It's a great week to be a high school volleyball fan. In fact, this might be the most exciting week of the season as playoffs are underway throughout the country and some states wrap up this weekend with their championships.
In store this week are at least two MaxPreps Top 25 showdowns and one team's quest for perfection.
In the CIF Southern Section, No. 1
Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.) meets No. 2
Mira Costa (Manhattan Beach, Calif.) in a titanic matchup that might just be the opening round in their race for a California title. Both the Monarchs and Mustangs came through Southern Section pool play unscathed and meet Saturday evening at Cerritos College.
The two are assured a spot in the CIF Southern California Open Division bracket, which could include four teams in the MaxPreps Top 25 as well as two from from the Northern California side.
In Georgia, No. 20
Pope (Marietta) and No. 21
Alpharetta meet Saturday for the AAAAAA title. They split their regular season meetings with the Greyhounds taking a four-set win over Alpharetta on Oct. 14 while the Raiders straight-setted Pope on Sept. 21. The squads are a combined 76-6 this season and have only dropped 32 sets between them.
Hamilton Southeastern is led by Florida commit
Lauren Harden, who is making a strong case for MaxPreps National Player of the Year. Harden has been the catalyst for a team that's won 66 straight dating back to last season with 358 kills this fall and more than 1,200 in her career.
Libero Dayla Ortiz leads No. 20 Pope into the Georgia 6A finals on Saturday against No. 21 Alpharetta in a MaxPreps Top 25 showdown. (Photo: Cecil Copeland)
Record: 38-2 |
Last week: 1
Swept Marymount (Los Angeles) and Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth) to set up the Division I final against Mira Costa.
Isabel Clark led the way against Sierra Canyon with 17 kills while
Layli Ostovar had 15 and
Cymarah Gordon added 11.
Julia Kakkis had 47 assists.
2. Mira Costa (Manhattan Beach, Calif.)
Record: 40-2 |
Last week: 2
Haven't dropped a five-set match all season but needed 12 kills from
Audrey Flanagan and 11 from
Simone Roslon to down a tough Huntington Beach squad to set up the finals meeting with Mater Dei.
3. Hamilton Southeastern (Fishers, Ind.)
Record: 32-0 |
Last week: 3
The Royals got 10 kills from Florida commit
Lauren Harden and
Macy Hinshaw tossed up 16 assists as they look to cap a perfect season and back-to-back 4A titles on Saturday.
4. Grand Oaks (Spring, Texas)
Record: 44-1 |
Last week: 4
Began their quest for the 6A title with a sweep of 16-27 Nimitz on Monday in bi-district play.
5. Prestonwood Christian (Plano, Texas)
Record: 33-4 |
Last week: 5
Downed Ursuline Academy (Dallas) in four sets as
Camille Edwards reached the 3,400 career assist mark. They begin their quest for a repeat TAPPS 6A title this week.
6. Cathedral Catholic (San Diego)
Record: 30-4 |
Last week: 6
Handled Eastlake (Chula Vista) in straight sets in the first round of the San Diego Section Open Division bracket. They take on 30-7 Bishop's (La Jolla) on Tuesday. Cathedral Catholic is the reigning MaxPreps National Champion.
7. Boyd (McKinney, Texas)
Record: 29-1 |
Last week: 7
The Broncos begin 6A postseason play Tuesday against Hebron in bi-district play.
8. Pace Academy (Atlanta)
Record: 36-3 |
Last week: 8
Advanced to the AAAA title match against Lovett (Atlanta) on Saturday with a sweep of Central (Carrollton).
Grace Agolli notched her 1,000th career kill. They seek their seventh straight state title, minus the 2020 COVID season.
9. Divine Savior Holy Angels (Milwaukee)
Record: 44-1 |
Last week: 9
Sophia Wendlick had 17 kills and
Madison Quest added 13 as the Dashers handled Menomonee Falls in three to reach the Division I quarterfinals. They tangle with Burlington on Thursday and appear to be on a course to meet Oconomowoc in the finals.
10. Papillion-LaVista South (Papillion, Neb.)
Record: 35-1 |
Last week: 10
Get a shot at redemption against Papillion-LaVista in the Class A quarterfinals on Wednesday. They lost in five to the Monarchs on Oct. 18.
11. Assumption (Louisville, Ky.)Record: 34-5 |
Last week: 11
The Rockets moved one step closer to their 23rd Kentucky state title with a sweep of 24-12 Oldham County (Buckner) on Monday.
Charlotte Moriarty had 13 kills in the win as
Emilee Fuller posted 32 assists.
12. Marist (Chicago)
Record: 33-4 |
Last week: 12
Swept Lincoln-Way East (Frankfort) on Monday to set up a Wednesday clash against No. 17 Mother McAuley for the Chicago Sectional title.
13. Wayzata (Plymouth, Minn.)
Record: 30-0 |
Last week: 13
The Trojans roll into Section finals play on Wednesday against 24-6 Champlin Park (Champlin).
14. Archbishop Mitty (San Jose, Calif.)
Record: 28-4 |
Last week: 14
A crash course with No. 15 Saint Francis is likely should both squads take care of business Wednesday in the CIF Central Coast Section Division I semis. Mitty has four-seed (20-9) Sacred Heart Prep (Atherton), a team it's beat twice already this season.
15. Saint Francis (Mountain View, Calif.)
Record: 32-4 |
Last week: 15
Valley Christian is up next for the Lancers on Wednesday. Mitty and Saint Francis have split their four meetings this season. The two programs have also represented the North in the past two CIF Open Division finals.
16. Benet Academy (Lisle, Ill.)
Record: 36-2 |
Last week: 16
It was a St. Charles North Sectional semifinal win for the Redwings on Monday over Wheaton-Warrenville South (Weaton). They now get Glenbard West on Wednesday.
17. Mother McAuley (Chicago)
Record: 33-5 |
Last week: 17
Michigan commit
Ellie White led the Mighty Macs with 13 kills in their sectional semifinal sweep Monday over Sandburg.
18. Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth, Calif.)
Record: 34-8 | Last week: 18
A pool play loss to No. 1 Mater Dei doesn't drop the Trailblazers, who will make the Southern California Open Division bracket next week. They have enough firepower to pull off a win, even a big time upset, in that bracket.
19. Hudsonville (Mich.)
Record: 43-2 |
Last week: 19
Grandville is on the slate Wednesday for the Eagles in the District 6 semifinals.
20. Pope (Marietta, Ga.)
Record: 39-3 |
Last week: 20
Ellis Crawford dropped 19 kills and Sophia Harvey added 11 in the semifinal sweep of Blessed Trinity (Roswell).
Cooper Abney had 38 assists as the Greyhounds play Saturday for the AAAAAA crown.
21. Alpharetta (Alpharetta, Ga.)
Record: 37-3 |
Last week: 21
Logan Wiley pounded 17 kills as
Brooke Boyles added 13 in the semifinal sweep of St. Pius X Catholic (Atlanta).
Abigail Li had 40 assists as Boyles and Wiley each added 10 digs.
22. Notre Dame Academy (Park Hills, Ky.)
Record: 31-5 |
Last week: 22
On the opposite side of the bracket from No. 11 Assumption, the Pandas started their quest for a Bluegrass State title with a 3-0 win over Campbell County on Monday.
23. Cornerstone Christian (San Antonio)
Record: 34-5 |
Last week: 23
Season complete.
24. Lake Catholic (Mentor, Ohio)
Record: 25-0 |
Last week: 24
Katie Sowko had 15 kills and
Natalya Bergant added 11 in a win in the district final of the Division III bracket. Up next for the Cougars is 19-6 Independence in the regional semifinals.
25. Dike-New Hartford (Dike, Iowa)
Record: 47-0 |
Last week: NR
Led by sisters
Payton and
Jadyn Petersen, the Wolverines have Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont in the 2A quarterfinals on Tuesday.
On the bubble: Bob Jones (Madison, Ala.), 52-2;
Oconomowoc (Wis.), 39-3;
Seton (Cincinnati), 23-2;
Lafayette (Wildwood, Mo.), 34-2;
Byron Nelson (Trophy Club, Texas), 30-4;
Castle (Newburgh, Ind.), 34-3;
Jackson Academy (Jackson, Miss.), 35-13;
Kamehameha Kapalama (Honolulu), 27-3;
Cleveland (Tenn.), 42-8;
O'Connor (Phoenix), 30-1
