Video: Xcellent 25 National Volleyball Rankings - Oct. 6Jesuit (Portland, Ore.), with its college-sized frontline, captured the Nike Tournament of Champions last weekend in Phoenix and moved to No. 2 in this week's MaxPreps Xcellent 25 National Volleyball Rankings presented by the Army National Guard.
As a matter of fact, the Crusaders almost nudged Indianapolis Cathedral from the top spot after they defeated P.K. Yonge (Gainesville, Fla.), 25-20 and 25-16 in the final. P.K. Yonge was previously ranked No. 2.
In addition to beating P.K. Yonge, Jesuit knocked off six other teams that have a combined record of 98-36 and each was ranked among the top five in its own state. The Crusaders have lost just one set this season and have won 55 straight matches.
Jesuit's front line features 6-foot-5
Ariana Wiltjer (committed to Pennsylvania University), 6-4
Kathryn Decker (Santa Clara) and 6-3
Jasmine Gross (Pepperdine). Last year's top outside hitter, 6-1
Nicole Peterson (USF), has been nothing short of sensational since her move to setter this season.
Cathedral, meanwhile, won a pair of 3-0 duals to run its season record to 26-0 and narrowly retained its hold on the top spot.
In addition to Jesuit's four-spot move, six teams fell out of the Top 25 and two teams moved into the Top 10 for the first time this season – Dripping Springs (Texas) and Benet (Lisle, Ind.).
New to the Top 25 this week are unbeatens Morgan (Utah), Valparaiso (Ind.), Canyon Crest (San Diego) and Chatfield (Littleton, Colo.), as well as Desert Vista (Phoenix) and Notre Dame Academy (Park Hills, Ky.).
MaxPreps Xcellent 25 National Volleyball Rankings presented by the Army National Guard
Morgan Schrekler and Desert Vista have moved into the Xcellent 25.
Photo by Darin Sicurello
Cathedral recorded 3-0 wins over Carmel and Westfield and has outscored its opponents 66-7. Cathedral has lost just one set since Aug. 25.
2. (5) Jesuit (Portland, Ore.), 18-0Jesuit won the Nike TOC in Phoenix last weekend and has won 56 of 57 sets this season and 55 straight matches.
3. (3) Santa Margarita (Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif.), 26-1Santa Margarita blanked Marymount (Los Angeles), then beat JSerra Catholic (San Juan Capistrano), 3-1, to run its win streak to five.
4. (8) St. James Academy (Lenexa, Kan.), 25-1The Thunder shut out two of the state's top teams – St. Thomas Aquinas (Overland Park) and Washburn Rural - to run their win streak to 25.
5. (2) P.K. Yonge (Gainesville, Fla.), 20-1P.K. Yonge lost in finals of the Nike TOC to Jesuit (Portland, Ore.). The loss ended Yonge's 39-match win streak.
6. (7) Carroll (Southlake, Texas), 34-3Carroll has won 18 straight and lost just one set during that span.
7. (10) Gabriel Richard (Ann Arbor, Mich.), 21-0The 3A Fighting Irish have lost just one set this season.
8. (14) Dripping Springs (Texas), 37-2Dripping Springs has won 30 straight and lost just two sets over that span.
9. (16) Benet Academy (Lisle, Ill.),19-1Benet has won 15 straight.
10. (6) Winter Springs (Fla.), 14-2 Winter Springs has lost twice to P.K. Yonge this season.
11. (25) Sacred Heart (Louisville, Ky.), 27-4Sacred Heart went unbeaten to win the Asics Tournament in Chicago. Since losing to No. 3 Santa Margarita in the Durango Tournament, Sacred Heart has won nine straight with a 21-2 set advantage.
12. (17) Torrey Pines (San Diego), 11-1TPHS beat Carlsbad, 3-0.
13. (19) Carroll (Fort Wayne, Ind.), 24-1With a win over Leo, Carroll extended its win streak to 19.
14. (NR) Morgan (Utah), 22-0Jorry Randall is averaging 11.9 assists per set to lead Morgan.
15. (NR) Valparaiso (Ind.), 22-0The Vikings own a 58-6 set record this season.
16. (NR) Desert Vista (Phoenix), 23-3 Desert Vista beat Parkland to take third at the Nike TOC in Phoenix. The Thunder's only loss was to TOC champ and No. 2 Jesuit.
17. (20) Manatee (Bradenton, Fla.), 16-1Manatee has won four straight and is 10-0 in sets since a loss to No. 10 Winter Springs.
18. (23) Yorktown (Ind.), 27-1Yorktown has recorded four lopsided wins since losing to Central (Muncie).
19. (18) Novi (Mich.), 34-2Senior twins
Victoria Iacobelli and
Paulina Iacobelli have Novi rolling.
20. (NR) Chatfield (Littleton, Colo.), 12-0The unbeaten team has no seniors.
21. (21) Edmond North (Okla.), 26-1The Huskies open regional tournament play on Thursday.
22. (24) Buford (Ga.), 33-0The Wolves open Area 8-AAAA District Tournament play on Tuesday having won 69 of 73 sets this season.
23. (NR) Canyon Crest Academy (San Diego), 14-0A showdown looms with San Diego rival No. 12 Torrey Pines on Oct. 20.
24. (9) Parkland (Allentown, Pa.), 20-2Parkland had its 45-match win streak end with a fourth-place finish at the Nike TOC in Phoenix.
25. (NR) Notre Dame Academy (Park Hills, Ky.), 22-4Notre Dame has won 12 of its last 13 and finished as the runner-up to state rival Sacred Heart in the Asics final last weekend in Chicago.
Dropped Out: Immaculate Heart Academy (N.J.), St. Ursula Academy (Ohio), Xavier College Prep (Ariz.), Dorman (S.C.), Redondo Union (Calif.), Assumption (Ky.).
