Video: Xcellent 25 Volleyball Rankings presented by the Army National Guard
Breaking down the movement in this week's ranking.
Opening the season with three impressive wins, Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.) has moved atop the MaxPreps Xcellent 25 National Volleyball Rankings presented by the Army National Guard.
Mater Dei's victories include a 3-0 sweep of No. 12 Archbishop Mitty (San Jose, Calif.).
Fayetteville (Ark.) moved up one spot to No. 2 by defeating a pair of highly-regarded opponents, including Tulsa's Bishop Kelley (Oklahoma's defending 6A State champion).
Walton (Ga.) has opened with 16-straight wins and jumped from No. 8 to No. 3.
Assumption (Louisville, Ky.) is the lone Top 10 team with a loss at 9-1. But the Rockets swept the field Saturday to win the Avon Classic and own early-season wins over previously-ranked No. 1 Sacred Heart (3-0) and Indiana powers Carmel and Crown Point.
Oak Ridge (Conroe, Tex.), 29-0 and owner of three tournament titles this season, rounds out the Top 5.
There are five new teams in the rankings this week. Read on to see who made the cut.
MaxPreps Xcellent 25 National Volleyball Rankings presented by the Army National Guard
Mater Dei's Shannon Scully helped the Monarchs to the top spot in the Xcellent 25.
Photo by Ming Chung Lin
Led by
Shannon Scully (4.9 kills per set),
Siena Secrist (eight aces) and
Taylor Cope (1.4 blocks per set), the Monarchs opened the season impressively with wins over Sage Hill (Newport Beach, Calif.), 3-0, No. 12 Archbishop Mitty (San Jose, Calif.), 3-0, and Menlo Atherton (Atherton, Calif.), 3-1.
2. (3) Fayetteville (Ark.), 4-0The Bulldogs blanked state rival Bentonville (3-0) and edged Oklahoma's reigning 6A State champion Bishop Kelley (Tulsa, Okla.), 3-2.
3. (8) Walton (Marietta, Ga.), 16-0The Raiders have won 33 in a row over two seasons and have lost just three sets during their streak. In 16 matches this season, senior
Dalaney Hans (Miami commit) is serving 95 percent with 31 aces in 34 sets and has 362 assists for a 10.6 average.
4. (5) Assumption (Louisville, Ky.), 9-1In addition to winning the Avon Classic, the Rockets knocked off Louisville rival Sacred Heart (last week's No. 1), 3-0. Their only loss this season is 3-1 to No. 23 Indianapolis Cathedral.
5. (14) Oak Ridge (Conroe, Texas), 29-0The War Eagles have won the Nike KFC title, Magnolia Volleybattle and most recently the Under Armour Clear Creek Tournament. Junior
Carly Graham was named the CCISD MVP and teammates
Raigen Cianciulli and
Molly Russell were named to the All-Tournament Team.
6. (9) Hamilton (Chandler, Ariz.), 2-0The Huskies opened the season by blanking previously-ranked Gilbert (Ariz.), then easily handled Red Mountain (Mesa, Ariz.).
7. (7) Pleasant Grove (Utah), 3-0The Vikings opened the season with a trio of wins without losing a set. Next up: Thursday hosting 5-0 American Fork (Utah).
8. (12) Baylor (Chattanooga, Tenn.), 17-0 The Red Raiders, who started the season ranked No. 33, have outscored their foes 33-1. They have two wins over previously-ranked Brentwood (Tenn.).
9. (10) Bishop Moore (Orlando, Fla.), 2-0The Hornets have opened the season with ease, outscoring their foes, 6-0 (150-75).
10. (16) Yorktown (Ind.), 10-0The Tigers don't have a six-footer on the roster, but they have won 26 of 28 sets. Up next: 10-2 Hamilton Southeastern (Fishers, Ind.).
11. (15) Blue Valley West (Stilwell, Kan.), 3-0 The reigning state large school champions have yet to lose a set and are averaging 13.5 kills per set.
12. (11) Archbishop Mitty (San Jose, Calif.), 5-1The defending 2A state champs lost to No. 1 Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.), 3-0, but have five quality wins.
13. (17) Geneva (Ill.), 5-0Geneva blanked a trio of strong teams last week and has yet to lose a set.
14. (13) Torrey Pines (San Diego, Calif.), 0-0The Falcons open the season on Thursday hosting Cathedral Catholic (San Diego, Calif.).
15. (NR) Marian Central Catholic (Woodstock, Ill.), 9-0In going 5-0 to win the Jacobs Invitational, the Hurricanes ran their win streak to 17.
16. (NR) Flintridge Sacred Heart (La Canada-Flintridge, Calif.), 3-0Kayla Lund and
Ellis DeJardin are combing for 9.6 kills per set as the Tologs open 3-0, including wins over Rancho Cucamonga (Calif.) and previously ranked Santa Margarita (Manhattan Beach, Calif.).
17. (NR) Dakota (Macomb, Mich.), 11-0The Cougars own two tournament titles this season and have lost just one set while winning 24.
18. (19) Boyd (McKinney, Texas), 23-4With wins over a pair of Frisco teams – Wakeland and Independence – Boyd ran its win streak to eight.
19. (NR) Lake Catholic (Mentor, Ohio), 5-0Led by 6-2 middle
Lauren Witte (Ohio State commit), the Cougars own convincing wins over previously unbeaten Ohio powers Saint Ursula Academy (Toledo) and Mount Notre Dame (Cincinnati).
20. (20) Redondo Union (Calif.), 0-0The state's defending D1 champions open the season Thursday hosting Bishop Montgomery (Torrance, Calif.).
21. (22) Divine Savior Holy Angels (Milwaukee, Wis.), 8-1DSHA needed five sets to beat a strong Menomonee Falls (Wis.) team to run its win streak to eight.
22. (1) Sacred Heart (Louisville, Ky.), 4-1 Previously ranked No. 1, Sacred Heart bounced back from a 3-0 loss to crosstown rival Assumption to blank Seneca (Louisville, Ken.).
23. (18) Cathedral (Indianapolis, Ind.), 9-2The Fighting Irish lost, 2-1 (25-22, 25-19, 15-10), to 12-2 Providence in the finals of the Providence Invitational.
24. (24) Eagan (Minn.), 2-0The Wildcats opened the season by sweeping Southwest Christian (Chaska, Minn.) and Tartan (Oakdale, Minn.).
25. (NR) Northville (Mich.), 7-0Led by 5-11 senior outside hitter
Emily Martin, the Mustangs recorded impressive wins over Mercy and Clarkston to open the season unbeaten.
Dropped out this week: Lovejoy (Tex.),
Gilbert (Ariz.),
Shawnee Heights (Kan.),
Santa Margarita (Calif.),
Mira Costa (Calif.).
