hamilton Southeastern and ended with defeat to their foil, dropped to No. 15. The Mavericks' standout outside hitter
Chloe Chicoine was spectacular in the four-set loss, pounding 31 kills, but the depth of the Royals —
Avery Hobson,
Lauren Harden,
Lindsey Mangelson and
Breonna Goss — all finished with double-digit kills to fuel the victory.
But the win over McCutcheon wasn't the last MaxPreps Top 25 battle Hamilton Southeastern might face on the road to a title as a state final date with No. 5
Yorktown looms should each get past the semifinals. Stay tuned.
In California's Southern Section Division I Open Division bracket, the top four seeds —
Mira Costa (Manhattan Beach),
Marymount (Los Angeles),
Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth) and
Mater Dei (Santa Ana) — all reside in the MaxPreps Top 25, and all but Mater Dei straight-setted their first pool play opponent last week. Action resumes this week with Saturday showdowns on the horizon between Mira Costa and Mater Dei as well as Sierra Canyon and reigning MaxPreps National Champion Marymount.
Brooklyn Deleye of Washburn Rural leads the Blues into Kansas 6A postseason action this week. (Photo: A.J. Hildreth)
Recap: The Dons closed out the regular season without dropping a set. They should roll through the San Diego Section Open Division before jumping into the Southern California Open Division field.
Outlook: Oct. 27 vs. Del Norte
2. (2) Cornerstone Christian (San Antonio), 55-2
Recap: Nayeli Gonzalez continued her amazing senior season with 15 kills in a sweep of Incarnate Word. The Iowa State commit has 573 on the season.
Outlook: TBA
3. (4) Mira Costa (Manhattan Beach, Calif.), 34-3
Recap: The Mustangs swept Lakewood in the opening match of Southern Section Open Division pool play.
Drew Wright led the team with 11 kills as
Charlie Fuerbringer added 31 assists.
Outlook: Oct. 25 vs. Palos Verdes, Oct. 29 vs. Mater Dei
4. (7) Hamilton Southeastern (Fishers, Ind.), 32-1
Recap: The Royals jump three after a four-set win over then-No. 3 McCutcheon in the Class 4A regional championship.
Sophie Ledbetter dug 23 balls, while
Macy Hinshaw and
Ava Hunter combined for 47 assists. They are on a course to meet No. 5 Yorktown in the final Nov. 5.
Outlook: Oct. 29 vs. Lake Central
5. (9) Yorktown (Ind.), 33-2
Recap: The Tigers downed formerly-ranked Brebeuf along with Brownsburg to set up their semi-state match with Floyd Central. Sophomore
Charlotte Vinson had 19 kills and
Emilee Hill added 13 and 21 assists in the win over Brebeuf.
Outlook: Oct. 29 vs. Floyd Central
6. (5) Fayetteville (Ark.), 33-2
Recap: The Bulldogs finished the regular season with a sweep of Rogers Heritage where
Brooke Rockwell had 14 kills and
Kennedy Phelan added 27 assists as they locked up the 6A top seed.
Outlook: Oct. 26 vs. Jonesboro-Bentonville West winner
7. (6) Marian (Bloomfield Hills, Mich.), 41-1
Recap: The Mustangs ran through five opponents in the East vs. West Challenge to top 40 wins on the year. They face Mercy in the CHSL Bishop championship on Tuesday.
Outlook: Oct. 25 vs. Mercy, Nov. 2 vs. Groves MHSAA District semifinals
8. (8) Tompkins (Katy, Texas), 35-3
Recap: Cindy Tchouangwa hammered 21 kills in a sweep of Jordan while
Brooklynn Merrell added 16 digs and
Erica Dellesky and
Presley Powell combined for 29 assists
Outlook: Oct. 25 vs. Paetow
9. (10) Marymount (Los Angeles), 30-6
Recap: The Sailors swept Huntington Beach in the opening match of Southern Section Open Division pool play as
Torrey Stafford had 19 kills and
Kate Martin added 11.
Dior Charles had five blocks and
Lauren Brooker passed out 30 assists.
Outlook: Oct. 25 vs. Newport Harbor, Oct. 29 vs. Sierra Canyon
10. (11) Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth, Calif.), 30-4
Recap: Outside hitter
Olivia Babcock led the way for the Trailblazers in the opening match of Southern Section Open Division pool play with 12 kills in a sweep of Newport Harbor. Way added nine kills,
Jaida Tausa'afia Sione had eight and
Danica Rach chipped in seven.
Sade Ilawole posted 31 assists.
Outlook: Oct. 25 vs. Huntington Beach, Oct. 29 vs. Marymount
11. (12) Oconomowoc (Wis.), 35-1
Recap: Five players posted at least five kills in a sweep of Neenah as
Lilly Wagner found hitters for 29 assists.
Outlook: Oct. 28 vs. Watertown
12. (13) Prestonwood Christian (Plano, Texas), 34-1
Recap: Macaria Spears continued her dominant season with 20 kills on 28 attempts in a win over Parish Episcopal as Livings added 10. Sophomore
Taylor Cook had 22 assists and junior
Camille Edwards added 15 in the Parish Episcopal win.
Outlook: Oct. 25 vs. Ursuline Academy, Oct. 27 vs. Liberty Christian
13. (14) Highland Park (Dallas), 38-2
Recap: The Scots earned a pair of sweeps last week over Berkner and Richardson as the regular season winds down.
Outlook: Oct. 25 vs. MacArthur
14. (15) Buford (Ga.), 35-5
Recap: The Wolves earned a pair of playoff wins in the AAAAAAA bracket, beating Cherokee behind 20 kills from
Ashley Sturzoiu and 12 from freshman
Clara Briley as
Polly Cummings posted 32 assists. In the sweep of Duluth,
Sydney Austin had 16 kills and Sturzoiu added 10 while Cummings had 27 assists. A win over East Coweta creates a semifinal meeting with On the bubble squad North Gwinnett.
Outlook: Oct. 25 vs. East Coweta
15. (3) McCutcheon (Lafayette, Ind.), 33-2
Recap: The Mavericks bookended their season with and win and loss to Hamilton Southeastern. They won their season opener to the Royals and then fell Saturday in four sets to end the reigning 4A champion's season.
Chloe Chicoine had 31 kills and finishes her McCutcheon career with 2,013 while
Allie Shondell had 45 assists and passed the 3,000 career assist mark in her junior year.
Outlook: Season complete
16. (16) Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.), 25-7
Recap: Isabel Clark had 14 kills in a four-set win over Palos Verdes in the opening pool play match in the Southern Section Division I playoffs.
Amelie Lima and
Mikayla Delgadillo combined for 31 assists.
Outlook: Oct. 25 vs. Lakewood, Oct. 29 vs. Mira Costa
17. (17) 'Iolani (Honolulu), 22-5
Recap: The Raiders head into the Division I postseason as the No. 1 seed, three wins from the title.
Outlook: Oct. 26 vs. Hilo-Kapolei winner
18. (18) Mother McAuley (Chicago), 23-2
Recap: The Mighty Macs took the Girls Catholic Athletic Conference title as
Gigi Navarrete was named the Conference Player of the Year.
Outlook: TBD
19. (19) Assumption (Louisville, Ky.), 30-7
Recap: The Rockets handed Male a 3-0 loss to win the 26th District title as
Chloe Smith and
Bailey Blair each had nine kills. On Monday, they dispatched Presentation in straight sets in the 7th Region tournament.
Outlook: Oct. 25 vs. Christian Academy-Seneca winner
20. (20) Cypress Ranch (Houston, Texas), 40-2
Recap: Bianna Muoneke had 31 kills in sweeps over Langham Creek and Cypress Lakes. Freshman
Zora Bello had 21 assists vs. Langham and 20 against Cypress Lakes.
Outlook: Oct. 25 vs. Cypress Falls, Oct. 28 vs. Fulshear
21. (21) Saint Francis (Mountain View, Calif.), 27-0
Recap: Taylor Williams and
Erin Curtis continue to fuel the offense. Saint Francis ends the regular season with Archbishop Mitty before entering the postseason.
Outlook: Oct. 26 vs. Archbishop Mitty
22. (22) Plano West (Plano, Texas), 29-2
Recap: The Wolves wrap up regular season play before entering the always-competitive Class 6A postseason bracket. Last year, they reached the regional semifinals and have posted non-COVID year win totals of 31, 40, 40 and 30 since 2017.
Outlook: Oct. 25 vs. Flower Mound, Nov. 4 vs. Pearce
23. (23) Washburn Rural (Topeka, Kan.), 39-1
Recap: The Blues took sub-state with a 2-0 win over Manhattan and enter the 6A state playoffs as the top seed.
Outlook: Oct. 28 6A pool play vs. Blue Valley West, Blue Valley and Liberal.
24. (25) Pope (Marietta, Ga.), 42-5
Recap: The Greyhounds got 3-0 wins over Gainesville and Etowah to reach the AAAAAA quarterfinals.
Outlook: Oct. 26 vs. Houston County
25. (NR) Westminster Christian (Miami), 23-0
Recap: The Warriors begin the 3A bracket after winning the District 15 title by beating Ransom Everglades. Westminster's signature win was over Cornerstone Christian in the Nike TOC Southeast final.
Outlook: Oct. 25 vs. NSU University
On the bubble: Cleveland (Tenn.), 49-5;
Dike-New Hartford (Dike, Iowa), 41-2;
Aquinas (Overland Park, Kan.), 35-3;
North Gwinnett (Suwanee, Ga.), 41-1;
Immaculate Heart Academy (Washington Township, N.J.), 25-1;
Benet Academy (Lisle, Ill.), 30-4;
Pace Academy (Atlanta), 39-1;
Sequoyah (Canton, Ga.), 35-3;
St. Thomas More (Lafayette, La.), 32-0;
Jesuit (Portland, Ore.), 29-0
