The 2010 volleyball season in Indiana ended last week just as it has ended for the past 14 seasons - with Muncie Burris holding the state championship trophy.
The Owls, under first-year coach Thanh Harnish, extended an amazing win streak that extends back to 1997. Muncie Burris has also won 95 consecutive league matches during that span, including last week's 3-0 win over Fairfield in the 2A state championship.
The Owls also finished the season undefeated for the second year in a row at 39-0 and have won 87 matches over the past two and a half seasons. The Owls also stand in line to move into the No. 1 spot in the MaxPreps Xcellent 25 National Volleyball Ranknigs, presented by Army National Guard, should current No. 1 Papillion-LaVista South falter in the Nebraska Class A playoffs this week.
The Xcellent 25 rankings will have some extra company this week as we extend the rankings to 50 teams in order to recognize some of the state champions that have been crowned in recent weeks along with other possible contenders for state titles in the ensuing weeks.
Click here to view MaxPreps' volleyball playoff brackets.Following is a look at this week's MaxPreps Xcellent 25 Volleyball National Rankings, presented by the Army National Guard, with an extra 25 teams:
MAXPREPS XCELLENT 25 VOLLEYBALL NATIONAL RANKINGS1. (1) Papillion-LaVista South (Papillion, Neb.), 38-0
The Titans remained undefeated with 3-0 wins over Kearney (Neb.) and Omaha Northwest (Neb.) in the A-1 District tournament last week. Papillion-LaVista South heads to the state tournament this week seeking to become just the second undefeated champion in Nebraska Class A history, according to Omaha.com.
2. (2) Muncie Burris (Muncie, Ind.), 39-0
The Owls won their 14th straight state tournament with a 25-12, 25-12, 25-11 win over Fairfield in the Class 2A state tournament. The championship was the 22nd title in school history, but the first under first-year head coach Thanh Harnish.
Taylor Morey had 15 kills to lead the way.
3. (3) Ursuline Academy (Cincinnati), 27-0
The Lions began the Ohio Division I state tournament with a 3-0 win over Cincinnati Mother of Mercy and then topped West Chester Lakota West 3-1 on Saturday to advance to the semifinals. Ursuline Academy faces Dublin Coffman, the team it defeated in last year's state championship, in Friday's semifinal matchup.
Christina Beer had eight kills in the win over Mother of Mercy.
4. (4) Cary-Grove (Cary, Ill.), 40-0
The Trojans won the Barrington Super-Section with a 25-22, 25-17 win over Stevenson (Lincolnshire, Ill.). Cary-Grove also knocked off Hononegah (Rockton, Ill.) 2-0 in the semifinals and DeKalb 2-0 on Tuesday. The Trojans face Edwardsville in the Class 4A state semifinals this week.
Kelly Lamberti had 11 kills in the final against Stevenson while
Colleen Smith added 29 assists.
5. (5) Pope (Marietta, Ga.), 54-1
Georgia Class 4A state champions. Season over.
6. (6) St. James Academy (Lenexa, Kan.), 44-1
Kansas Class 4A state champions. Season over.
7. (7) Harvard-Westlake (North Hollywood, Calif.), 22-2
The Wolverines rebounded from a loss to Presentation (San Jose, Calif.) to defeat Flintridge Sacred Heart (La Canada-Flintridge, Calif.) and Alemany (Mission Hills, Calif.) by 3-0 scores and finish Mission League play undefeated. The Wolverines open the first round of the Southern Section 1AA playoffs against Agoura.
8. (8) Assumption (Louisville, Ky.), 39-4
Kentucky state champion. Season over.
9. (10) King (Corpus Christi, Texas), 42-3
The Mustangs opened bi-district play in the Texas Class 5A state playoffs with a 3-0 win over Warren (San Antonio) and a 3-2 victory over Churchill (San Antonio).
Dempsey Thornton had 16 kills and
Esther Longoria had 39 assists against Warren. Thornton added 20 kills and
Sarah Guzman had 15 against Churchill with Longoria notching 45 assists.
10. (11) La Costa Canyon (Carlsbad, Calif.), 29-2
Karlee Fuller had 11 kills to lead the Mavericks to a 3-1 win over Carlsbad (Calif.) and an undefeated 8-0 season in the Avocado West League. La Costa Canyon begins the postseason against Otay Ranch (Chula Vista, Calif.) on Wednesday.
11. (12) Bishop Miege (Shawnee Mission, Kan.), 38-4
Kansas 5A state champions. Season over.
12. (13) Mercy (Louisville, Ky.), 35-6
Kentucky state runner-up. Season over.
13. (14) Berkeley Prep (Tampa, Fla.), 25-2
The Buccaneers blanked McKeel Academy of Technology (Lakeland, Fla.) 3-0 behind
Corey Salzer's nine kills. Berkeley Prep advances to the regional semifinals where it will take on Clearwater Central Catholic, a team it defeated 3-0 for the district championship.
14. (15) Long Beach Poly (Calif.), 32-2
The Jackrabbits completed Moore League play undefeated with a 3-0 win over Millikan (Long Beach, Calif.). Long Beach Poly, ranked No. 2 in the Southern Section coaches poll behind Harvard-Westlake, begins postseason play this week with a first round bye. The Jackrabbits play the winner of the Santa Barbara/Peninsula match in the second round.
15. (16) Lovejoy (Lucas, Texas), 41-3
The Leopards defeated Lake Travis (Austin, Texas) 3-0 in a warm-up match and then topped Celina 3-0 in the Class 3A area tournament to advance to the Region 2 quarterfinal against Argyle.
15. (19) Westlake (Austin, Texas), 42-2
The Chaparrals advanced to the Region 2 quarterfinals with a 3-0 win over Kingwood (Texas). Westlake began postseason play with a 3-1 win over Pflugerville (Texas) with
Paige Caridi smashing 17 kills and
Cailin Bula adding 11 in the win.
16. (22) La Jolla Country Day (Calif.), 26-3
The Torreys finished undefeated in the Coast South League with 3-0 wins over Tri-City Christian (Vista, Calif.) and Santa Fe Christian (Solana Beach, Calif.).
Gillian Howard had 10 kills against Tri-City Christian while
Mollie Rogers had 12 in the win over Santa Fe Christian.
Kristen Harris, Apex
Photo by Ron McCann
The Cougars upended defending state champion Rose (Greenville, N.C.) 3-2 in the finals of the North Carolina 4A East Regional finals to advance to the 4A state championship, where they defeated Providence (Charlotte, N.C.) 3-0 for the school's first state title.
Kristen Harris led the team with 14 kills in the finals and was named the tournament MVP.
18. (25) Lakeville North (Minn.), 27-1
The Panthers won two matches last week, defeating Apple Valley 3-0 and Bloomington Jefferson 3-2 to capture the Section 3 tournament. Lakeville North will play East Ridge in the first round of the Minnesota Class 3A state playoffs this week.
19. (17) Pearce (Richardson, Texas), 42-4
The Mustangs dropped a warm-up match to Plano West 3-0 last week before winning their next two matches with 3-0 sweeps over Creekview (Carrollton, Texas) and Hillcrest (Dallas). Pearce advances to the region quarterfinals. Against Creekview,
Katie O'Brien finished with 11 kills and 11 digs.
20. (18) Lake Travis (Austin, Texas), 44-3
The Cavaliers rebounded from a 3-0 loss to Lovejoy (Lucas, Texas) in a warm-up match to defeat Reagan (Austin, Texas) and Uvalde (Texas) and advance to the region quarterfinals.
Katy Beals had 24 assists against Uvalde while
Sierra Patrick had 12 kills. Patrick also led the team against Reagan with 10 kills, while Beals added 23 assists.
21. (NR) Klein Oak (Spring, Texas), 38-2
The Panthers handed Cy-Woods its second loss of the season in a warm-up match last week. Klein Oak also won its Class 5A state playoff opener with a 3-0 win over Humble Atascocita. The Panthers then downed Georgetown 3-2 with
Bridget Benditz making 23 kills. Klein Oak faces Westlake this week in the regional quarterfinals.
22. (20) Cy-Woods (Cypress, Texas), 42-2
The Wildcats lost their second game of the season with a 3-2 loss to Klein Oak (Spring, Texas) in a warm-up match to the Class 5A state playoffs. Cy-Woods bounced back with two straight wins, defeating MacArthur (Houston), 3-0 behind
Sarah Nielsen's 12 kills and Westside (Houston) 3-0. The Wildcats advance to the Region 3 quarterfinal against Seven Lakes (Katy, Texas).
23. (9) Rose (Greenville, N.C.), 24-1
The Rampants lost their first match in two years, falling 3-2 to Apex (N.C.) in the North Carolina 4A East Regional final. Rose was undefeated (with two ties) in winning last year's 4A state title.
Caroline Douglas had 22 kills in the loss.
24. (NR) Lyons (LaGrange, Ill.), 39-1
The Lions advanced to the Class 4A state semifinals by knocking off the team that handed them their only loss of the season. Lyons topped Marist (Chicago) 2-0 in the Lansing Super-Sectional after getting past St. Ignatius College Prep (Chicago) in the semifinals by a 2-0 count. Lyons takes on York (Elmhurst, Ill.) in a Class 4A semifinal Friday.
25. (NR) Dublin Coffman (Dublin, Ohio), 26-1
Last year's Division I runner-up in Ohio, Dublin Coffman has reached the state semifinals again this year after defeating Bishop Watterson (Columbus, Ohio), and Mount Notre Dame (Cincinnati) by 3-1 scores. The Shamrocks face Ursuline Academy in a semifinal matchup this week. Ursuline Academy is the only team to defeat Dublin Coffman the past two seasons.
26. Presentation (San Jose, Calif.), 31-4
Lost to St. Francis in the West Catholic Athletic League tournament finals. No. 1 seed in Central Coast Section Division 2 playoffs.
27. Cardinal Gibbons (Raleigh, N.C.), 21-2
North Carolina 3A state champions. Season over.
28. Marcus (Flower Mound, Texas), 39-5
Only losses are to Pearce (twice), Lovejoy, King and Hebron. Also has wins over Hebron, Reagan and Lovejoy.
29. Marist (Chicago), 37-2
Lost to Lyons in the Illinois Class 4A Lansing Super Sectional. Season over.
30. Reagan (San Antonio), 51-4
Losses to Marcus, Lovejoy, Grapevine and Lake Travis.
31. Edmond Memorial (Okla.), 32-3
Oklahoma Class 6A state champion. Season over.
32. St. Joseph's Academy (St. Louis, Mo.), 31-7-2
Missouri Division 4 state champion. Season over.
33. St. Francis (Mountain View, Calif.), 28-5
Has two wins over Presentation (and three losses to Panthers). Won the West Catholic Athletic League Tournament.
34. Eaglecrest (Centennial, Colo.), 23-0
No. 1 seed for Colorado 5A state playoffs.
35. Bishop Moore (Orlando, Fla.), 24-4
Reached the second round of the Florida 3A state playoffs. Has a win over Huntsville.
36. Huntsville (Ala.), 48-5
Alabama Class 6A state champion. Season over.
37. Mater Dei (Breese, Ill.), 34-1
Reached the Class 3A semifinals in Illinois. Only loss is to St. Joseph's Academy.
38. Penn (Mishawaka, Ind.), 39-1
Indiana Class 4A state champion. Season over. Only loss is to Muncie Burris.
39. Los Alamitos (Calif.), 28-5
Ranked No. 3 in the Southern Section in California behind Harvard-Westlake and Long Beach Poly.
40. Wayzata (Plymouth, Minn.), 28-2
Only two losses this year are to Lakeville North.
41. Marian (Omaha, Neb.), 34-6
Defending Nebraska Class A state champions have four losses to Papillion-LaVista South.
42. Redondo Union (Redondo Beach, Calif.), 24-7-1
Losses to Harvard-Westlake, Assumption, La Costa Canyon, Presentation and Long Beach Poly. Ranked No. 4 in Southern Section Division 1 rankings.
43. Merion Mercy Academy (Merion Station, Pa.), 31-0
Top seed in Pennsylvania Class AA state playoffs.
44. Central Catholic (Portland, Ore.), 26-4
All four losses came at Durango Classic to Gilbert (Ariz.), Assumption, Long Beach Poly and Los Alamitos.
45. Chaparral (Parker, Colo.), 24-1
No. 2 seed in Colorado Class 5A state playoffs.
46. Walton (Marietta, Ga.), 42-7
Georgia AAAAA state champion. Season over.
47. Ravenwood (Brentwood, Tenn.), 49-8
Tennessee Class AAA state champion. Season over.
48. Punahou (Honolulu), 20-2
Hawaii Division I state champion. Season over.
49. Carroll (Southlake, Texas)
Advanced to Class 5A regional quarterfinals. Losses to Lovejoy, Pearce, Hebron.
50. Jesuit (Portland, Ore.), 35-3
All three losses are to Central Catholic.
