Xcellent 25 National Volleyball Rankings turn 50

With most states beginning postseason play last week, Assumption assumes the role of clubhouse leader in this week's MaxPreps Xcellent 25 National Volleyball Rankings presented by the Army National Guard.

The Rockets captured the Kentucky state championship with a 2-0 victory over Greenwood. The crown is the 16th state title in the school's history and the second in a row. Ranked No. 7 in this week's rankings, Assumption is the highest-ranked team to have completed its season.

The other top six teams have all begun postseason play, or will do so by this week, with Avon the only other one of the six to have reached a championship game.

With the advent of the playoffs, the Xcellent 25 expands to 50 this week with a number of participants from the Santa Barbara Tournament of Champions filling up the second half of the rankings. Dos Pueblos won the TOC, defeating Marymount for the title. The Chargers' win will likely shake up the Southern Section rankings since they had fallen all the way to No. 10 in the 1-AA coaches poll.

MAXPREPS XCELLENT 25 NATIONAL VOLLEYBALL RANKINGS PRESENTED BY THE ARMY NATIONAL GUARD

1. (Last week 1) Papillion-LaVista South (Papillion, Neb.), 36-0
The Titans won the Metro Volleyball Tournament with a 6-0 record, winning the first five matches by 2-0 scores and edging Omaha Marian 3-2 in the championship match. Papillion-LaVista South begins district play this week and will face Omaha South in the first round.

2. (2) Lake Travis (Austin, Texas), 42-0
The Cavaliers prepared for the postseason with a warm-up match against Cy-Woods last week and Lake Travis topped the previous No. 17 Wildcats 3-0. The Cavaliers open the postseason against Austin LBJ this week.

3. (3) Avon (Ind.), 39-0
The Orioles advanced to the state championship match against Penn by defeating Martinsville 3-0 and New Castle 3-0 in the regionals, then blanked Seymour 3-0 in the semistates on Saturday.

4. (4) Chaparral (Parker, Colo.), 23-0
The Wolverines captured the Class 5A District 1 championship with a 3-0 win over Fossil Ridge (Fort Collins). Chaparral also topped Grand Junction Central, Greeley West and Mountain Vista (Highlands Ranch) all by 3-0 scores.

5. (5) Carroll (Southlake, Texas), 41-1
The Dragons completed district play unbeaten with a 3-0 win over Keller. Carroll went 15-0 in district play and has won 27 in a row since losing to Lovejoy in August.

6. (6) St. Ursula Academy (Toledo, Ohio), 25-0
The Arrows will take on Avon Lake in the Hilliard Regional semifinals this week after topping Central Catholic (Toledo) 3-0 in the quarterfinals and Oregon Clay 3-0 in the district semifinal.

7. (7) Assumption (Louisville, Ky.), 43-1
The Rockets did not drop a game en route to winning the Kentucky state championship on Saturday in Louisville. Assumption blanked Owensboro Catholic, Henry Clay, Notre Dame and Greenwood all by 2-0 scores to repeat as state champions and capture the 16th state championship in school history.

8. (8) St. James Academy (Lenexa, Kan.), 45-1
The Thunder captured the Kansas 4A state championship, defeating No. 2 seed McPherson 25-10, 25-13 in the championship match. St. James also knocked off No. 8 Ottawa 25-9, 25-7, No. 5 Cheney 25-9, 25-10, and No. 4 Chanute 25-8, 25-13 in pool play. In the semifinals, the Thunder blanked Holton 25-15, 25-14.

9. (9) Berkeley Prep (Tampa, Fla.), 25-2
The Buccaneers opened the postseason with a 3-0 win over Booker (Sarasota) and a 3-1 win over Academy of the Holy Names (Tampa). Jordan Burgess had 24 kills in the win over Holy Names and 10 against Booker. Berkeley Prep begins play in the Class 4A state tournament this week against Lake Placid.

10. (10) Pope (Marietta, Ga.), 43-2
The Greyhounds won their third straight state championship, including the second in a row at the Class 4A level, with a 3-1 win over Whitewater in the championship match. Whitewater had knocked off Chattahoochee in the semifinals. Pope also defeated McIntosh 3-0 in the semifinals.

11. (11) Bishop Moore (Orlando, Fla.), 25-1
The Hornets captured the Class 4A District 7 championship with a 3-0 win over Lake Highland Prep in the championship match. Maura Mulligan and Danielle Glinka each had 11 kills for the winners. Bishop Moore opens the Class 4A state playoffs against Satellite this week.

12. (12) Bishop Miege (Shawnee Mission, Kan.), 40-3
The Stags won the class 5A state championship for the fourth straight year and claimed the 21st state title in school history with a 25-16, 25-20 win over Newton on Saturday. Bishop Miege topped Seaman (Topeka) 25-14, 25-7 in the semifinals and went 3-0 in pool play.

13. (13) Los Alamitos (Calif.), 29-2
The Griffins won their only reported game from last week, topping Newport Harbor 3-0 behind Jojo Schnabl's 13 kills. Los Alamitos completes Sunset League play this week with a match against Edison (Huntington Beach).

14. (14) Xavier College Prep (Phoenix), 40-2
The Gators did not play last week and will open the Arizona Division I playoffs as the second seed (Mountain Ridge is No. 1) against Mountain View on Tuesday.

15. (15) Presentation (San Jose, Calif.), 33-1
The Panthers completed West Catholic Athletic League play with a 3-0 win over Valley Christian last week. Emily Sklar had 14 kills in the win. Presentation will complete in the WCAL tournament this week.

16. (16) College Park (The Woodlands, Texas), 33-4
The Cavaliers completed district play with a 3-0 win over Lufkin last week. College Park opens bi-district play this week against Klein.

17. (19) East Lake (Tarpon Springs, Fla.), 17-1
The Eagles captured the Class 8A District 8 championship with a 25-21, 25-21, 25-15 win over Palm Harbor University last week. East Lake meets Durant in the first round of the state tournament.

18. (20) Westlake (Austin, Texas), 39-5
The Chaparrals completed district play undefeated at 10-0 with a 3-0 win over Anderson. Westlake opens the Class 5A state tournament with bi-district play this week.

19. (22) Lovejoy (Lucas, Texas), 42-4
Lovejoy completed district play undefeated at 10-0 with a 3-0 win over Prosper. The Leopards then blanked Boyd (McKinney) in a playoff warm-up match 3-0 on Thursday. Lovejoy begins defense of its 3A state championship this week with bi-district play against the winner of Commerce and Pilot Point.

20. (17) Cy-Woods (Cypress, Texas), 3-5
The Wildcats completed district play with a 3-0 win over Cy-Ridge (Houston), but then fell to Lake Travis 3-0 in a warm-up game for the postseason. Cy-Woods opens bi-district play in Region 3 against Nimitz (Houston).

21. (21) Boyd (McKinney, Texas), 37-6
The Broncos completed district play with a 3-0 win over Naaman Forest (Garland) and then lost a warm-up match with Lovejoy, 3-0, on Thursday. Boyd begins Class 5A bi-district play against Dallas Skyline this week.

22. (23) Yorktown (Ind.), 36-2
Yorktown reached the Indiana 3A state championship match by defeating South Bend St. Joseph's 3-0 in the semifinals. Yorktown also topped Fort Wayne Concordia 3-0 and opened the regional tournament with a 3-0 win over Bellmont. Yorktown faces Indianapolis Bishop Chatard (21-17) in the championship match Saturday.

23. (NR) Benet Academy (Lisle, Ill.) 35-3
Benet Academy is ranked No. 1 in the state of Illinois and is participating in the Illinois Class 4A state playoffs.

24. (NR) York (Elmhurst, Ill.), 31-3
York is ranked No. 2 in the state of Illinois and is participating in the Illinois Class 4A state playoffs.

25. (18) Chattahoochee (Alpharetta, Ga.), 41-8
The Cougars had their season come to an end in the semifinals of the Georgia Class 4A state tournament with a loss to Whitewater. Wins over Sacred Heart (Louisville), Mercy (Louisville) and Assumption (Louisville), as well as two previous wins over Whitewater, keep Chattahoochee from dropping too far.

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