Video: Xcellent 25 Girls Volleyball Rankings Presented By The Army National Guard MaxPreps host Myckena Gurrero breaks down this week's volleyball elite.
This week's MaxPreps Xcellent Top 25 National High School Volleyball Rankings sponsored by the Army National Guard show the same three teams remain Nos. 1-3. What the rankings don't show is just how close the top three are — any of the three can make a loud claim to being atop the rankings.
Walton (Marietta, Ga.), Assumption (Louisville, Ky.) and Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.) have been ranked in that order since last month's Preseason Top 50.
All are unbeaten and combined for 44 wins and no losses. They've collectively won 67 in a row and combined have lost just seven sets this season. Walton has yet to lose a set, but Assumption and Mater Dei arguably have had tougher schedules.
In a battle of powers last week, Assumption beat No. 25 Mercy to win the battle of Kentucky elite and Mater Dei defeated No. 6 Redondo Union (Redondo Beach) in a showdown of southern California powerhouses.
Four other unbeaten teams lost last week and disappeared from the Top 25, including Lewis-Palmer (Monument, Colo.).
Honolulu's Kamehameha moved up to No. 4 after winning its showdown with island rival and previously unbeaten 'Iolani.
Teurlings Catholic (Lafayette, La.) made the biggest jump climbing from No. 23 to No. 11. The Rebels have 66 in a row.
Cedar Falls (Iowa), the state's defending large school champion, joined the Top 25 this week and has a two-year win streak of 26. Also new to the Top 25 this week are unbeatens Marin Catholic (Kentfield, Calif.), Sterling (Ill.) and Waunakee (Wis.).
Look for a major shakeup in the Top 25 next week as tournaments steal the spotlight this weekend, including the Durango Classic and Berkeley Premiere tournament and the Battle of the Beach. It's highly unlikely the top three, let alone Top 10 and Top 25, will resemble this week's rankings.
MaxPreps Xcellent 25 National High School Volleyball Rankings sponsored by the Army National Guard
Mak Washington, Leon
File photo by Darin Sicurello
The Raiders have won 20 in a row and have yet to lose a set. Walton last lost to an in-state team in 2014.
2. (2) Assumption (Louisville, Ky.), 17-0 Over the weekend, the Rockets won their third tournament of the season, sweeping five opponents — including No. 25 Mercy (Louisville) — to win the Louisville Invitational. And in the process of sweeping five teams, the Rockets ran their two-year win streak to 33.
3. (3) Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.), 14-0The Monarchs beat No. 6 Redondo Union (Redondo Beach), 3-1, then blanked St. Theresa's Academy (Kansas City, Mo.) 3-0. Santa Ana averages 14.3 kills per set and got 31from
Natalie Berty (Stanford recruit) in the Redondo win.
4. (9) Kamehameha Kapalama (Honolulu), 20-0In addition to handing Honolulu rival 'Iolani its first loss of the season (25-22, 20-25 and 25-19), the defending state champion Warriors won their second tournament of the season to run their two-year win streak to 25.
5. (5) Yorktown (Ind.), 14-0The Tigers have yet to lose a set this season. Last week, they handed Mt. Vernon (Fortville) its first loss in 11 matches and also blanked 10-4 Hamilton Southeastern (Fishers).
6. (4) Redondo Union (Redondo Beach, Calif.), 10-1The Seahawks lost 3-1 to No. 3 Mater Dei, but bounced back by defeating St. Theresa's (Kansas City, Mo.), 3-1.
7. (7) Mt. Carmel (New Orleans), 8-0Averaging 5.4 blocks per set, the Cubs ran their win streak to 18. The Cubs handed Archbishop Chapelle (Metarie) its first loss in 13 matches.
8. (8) Venice (Fla.), 6-0The Indians have lost just one set in winning their first six matches. They face 7-0 and highly ranked Leon (Tallahassee) on Thursday.
9. (12) Marist (Chicago), 10-0Opening with 10-straight wins, the Redhawks have run their two-year win streak to 42.
10. (11) Xavier College Prep (Phoenix), 3-0The Gators opened their season by running their win streak to 13. Senior setter
Shannon Shields has Xavier College Prep running on all cylinders.
11. (23) Teurlings Catholic (Lafayette, La.), 9-0The Rebels have yet to lose a set this season while running their three-year win streak to 66.
12. (16) Torrey Pines (San Diego), 7-1 The Falcons have won six straight since losing to No. 3 Mater Dei.
13. (15) Byron Nelson (Trophy Club, Texas), 26-1The Bobcats rebounded from its lone loss of the season (3-0 to 24-8 Southlake-Carroll) to drub Ryan (Denton), 3-0, and limiting Ryan to only 22 kills in three sets. Sophomore
Charitie Luper, a 5-8 leaper, is averaging five kills per set.
14. (10) 'Iolani (Honolulu), 11-1The Raiders are averaging 12.8 kills and 16.3 digs per set, but lost to crosstown rival and No. 4 Kamehameha 2-1.
15. (17) Ursuline Academy (Cincinnati), 7-0Despite losing their first set of the season, the Lions defeated Springboro (Ind.) 3-1 to run their win streak to 18. After losing the first set, Ursuline outscored the Panthers, 25-9, 25-9, 25-15 as junior
Emma Gielas had 17 kills and
Julia Wilkins served five aces.
16. (19) Wando (Mt. Pleasant, S.C.), 18-0Sarah Missroon (Appalachian State commit) has 30 blocks and 118 kills with a .419 hitting percentage.
17. (20) Blue Valley North (Overland Park, Kan.), 10-0The Mustangs are dominating with 6-3 setter
Kennedy Feuerborn (Baylor commit) averaging 10 assists per set. They won five matches without dropping a set to win the Olathe South Invite.
18. (18) Helias (Jefferson City, Mo.), 12-0 The Crusaders have won 24 of 26 sets.
19. (NR) Marin Catholic (Kentfield, Calif.), 11-0Setter
Leah Pease (Valparaiso commit), libero
Georgia Fusco (Loyola Marymount sand commit), and front-row players
Kari Geissberger (Loyola Marymount pledge) and
Olivia Cooper have Marin off to a perfect start.
20. (24) Millard North (Omaha, Neb.), 13-0 Senior
Emma Altman averages 5.3 digs per set.
21. (NR) Cedar Falls (Iowa), 14-0Led by 6-4 middle
Alayna Yates, the Tigers have handed Ankenny Centennial (Ankenny) and Dike-Hartford (Dike) their only losses this season. The Tigers have won 26 straight over two years.
22. (NR) Sterling (Ill.), 15-0The Borums - senior
Josilyn Borum (Chicago State commit) and sophomores
Bree Borum and
Brooklyn Borum — have the Warriors roaring upwards. They are 30-1 in sets. Libero
Lexi Rodriguez is a verbal to Nebraska and the Golden Warriors have won 34 of their last 35 matches.
23. (25) Leon (Tallahassee, Fla.), 8-0With
Mak Washington averaging 4.5 kills per set, the Lions are the only team to beat 10-1 Chiles (Tallahassee) and 5-1 Oviedo.
24. (NR) Waunakee (Wis.), 18-0Led by junior
Milla Malik (Buffalo commit) and senior
Sarah Malone, the Warriors have won three tournament titles this season and lost just a pair of sets.
25. (21) Mercy (Louisville, Ky.), 14-3The Jaguars lost to No. 2 Assumption twice this week — early in the week, 3-2, and again in the finals of the Louisville Invitational, 2-0.
Dropped out: Lewis-Palmer (Monument, Colo.), Mount Notre Dame (Cincinnati), Lake Orion (Mich.), North Branch (Mich.).
