One of the best high school volleyball matches of the season went down last week as No. 5
Cornerstone Christian (San Antonio, Texas) beat No. 9
Dripping Springs (Texas) 3-2 in a MaxPreps Top 25 showdown.
Cornerstone Christian was down 2-1 but came back with a 25-22 fourth-set win before closing the match 15-9.
Dripping Springs begins district play in preparation for a state title push in what promises to be a crowded Class 6A field. Meanwhile, Cornerstone Christian will be among 10 teams heading to Las Vegas on Friday and Saturday for the 2024 Durango Fall Classic.
Joining the San Antonio program in the desert will be No. 1
Prestonwood Christian (Plano, Texas), No. 6
Cathedral Catholic (San Diego, Calif.), No. 8
Assumption (Louisville, Ky.), No. 11
Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.), No. 12
Mira Costa (Manhattan Beach, Calif.), No. 16
Carrollwood Day (Tampa, Fla.), No. 19
Redondo Union (Redondo Beach, Calif.), No. 20
Marist (Chicago, Ill.) and No. 24
Xavier College Prep (Phoenix, Ariz.). It also features 11 other teams that have been ranked at some point this season.
The winner of Durango has gone on to be crowned MaxPreps National Champions five times —
Archbishop Mitty (San Jose, Calif.) in 2009, Assumption in 2018,
Marymount (Los Angeles, Calif.) in 2021, Cathedral Catholic in 2022 and Mater Dei last year.
No. 6 Cathedral Catholic is among 10 teams in the MaxPreps Top 25 headed to Las Vegas this weekend for the Durango Fall Classic. (Photo: Heston Quan)
Record: 18-1 | Last week: 1
Led by Texas commit
Macaria Spears, the Lions are among the favorites to win the title at Durango.
Record: 22-1 | Last week: 2
3. Hamilton Southeastern (Fishers, Ind.)
Record: 14-1 | Last week: 3
4. Benet Academy (Lisle, Ill.)
Record: 11-0 | Last week: 4
5. Cornerstone Christian (San Antonio, Texas)
Record: 21-1 | Last week: 5
The lone loss is to No. 1 Prestonwood Christian in August.
6. Cathedral Catholic (San Diego, Calif.)
Record: 19-1 | Last week: 8
Yale commit
Mae Kordas (173 kills) and junior
Sophia Johnson (120 kills) lead the offense while Notre Dame commit
Maya Evens has 159 digs and 192 serve receptions at libero.
Record: 13-0 |
Last week: 7
Olivia Durst recorded her 1,000th dig over the weekend as DSHA went 3-0 at the Manitowoc Lincoln Quad.
8. Assumption (Louisville, Ky.)
Record: 15-1 | Last week: 6
The Rockets fell 2-0 to Ryle (Union) in the opening of bracket play at the Adidas LIVT. They bounced back with a win over Mother McAuley (Chicago, Ill.).
9. Dripping Springs (Texas)
Record: 33-2 | Last week: 9
10. Plant (Tampa, Fla.)
Record: 12-0 | Last week: 12-0
The Panthers have only dropped six sets this season as a showdown against Berkeley Prep (Tampa) is must-see on Tuesday.
11. Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.)
Record: 13-3 | Last week: 11
Seven players have more than 30 kills led by
Presley Kiffin. The reigning MaxPreps National Champions are even more lethal now that
Westley Matavao is eligible.
Record: 10-3 | Last week: 12
A league match with 10-4 Palos Verdes (Palos Verdes Estates) in on tap for Wednesday before the Mustangs head to Las Vegas for Durango.
13. Cypress Ranch (Houston, Texas)
Record: 25-5 | Last week: 13
Freshman
Sade Bello has 240 kills for the Mustangs and sister
Zora Bello is all over the stat sheet with 441 assists, 186 digs and 139 kills.
Record: 21-0 |
Last week: 13
Madison McLin (17 kills),
Kennedi White (15 kills) and
Brooke Boyles (14 kills) led the Raiders to a 3-1 win on Thursday over West Forsyth (Cumming). It was only the third dropped set all season by Alpharetta.
15. Roncalli (Indianapolis, Ind.)
Record: 17-0 | Last week: 15
16. Carrollwood Day (Tampa, Fla.)
Record: 12-1 | Last week: 16
The lone loss is to No. 10 Plant at Nike TOC Southeast. A strong showing at Durango would boost the Patriots' ranking.
17. Lovejoy (Lucas, Texas)
Record: 20-7 | Last week: 17
18. Mercy (Farmington Hills, Mich.)
Record: 10-0 | Last week: 20
The Marlins grabbed a pair of wins in the Motor City Power Series over the weekend.
19. Redondo Union (Redondo Beach, Calif.)
Record: 11-3 | Last week: 21
Behind
Abby Zimmerman, the Sea Hawks handed Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth) its first loss of the season before the junior pounded 13 kills in a sweep of South (Torrance) two days later.
Record: 8-1 | Last week: 22
The RedHawks battle Joliet Catholic on Tuesday before heading to Durango.
21. Saint Thomas Aquinas (Overland Park, Kan.)
Record: 7-0 | Last week: 24
Alayna Vaeth has 150 assists (10.0 per set). The Saints have only dropped one set so far this season.
22. Mount St. Mary (Oklahoma City, Okla.)
Record: 22-1 | Last week: NR
23. Yorktown (Ind.)
Record: 14-2 | Last week: 23
24. Xavier College Prep (Phoenix, Ariz.)
Record: 5-0 | Last week: NR
The Gators haven't dropped a set in their young season as sophomore
Tessa Larkin leads the attack with 64 kills in 15 sets.
25. Valor Christian (Highlands Ranch, Colo.)
Record: 9-0 | Last week: 25
The Eagles were idle last week.
On the bubble: Mother McAuley (Chicago, Ill.), 13-3;
Skutt Catholic (Omaha, Neb.), 8-1;
Sacred Heart (Louisville, Ky.), 22-4;
Southlake Carroll (Southlake, Texas), 17-7;
Marian (Bloomfield Hills, Mich.), 18-1;
Lafayette (Wildwood, Mo.), 11-0;
Stratford (Houston, Texas), 24-2;
Berkeley Prep (Tampa, Fla.), 9-1;
Gilmour Academy (Gates Mills, Ohio), 12-1,
Lakeville North (Lakeville, Minn.), 11-0
