No. 4 Palo Alto and No. 22 Marymount met in the California state title match last season. Both are contenders to get back this season.
File photo by Daryl Chan
Like Archbishop Mitty (San Jose, Calif.) did a week earlier, Lafayette (Wildwood, Mo.) leapfrogged its way from being unranked to No. 9 in the MaxPreps Xcellent 25 National Volleyball Rankings presented by the Army National Guard.
The Lancers entered the Missouri-Kansas Challenge last weekend at 4-0 and exited 10-0 with the tournament gold and four players were named first-team All-Tournament.
Papillion LaVista-South (Papillion, Neb.) remained atop the poll by virtue of its 6-0 start and now 88-game winning streak.
No. 2 Assumption (Louisville, Ky.) held firmly onto its spot with wins over four teams with a combined 50-14 won-loss record. Assumption, 16-0 this season, has won 43 in a row.
Bishop Moore (Orlando, Fla.) won twice to improve to 3-0 and moved into the No. 3 spot with wins over Boone and Berkeley Prep.
With 3-0 wins over Ben Davis and Brebeuf Jesuit Prep (Indianapolis), Carmel (Ind.) jumped from No. 16 to No. 9. The Greyhounds have won 30 of their last 31 matches.
Following its first loss in two years, Chaparral (Parker, Colo.) dropped out of the Top 10 to No. 13. Led by
Kristin Conor,
Highlands Ranch (Colo.) (6-1) dominated the Wolverines in their Sept. 1 sweep that ended Chap's 56-game win streak. HR's only loss is to unbeaten and unranked Cherokee Trail (Aurora), which is 6-0.
With Chaparral losing its No. 3 ranking, Bishop Moore (Orlando, Fla.), Palo Alto (Calif.), Punahou (Honolulu), Archbishop Mitty (San Jose, Calif.) and Torrey Pines (San Diego) all moved up a notch in the Top 10.
Many high school volleyball eyes will shift to Las Vegas this weekend, as four teams in the Top 25 are entered in the 48-team Durango Tournament, including defending champion No. 2 Assumption (Louisville, Ky.). In addition, No. 7 Torrey Pines (San Diego), No. 12 Los Alamitos (Calif.) and No. 22 Marymount (Los Angeles) are also entered.
MaxPreps Xcellent 25 National Volleyball Rankings presented by the Army National Guard1. (Last week 1) Papillion-LaVista South (Papillion, Neb.), 6-0The Titans, who host Omaha Westside Tuesday, are 12-1 in games this season against teams that have a 23-22 record.
2. (2) Assumption (Louisville, Ky.), 14-0Assumption moved to 14-0 with wins over previously ranked No. 9 Mercy (14-2), Sacred Heart, Dupont Manual and Notre Dame Academy (12-3). The Rockets head to Las Vegas in defense of their 2011 Durango Invitational title.
3. (4) Bishop Moore (Orlando, Fla.), 3-0Bishop Moore is off to a 3-0 start with recent wins over perennial Florida powers Boone (3-2) and Berkeley Prep (3-2). A busy week with duels against Lake Mary (5-1), Lake Highland prep (2-1), Edge Water (2-2) and Coombs Academy awaits.
4. (5) Palo Alto (Calif.), 2-0The Vikings opened their season with 3-0 wins over Notre Dame and Leland to run their win streak to 23 straight dating to last year's season-ending 21-match win streak. The Vikings are 78-4 since the start of the 2010 season that ended 41-1 and with the program's first state crown. Palo Alto hosts Castilleja Tuesday.
5. (6) Punahou (Honolulu), 12-0Punahou defeated Maryknoll (2-0) and Iolani (2-1) and takes a 27-match winning streak into Tuesday's test with Mid-Pacific Institute.
6. (7) Archbishop Mitty (San Jose, Calif.), 6-0Mitty breezed by Lincoln (Stockton) 3-0, winning 25-14, 25-10 and 25-11 last week, and takes on Westmont (Campbell) Tuesday. Mitty hosts a 16-team invitational Friday and Saturday, featuring unbeaten St. Francis (Sacramento) at 11-0.
7. (8) Torrey Pines (San Diego), 0-0The Falcons open their season Wednesday against Fallbrook, then travel to Vegas for the Durango Tournament. Plagued by injuries in 2011 (29-12), the Falcons open this season healthy.
8. (NR) Lafayette (Wildwood, Mo.), 10-0Led by All-Tournament players
Stephanie Campbell,
Melanie Crow,
Maggie Scott and
Lily Johnson, Lafayette swept through the Missouri/Kansas Volleyball Challenge with a 6-0 mark and didn't lose a game in winning the title. Lafayette was 33-5 in winning the state D-4 title in 2011.
Coppell continues to play at a high levelworthy of national attention.
Photo by Neil Fonville
Carmel has won all 30 games to improve to 12-0 in matches this season. The Greyhounds host 12-2 Lawrence North Tuesday.
10. (9) Coppell (Texas), 20-2Last week, Coppell beat Plano West and Lake Highland. The Cowgirls host McKinney (9-7) and Boyd of McKinney (14-7) on Tuesday.
11. (11) Barnstable (Hyannis, Mass.), 0-0The Red Raiders have won 13 of the last 15 state titles in their classification and are coming off an unbeaten season (23-0). Barnstable meets Falmouth (0-1) Tuesday and visits Brockton (2-1) Wednesday.
12. (12) Los Alamitos (Calif.), 7-0 The Griffins ran their unbeaten streak to seven with 3-1 wins over Palos Verdes, Lakewood and LaSalle, plus 3-0 sweeps of Silverado and Chaminade. They host Woodrow Wilson Tuesday, then are off to Vegas for the Durango Invitational Thursday.
13. (3) Chaparral (Parker, Colo.), 6-1Since having its 56-game winning streak snapped by Highlands Ranch (3-0), Chaparral has defeated Regis Jesuit (3-2), Arapahoe (3-1) and Fossil Ridge 3-0. Grandview (Aurora) comes to Parker Tuesday.
14. (14) Benet Academy (Lisle, Ill.), 8-0Benet defeated Neuqua 2-0 and will play in the Wheaton Classic Friday and Saturday.
15. (15) Mount Notre Dame (Cincinnati), 7-0 MND blanked Sycamore, Mercy and Butler to improve to 7-0. The Cougars take on Ursuline Academy, St. Ursula (Cincinnati), Walsh Jesuit and Magnificent this week.
16. (13) Bishop Miege (Shawnee Mission, Kan.), 7-1The Stags defeated Olathe 3-0 in dual match play, then went 3-1 in the Missouri-Kansas Challenge, losing to Blue Springs. Bishop Miege hosts Blue Valley Northwest Tuesday.
17. (17) St. Ursula Academy (Toledo, Ohio), 7-0With a win over Bishop Hartley, the team improved to 63-2 since the start of the 2010 season. SUA travels to Findlay Thursday.
18. (18) Penn (Mishawaka, Ind.), 10-0The Kingsmen improved to 10-0 with 3-0 sweep over Adams (South Bend). Penn hosts Marian Tuesday.
19. (20) Xavier College Prep (Phoenix), 7-0The Gators dominated the Westwood Tournament of Champions going 6-0 and beating Gilbert 2-0 in final.
20. (24) Venice (Fla.) 8-0Venice defeated previously unbeaten Martin County and St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale). Venice plays at Fort Myers Tuesday.
21. (21) Reagan (San Antonio), 27-2Reagan beat New Braunfels 3-1 to run its win streak to 12. The Rattlers host Lee Wednesday.
22. (22) Marymount (Los Angeles), 1-0Marymount opened with an impressive 3-0 sweep of Corona Del Mar. The Sailors host Mira Costa Tuesday then head to Vegas for the Durango event.
23. (23) Yorktown (Ind.), 12-1Yorktown is 12-1 after winning four straight following its lone loss of season. The Tigers are at Muncie Southside Tuesday.
24. (19) Whitewater (Fayetteville, Ga.), 23-1The 5A Hounds ran their record to 23-0 before losing to Woodward in the championship game of the Lovett Block Party. The Hounds host Forest Park Tuesday.
25. (25) Cheyenne Mountain (Colorado Springs, Colo.), 6-1Since losing its opener to Chaparral and seeing its 50-plus match winning streak snapped, Cheyenne has won six straight matches and has yet to have a close game, having outscored its opponents by 95 points. Cheyenne hosts Legend (Parker) Tuesday.
