Lovejoy is back in the Xcellent 25 as it marches through the Texas playoffs.
Photo by Neil Fonville
There was no movement among the top seven teams in this week's MaxPreps Xcellent 25 National Volleyball Rankings presented by the Army National Guard, as Bishop Moore (Orlando, Fla.) remained No. 1 for the seventh-straight week.
Bishop Moore continued its quest for a Florida 4A title by sweeping its regional opponents, Archbishop Mitty (San Jose, Calif.) dominated its only foe last week, and No. 3 Lafayette (Wildwood, Mo.) finished its season a week ago with another state title and a perfect 40-0 season in which it won all 80 games.
Papillion-LaVista South (Papillion, Neb.), the defending MaxPreps mythical national champion, won its third-straight state title and finished with a third-straight 42-win season. The Titans lost only to No. 5 Assumption (Louisville, Ky.) on Sept. 26 (2-1).
Doherty (Colorado Springs, Colo.) finished its season unbeaten on Saturday when it won Colorado's 5A state title. And Lakeville North (Minn.) won Minnesota's 3A title and finished the season at 33-1.
View volleyball playoff brackets from across the nationAfter that, the rest of the rankings (Nos. 8-25) changed noticeably with five teams not ranked a week ago making headlines. Lovejoy (Lucas, Texas) moved into No. 15 and once-beaten Newton North (Newtonville, Mass.), which was ranked No. 23, were in the Top 25 earlier this season.
Lovejoy (46-4) hasn't lost since August and has won 25 straight.
Centennial (Endicott, Md.), Bishop Kelly (Tulsa, Okla.) and Cardinal Gibbons (Raleigh, N.C.) moved into the Top 25 for the first time this season. Bishop Kelly and Cardinal Gibbons recently captured state championships and Centennial has moved into the semifinals of Maryland's volleyballfest.
MaxPreps Xcellent 25 National Volleyball Rankings presented by the Army National Guard1. (1 last week) Bishop Moore (Orlando, Fla.), 30-0Bishop Moore wrapped up a regional title with 3-0 wins over Lake Highland Prep (19-6) and Alachua (Santa Fe) and advances to the Florida 4A semifinals where the Hornets will face Ransom Everglades (28-2) on Friday.
2. (2) Archbishop Mitty (San Jose, Calif.), 32-0The Monarchs opened playoffs in impressive fashion against Cupertino (27-10), outscoring the Pioneers 75-32. On Wednesday in the Central Coast Section semifinals, Mitty meets 20-10 St. Francis (Mountain View).
3. (3) Lafayette (Wildwood, Mo.), 40-0 State champion. Season over.
4. (4) Papillion-LaVista South (Papillion, Neb.), 42-1The Titans won their 27th-straight match on Saturday with a 3-0 win over 38-5 Marian (Omaha) and in the process captured their third-straight state title. The Titans, who have won 126 of their last 127 matches, won 66 of their final 67 games. The state title match victory also marked the third-straight year Papio finished with 42 wins. In the title match, Papio was led by its Nebraska-bound trio of
Kadie Rolfzen (17 kills),
Amber Rolfzen (nine kills) and
Kelly Hunter (32 assists).
5. (5) Assumption (Louisville, Ky.), 41-2
Doherty won it all in Colorado.
Photo by Matt Daniels
State champion. Season over. The Rockets'
Taylor Paulson was named Kentucky Player of Year.
6. (6) Doherty (Colorado Springs, Colo.), 29-0 Led by 6-foot-4 senior
Haleigh Washington (14 kills) , the Spartans captured Colorado's 5A state title with a sweep of 22-7 Grandview (Aurora). Doherty lost only eight of 88 games this season - four in 3-2 wins over Highland Ranch and Cherry Creek at the state tournament.
7. (7) Lakeville North (Minn.), 33-1 With junior
Alyssa Goehner dominating play that included 39 kills, the Panthers defeated 28-6 Eden Prairie (3-1) to capture the state's 3A title Saturday night. It was a rematch of the 2011 state finals in which Eden Prairie won (3-2). Joining Goehner on the All-Tournament Team were teammates
Samanntha Flattum and setter
Erica Handley. The only blemish on Lakeville's 2012 record was an early-season forfeit. They ended the season with a streak of 20 match victories.
8. (9) Punahou (Honolulu), 18-1State champion. Season over.
9. (11) Redondo Union (Redondo Beach, Calif.), 35-3The Sea Hawks ran their win streak to 29 with playoff wins over Newport Harbor (Newport Beach) and Dana Hills (Dana Point). Next up will be 28-6 Corona Del Mar in the Southern Section Division I semifinals.
10. (12) Horizon (Scottsdale, Ariz.), 43-3Led by
Nikki Hess,
Tess Clark and
Sierra Nobley, Horizon defeated Xavier (Phoenix) 3-1 (25-21, 25-23, 22-25, 25-20) to win the Division 1 state title. It was Horizon's third state title in four years. Horizon won 26 of its final 27 matches and outscored its opponents 109-14 in 2012.
11. (15) Coppell (Texas), 46-3The Cowgirls defeated Arlington and Colleyville Heritage to win their 5A regional and return to the 5A state tournament to begin Thursday. Setter
Kylie Pickrell had 38 assists in the 3-0 win over Heritage.
12. (13) Ardrey Kell (Charlotte, N.C.), 32-1State champion. Season over.
13. (16) Benet Academy (Lisle, Ill.), 40-2Behind the play of
Cara Mattaliano,
Brittany Pavich and
Hannah Kaminsky, the Redwings defeated 39-2 New Trier (Winnetka) 2-1 (25-21, 22-25, 25-17) to win the 4A Illinois state title.
Marymount is moving through the SouthernSection in California.
Photo by Jann Hendry
Marymount beat San Marcos (Santa Barbara) and Orange Lutheran (Orange) to advance to the semifinals against 27-4 Tesoro (Rancho Santa Margarita) on Tuesday.
15. (NR) Lovejoy (Lucas, Texas), 46-4The Leopards defeated Red Oak, Frisco Centennial and Frisco to win the regional title and move into the state semifinal match against Cedar Park on Thursday. They will go for their fifth-straight title. The Leopards last lost on Aug. 31 and have won 25 straight since. Three of their losses have come against No. 11 Coppell.
16. (23) Burlington (Wis.), 44-2State champion. Season over.
17. (19) St. James Academy (Lenexa, Kan.), 40-4State champion. Season over.
18. (21) St. Francis (Sacramento, Calif.), 33-2The Troubadours beat Tokay (Lodi) and Rodriquez (Fairfield) to keep advancing and will face 31-8 Bella Vista (Fair Oaks) Tuesday in the Sac-Joaquin Section semifinals.
19. (NR) Centennial (Ellicott City, Md.), 17-0The Eagles defeated Reservoir, Atholton and rival Howard to move into the state semifinals on Wednesday against 14-2 La Plata.
20. (22) Torrey Pines (San Diego), 27-4 Torrey Pines beat San Diego and Carlsbad to advance to Wednesday's San Diego Section semifinals against Scripps Ranch (San Diego).
21. (NR) Bishop Kelley (Tulsa, Okla.), 34-3The Comets defeated Edmond Memorial (13-25, 25-12, 26-28, 25-20, 15-12) to win the 6A state championship. All three losses in 2012 were to teams that combined for a 105-12 won-loss record.
22. (25) Venice (Fla.), 29-3 Winners of 14 straight, the Indians defeated Martin County (Stuart) and Steinbrenner (Lutz) to move into the Florida 7A semifinals against 27-5 Buchholz (Gainesville) on Tuesday.
23 (NR) Newton North (Newtonville, Mass.), 22-1The Tigers blanked Needham, North Quincy and King Phillip Regional to move into the state Division 1 semifinals. Going into its Tuesday match against unbeaten Andover (22-0), Newton has won 15-straight matches.
24. (24) Bayside Academy (Daphne, Ala.), 65-2State champion. Season over.
25 (NR) Cardinal Gibbons (Raleigh, N.C.), 21-3Behind middle blocker
Haleigh Nelson, Cardinal Gibbons won its fourth-consecutive North Carolina state 3A volleyball championship. Nelson, who will continue her career at the University of Wisconsin, was named the championship match Most Valuable Player.
