MaxPreps Top 25 national high school volleyball rankings

A pair of unbeaten California teams moved into the California Interscholastic Federation State semifinals with victories on Saturday night and each moved up a notch in this week's MaxPreps Xcellent 25 Volleyball Rankings.

Granite Bay defeated Palo Alto, 3-0, on Saturday to advance to Tuesday's finals against St. Francis (Sacramento). As a result, Granite Bay, 43-0, moved from No. 4 in the rankings to No. 3 with Bellarmine Prep (Tacoma, Wash.) dropping from No. 3 to No. 4.

Santiago (Corona) improved to 39-0 with its Saturday win over Whittier Christian, 3-0, and will play Westview (San Diego) on Tuesday. Santiago has won 98 of 99 sets this season and moved from No. 7 to No. 6 in this week's rankings, flopping places with Cardinal Gibbons (Raleigh, N.C.).

The Woodlands (Texas) and St. James Academy (Lenexa, Kan.) remained No. 1 and No. 2 with one set of rankings remaining in the season. The Woodlands won the Texas 5A title a week ago, while St. James completed its season three weeks ago with its sixth straight state title.

While this will be the fourth meeting between Granite Bay and St. Francis, Westview and Santiago have yet to meet this season. Granite Bay has won the previous three meetings (3-1 on Sept. 2, 2-1 on Nov. 2 and 3-0 on Nov. 21).

Granite Bay and Santiago each moved up a spot in the rankings, but the remainder of the Top 25 remained the same as the previous week. Out of the Top 25 teams, 23 have completed their seasons.

Be sure to check out the MaxPreps high school volleyball playoff brackets for each state.

*State Champion


*1. (1 last week) The Woodlands (Texas), 45-0, season complete
The Highlanders won the Texas 5A title.

*2. (2) St. James Academy (Lenexa, Kan.), 47-0, season complete
St. James won its sixth straight state title and has won 56 straight matches over the last two seasons.

3. (4) Granite Bay (Calif.), 43-0
Granite Bay defeated Palo Alto, 3-0 (25-15, 25-20, 25-18) to move to the finals of the CIF Northern California Tournament against St. Francis (Sacramento) on Tuesday. The winner advances to the California D-I finals against the winner of the Los Alamitos-Mater Dei game, also to be played on Tuesday. Granite Bay has outscored its opponents 108-5 this season.

*4. (3) Bellarmine Prep (Tacoma, Wash.), 35-0, season complete
The Lions won their second straight state 4A title and were forced to only one five-set match during the season.

*5. (5) East Troy (Wis.), 44-0, season complete
The Trojans won the state D-II title.

6. (7) Santiago (Corona, Calif.), 39-0
Santiago defeated Whittier Christian, 3-0 (25-19, 25-21, 26-24) and will play 30-8 Westview (San Diego) on Tuesday night in the Southern California Championship. The winner advances to the State D-II finals on Dec. 7. Santiago has lost just one set this season, while winning 98.

*7. (6) Cardinal Gibbons (Raleigh, N.C.), 28-0, season complete
The Crusaders won their fifth consecutive N.C. High School Athletic Association 3A volleyball title, a state record.

*8 (8) Lafayette (Wildwood, Mo.), 38-1-2, season complete
The Lancers finished with 29 straight wins and won their third straight state title. Lafayette's only loss was to No. 2 St. James Academy (Lenexa, Kan.).

*9. (9) Mother McAuley (Chicago), 40-2, season complete
The Macs won the Illinois State 4A title.

*10. (10) Dike-New Hartford (Dike, Iowa), 45-1, season complete
Dike stretched their win streak to 39 and won the state 2A title for the third straight year.

*11. (11) Immaculate Heart Academy (Washington Township, N.J.), 47-2, season complete
Heart won the non-public state title and the New Jersey Tournament of Champions.

*12. (12) Notre Dame Prep (Pontiac, Mich.), 62-2-1, season complete
The Irish won their final 20 matches and the Michigan state B title.

*13. (13) Loudoun County (Leesburg, Va.), 31-0, season complete
Loudoun County captured the 4A state championship for the second year in a row and sixth time in seven seasons.

*14. (14) Avon (Ind.), 37-3, season complete
In winning its final 26 matches, Avon has won back-to-back state titles.

*15. (15) St. Francis (Wheaton, Ill.), 38-3, season complete
St. Francis won its third straight 3A title. All three Spartan losses this season were to No. 9 Mother McAuley (Chicago).

*16. (16) Assumption (Louisville, Ky.), 37-6, season complete
The Rockets won their fourth straight state title.

*17. (17) Barnstable (Hyannis, Mass.), 23-0, season complete
The Red Raiders won their fourth Division 1 state title in a row and 10th in 11 years.

*18. (18) Bettendorf (Iowa), 37-2, season complete
Bettendorf won the state large school title for the second straight year.

*19. (19) Kamehameha (Honolulu), 30-2, season complete
Kamehameha won the Hawaii D-1 state title.

20. (20) Churchill (San Antonio), 47-3, season complete
Finish as Texas 5A runne-rup, losing to No. 1 The Woodlands.

*21. (21) Eagan (Minn.), 30-2, season complete
Eagan won Minnesota's large schools title.

*22. (22) Winter Park (Fla.), 30-3, season complete
Winter Park recorded its second straight 8A state title.

23. (23) Mercy (Louisville, Ky.), 37-2, season complete
State runner-up.

*24. (24) Grandview (Aurora, Colo.), 27-2, season complete
The Wolves captured the 5A state title with a win over Arapahoe (Centennial) to finish the season with 23 straight match wins.

*25. (NR) Sutherland (Pittsford, N.Y.), 40-2, season complete
The Knights won the New York State large school title.

Dropped Out: none