Video: Xcellent 25 Girls Volleyball Rankings Presented by The Army National Guard MaxPreps host Myckena Guerrero looks at who moved where on the court.
As expected, the top three teams in this week's MaxPreps Xcellent Top 25National Volleyball Rankings presented by the Army National Guard opened their seasons impressively, but Texas and Michigan teams are also grabbing the headlines.
Byron Nelson (Trophy Club, Texas) and Michigan teams, North Branch and Lake Orion, made big jumps in this week's Top 25. Combined they have opened the 2018 season 49-0 and have won a half-dozen tournaments.
The preseason top three — No. 1 Walton (Marietta, Ga.), No. 2 Assumption (Louisville, Ky.) and No. 3 Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.), opened with wins over impressive opponents.
Walton's season-opening tournament title included wins over three teams that won Georgia state titles in 2017 — 3A champion Pace Academy (Atlanta), Harrison (6A title winner) and 5A champion McIntosh (Peachtree City).
Walton followed that with a sweep in the South Forsyth Playdate, another event loaded with successful teams.
Assumption ran its win streak to 23 by opening the season with seven wins over teams that combined to win 157 matches a year ago, including Indiana large school — Indianapolis Cathedral (Indianapolis). All seven victories were by 3-0 margins.
Mater Dei opened by defeating previously ranked No. 7 Torrey Pines (San Diego) and defending state D2 champion Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth) in early season showdowns of California powers.
Marymount (Los Angeles) moved up a spot to No. 4 after opening with seven wins and Redondo Union (Redondo Beach, Calif.) crashed the Top 10 by routing its first five opponents. Marymount and Redondo Union collide this Thursday.
In addition to their quick climbs in the rankings, Marist (Chicago) loudly proclaimed "We're back!" The Redhawks, ranked No. 2 in MaxPreps 2017 final Top 50 Poll behind Walton, have opened with six wins and have won 38 straight.
MaxPreps Xcellent 25 National Volleyball Rankings presented by the Army National Guard
Caroline Cheney, Walton
Photo by Kyle Hess
The Raiders had a kill percentage of 56 in opening with overpowering wins averaging 14.3 kills per set. Senior setter
Caroline Cheney is averaging 10.7 assists per set.
2. (2) Assumption (Louisville, Ky.), 7-0The Rockets opened the season with seven straight wins to push their two-year win streak to 23. They have yet to lose a set.
3. (3) Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.), 4-0Led by 6-3 preseason All-American
Natalie Berty, the Monarchs are averaging 14 kills per set.
4. (5) Marymount (Los Angeles), 7-0The Sailors have lost one of their first 22 sets and have six players averaging better than one kill per set. An early season showdown looms Thursday with No. 5 Redondo Union (Redondo Beach, Calif.).
5. (12) Redondo Union (Redondo Beach, Calif.), 5-0The Seahawks take a 15-set win streak into Thursday's early-season showdown with Marymount.
6. (NR) Byron Nelson (Trophy Club, Texas), 20-0Led by junior
Paige Flickinger (LSU pledge),
Charitie Luper,
Meredith Fusselman and
Kelli McKinnon, the Bobcats have won the NSID Tournament and the Volleypalooza Invitational on back-to-back weekends.
7. (4) Mt. Carmel (New Orleans), (41-7 in 2017)The Cubs ride a 10-match win streak into their season opener against New Orleans rival Cabrini (30-14 in 2017).
8. (8) Venice (Fla.), 2-0With 10 seniors, the Indians opened the season with wins over state rivals Fort Myers and Cardinal Mooney (Saratoga).
9. (19) Yorktown (Ind.), 10-0Tigers junior setter
Kate Vinson is averaging 11.7 assists per set and they've yet to lose a set. They face unbeaten Wapahani (Selma) on Tuesday.
10. (6) Xavier College Prep (Phoenix), (40-3 in 2017)Riding a 10-match win streak, the Gators open their season on Tuesday hosting Mountain View (Mesa).
11. (15) 'Iolani (Honolulu), 9-0With
Elena Oglivie,
Kristen McDaniel (Oklahoma pledge) and 6-2
Sasha Petticord leading the way, the Raiders opened 9-0 and won the prestigious Ann Kang Invitational, losing just one set.
12. (9) Lewis-Palmer (Monument, Colo.), (29-0 in 2017)Riding a 58-match winning streak, the Rangers open the season on Tuesday hosting Coronado (Colorado Springs). They start virtually the same lineup that won the 2017 state championship.
13. (14) Kamehameha Kapalama (Honolulu), 9-0The Warriors lost only one set in opening their season by winning 18-of-19 sets and the Hawaii Volleyball Invitational.
14. (NR) North Branch (Mich.), 16-0Allyson Severance leads the way with team highs in kills (5.7 per set), and blocks and the Broncos haven't lost a set in 32. The Broncos have won the Legends Tournament, as well as their own North Branch Invite.
15. (NR) Lake Orion (Mich.), 15-0In winning the Oxford Quad, the Dakota Invitational and their own invite, the Dragons have been dominating. They ended the 60-match win streak of Notre Dame Prep (Pontiac), handed Mercy (Farmington) its first loss of the season and blanked defending large school champion Novi, 2-0.
16. (7) Torrey Pines (San Diego), 1-1The Falcons had a tough opening series against two of California's top teams, defeating Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth), but losing to No. 3 Mater Dei (Santa Ana), 3-0.
17. (NR) Marist (Chicago), 6-0The nation's No. 2 team in 2017 made an early statement, opening 6-0 and handing Marian Catholic (Chicago Heights) its first loss in six matches. The Redhawks have won 38 straight over two seasons.
18. (NR) Ursuline Academy (Cincinnati), 3-0The Lions, led by
Logan Case, opened the season with an impressive 3-0 win over Bishop Waterson (Columbus). With Case averaging 10 assists per set, the Lions have 14 straight.
19. (25) Helias (Jefferson City, Mo.), 6-0The Crusaders lost one set in opening the season by winning the Bentonville West Tournament.
The Wolves lost their opener, then won 20 in a row before losing again.
21. (22) Oviedo (Fla.), 2-0The Lions opened with lopsided 3-0 wins over Lake Brantley (Altamonte Springs) and Lake Howell (Winter Park). Can they make it three lakes in a row? Next foe is Lake Mary on Monday.
22. (NR) Marvin Ridge (Waxhaw, N.C.), 10-0The senior-dominated Mavericks won Davidson's Best of the Best tournament and have lost one set this season.
23. (18) Mercy (Louisville, Ky.), 6-1Since losing an early season showdown with crosstown rival Sacred Heard, the Jaguars have dispatched three foes.
24. (24) Northwest (Olathe, Kan.), 1-0The Ravens opened with a 2-1 win Saturday over a tall and talented St. Teresa's Academy (Kansas City, Mo.).
25. (23) Teurlings Catholic (Lafayette, La.), (42-0 in 2017)The Rebels enter the season with 57 consecutive wins over the last two seasons. Their opener is slated for Sept. 5.
Dropped out: Seven Lakes (Katy, Texas), New Castle (Ind.), Marist (Ga.), Carroll (Southlake, Texas), Notre Dame Prep (Pontiac, Mich.), Oak Ridge (Conroe, Texas), St. James (Lenexa, Kan.).
