A pair of California schools is inching upwards in the Top 10 as the season winds down, but Lewis-Palmer is hanging on to No. 1 in this week's MaxPreps Xcellent 25 National Volleyball Rankings.
Lewis-Palmer finished its state title and unbeaten season two weeks ago and is awaiting the outcome of California's championships, which take place Saturday.
Redondo Union is ranked No. 7 and Archbishop Mitty (San Jose) is No. 8. Each team plays Saturday for a California title, Mitty in Division II and Redondo Union in D-I. Redondo Union has won 24 in a row since losing to 35-3 Mitty, ranked No. 1 in MaxPreps Computer Rankings. Redondo's other loss was to 33-3 Lakewood.
The question is: If Redondo wins out, will it leapfrog to No. 1? And, what if Mitty wins out to repeat as D-II champion? Will it match the computer poll?
Mercy, ranked No. 2, is hoping its schedule and one-loss season might be enough to move to the top of the final poll.
Brentwood won its final 60 matches and at 60-1 makes a pretty good argument, as do unbeatens No. 4 Jesuit and No. 5 Parkland.
New to the Top 25 this week are state champions Flint Hill, Cardinal Gibbons and Divine Savior Angels. Combined, the three have won 126 straight matches.
MaxPreps Xcellent 25 National Volleyball Rankings presented by the Army National Guard
Redondo Union already celebrated a Southern Section title, and now will play for a California crown.
Photo by Heston Quan
Season over. Won Colorado's 4A title.
2. (2) - Mercy (Louisville, Ky.), 41-1Season over. Kentucky champion.
3. (3) - Brentwood (Tenn.), 60-1Season over. Won Tennessee large school title.
4. (4) - Jesuit (Portland, Ore.), 37-0Season over. Won Oregon 6A state title.
5. (5) - Parkland (Allentown, Pa.), 45-0-1Season over. State 3A champs.
6. (6) - Benet Academy (Lisle, Ill.), 40-1Season over. Won 4A state title.
7. (8) - Redondo Union (Redondo Beach, Calif.), 37-28. (22) - Archbishop Mitty (San Jose, Calif.), 36-3
Lauren Solis, Pitman
Photo by David Steutel
Season over. Captured Florida's 5A title.
10. (13) - Immaculate Heart Academy (Washington Township, N.J.), 41-1Season over. Won eighth-straight non-public state title and fourth-straight state Tournament of Champions title.
11. (11) - Mount Notre Dame (Cincinnati), 27-2Season over. Won Ohio 4A title.
12. (12) - The Woodlands (Texas), 41-3Season over. Won second-straight large school state title.
13. (23) - Pitman (Turlock, Calif.), 44-114. (14) - Bellarmine Prep (Tacoma, Wash.), 32-1-2Season over. Captured its third-straight 4A state title.
15. (15) - St. Mary's (Lancaster, N.Y.), 47-0-1Season over.
16. (16) - Charlotte Country Day (N.C.), 44-1Season over. Won state Independent Schools 3A title.
17. (17) - Mt. Carmel (New Orleans), 47-2Season over. Won state large school title.
18. (18) - P.K. Yonge (Gainesville, Fla.), 30-2Season over. Won Florida 4A state title.
19. (19) - Ankeny Centennial (Iowa), 44-3Season over. Won state large schools championship.
20. (20) - Desert Vista (Phoenix), 41-3Season over. Won Arizona large school state title.
21. (21) - Chaska (Minn.), 30-3Season over. Won 3A state title.
22. (NR) - Cardinal Gibbons (Raleigh, N.C.), 27-0Won sixth straight state title, 81 of 83 sets this season, and 62 straight matches. Season over.
23. (NR) - Flint Hill (Oakton, Va.), 34-0Won 3A public school title and has won 43 in a row. Season over.
24. (24) - Aquinas (Overland Park, Kan.), 42-4Season over. Won state 5A title.
25. (NR) - Divine Savior Holy Angels (Milwaukee), 45-4Won Wisconsin large school title and final 21 matches.
Dropped Out: Sacred Heart Cathedral (Calif.), Aliso Niguel (Calif.) and St. Ursula Academy (Ohio).
