MaxPreps Top 25 national high school volleyball rankings

In a week when several teams were claiming state titles, The Woodlands (Texas) held onto the No. 1 spot in this week's MaxPreps Xcellent 25 Volleyball Rankings.

The Woodlands ended the regular season unbeaten and enter bi-district playoffs on Tuesday against 25-13 Klein Collins (Tomball, Texas).

Winning state titles over the weekend were No. 2 St. James Academy (Lenexa, Kan.), No. 7 Cardinal Gibbons (Raleigh, N.C.) and No. 25 Kamehameha (Honolulu).

St. James Academy ran its streak of unbeaten sets to 95 before losing once in the Kansas 5A championship match, but rallied to win its sixth straight title. During their six-year reign, the Thunder have lost just 11 matches while winning 246.

Cardinal Gibbons defeated previously unbeaten Jess Carson (China Grove, N.C.) to win its fifth straight 3A state title. During the streak Gibbons has lost just eight matches and over the last two seasons, has won 35 in a row.

And Kamehameha defeated Honolulu rival and three-time defending state champion Punahou for its first state D1 title.

The Top 10 teams remained the same, but new to the rankings is No. 21 Immaculate Heart (Washington Township, N.J.), winners of 41 matches this season, including the last 25.

Previous No. 11 Torrey Pines dropped out of the rankings after losses to Dana Hills (Dana Point, Calif.) and Mira Costa (Manhattan Beach, Calif.).


1. (1 last week) The Woodlands (Texas), 38-0
The Highlanders closed out the regular season by beating Oak Ridge (Conroe, Texas) and Friendswood. They open postseason bi-district action on Tuesday versus Klein Collins (Tomball, Texas).

2. (2) St. James Academy (Lenexa, Kan.), 47-0
St. James Academy won its sixth straight state title with a 2-1 win over St. Thomas Aquinas (Overland Park, Kan.), but lost its first set of the season to finish with a 97-1 set record. St. James Academy has won 56 straight matches over the last two seasons.

3. (3) Carroll (Southlake, Texas), 40-1
The Lady Dragons ran their win streak to 30 as they beat Central (Keller, Texas) on Tuesday and Keller on Friday, 3-0. They have outscored their foes 100-10. They play Arlington Lamar on Tuesday.

4. (4) East Troy (Wis.), 42-0
The Trojans beat Catholic Memorial (Waukesha, Wis.) and Kettle Moraine Lutheran (Jackson, Wis.) to win the sectional finals. They play 42-3 Oconto Falls (Wis.) on Friday in the state D2 semifinals.

5. (5) St. Ursula Academy (Toledo, Ohio), 28-0
The Arrows moved to 28-0 with 3-1 wins over Kenston and Strongsville. They play 27-1 St. Francis De Sales (Columbus, Ohio) on Thursday.

6. (6) Bellarmine Prep (Tacoma, Wash.), 27-0
The Lions beat Olympia and Gig Harbor and have outscored their foes 69-1 this season. They have not lost a set in more than a month.

7. (7) Cardinal Gibbons (Raleigh, N.C.), 28-0
Cardinal Gibbons swept Jesse Carson (China Grove, N.C.), 25-19, 25-13, 26-24, Saturday to win the program's fifth consecutive N.C. High School Athletic Association 3A volleyball title, a state record. Crusader setter Cheyenne Wood was named championship MVP. The Crusaders won 84 of 87 sets this season.

8. (8) Mercy (Louisville, Ky.), 36-1
The Jaguars have recorded eight straight 3-0 shutouts, the most recent coming in the finals of Region 6 (3-0 over Louisville's Holy Cross) to advance to state. They play 31-9 Wayne County on Friday in the first round of the Kentucky state tournament.

9. (9) Granite Bay (Calif.), 36-0
In running its streak to 36, Granite Bay has outscored its foes 87-4. Granite Bay swept the Super 8 Tournament last weekend. The Grizzlies visit Rocklin (Calif.) on Tuesday.

10. (10) Carmel (Ind.), 37-1
The Greyhounds, who last lost Aug. 24 to Sacred Heart (Louisville, Ky.), defeated Elkhart Central, 3-0, to win the Indiana Semi-State championship. It was the Greyhounds 34th straight match victory. They play 36-3 Avon for the state title on Saturday.

11. (13) Santiago (Corona, Calif.), 33-0
In winning all 33 matches, Santiago has yet to lose a set in 2013 (77-0). Setter Jessie Prichard averages 11 assists per game average.

12. (12) Lafayette (Wildwood, Mo.), 35-1-1
Since tying 1-1, Lafayette has won 26 straight matches and Maggie Scott is averaging 11.2 assists per set. Next Up: Once beaten Park Hill South (Kansas City, Mo.).

13. (14) Veterans Memorial (Mission, Texas), 39-0
The unbeaten Lady Patriots beat San Juan Alamo (Pharr, Texas) to end the regular season unbeaten. They host Moody (Corpus Christi, Texas) in the bi-district round of the Class 4A playoffs.

14. (15) Mother McAuley (Chicago), 35-2
The Macs won twice last week and play Frankfort (Ind.) in the regional finals on Tuesday.

15. (16) P.K. Yonge (Gainesville, Fla.), 27-1
The Blue Wave beat Santa Fe (Fla.) to win the district title and run their win streak to 20, then added one more with a 3-0 win over The Villages (Fla.) to open regional play. Up Next: First round of state versus Trinity Catholic (Ocala, Fla.).

16. (17) Churchill (San Antonio), 41-2
Last week, Churchill beat Roosevelt (San Antonio), Lee (San Antonio) and avenged an Oct. 1 loss to Reagan (San Antonio), 3-1. Bi-district opener against 27-13 Smithson Valley (Spring Branch, Texas) on Tuesday.

17. (18) Horizon (Scottsdale, Ariz.), 35-2
Horizon beat Phoenix foes North Canyon (Phoenix), Pinnacle and Mountain Pointe and Willow Canyon (Scottsdale, Ariz.) last week for a six-match win streak. Up next: Westview (Avondale, Ariz.).

18. (19) Dike-New Hartford (Dike, Iowa), 41-1
Winners of 35 straight, the Wolverines play Denver (Iowa) in Wednesday's regionals.

19. (20) Coppell (Texas), 41-3
Coppell opened postseason play with a 3-0 win over Grapevine on Monday.

20. (21) Barnstable (Hyannis, Mass.), 19-0
The Red Raiders defeated Walpole 3-0 as Olivia Brodt dished out 43 assists. Earlier last week, Barnstable beat Medfield and North Quincy to close out the regular season unbeaten. The Red Raiders open state play against 16-3 Bishop Feehan (Attleboro, Mass.) on Thursday.

21. (NR) Immaculate Heart Academy (Washington Township, N.J.), 41-2
Coach Maria Nolan recently surpassed the 800-win mark. Heart's 2-0 win over Northern Valley was its 25th straight. Heart, which last lost a set on Oct. 12, opens state tournament play on Friday.

22. (22) Bettendorf (Iowa), 33-2
Bettendorf plays Muscatine on Thursday in the second round of regionals.

23. (23) St. Francis (Wheaton, Ill.), 35-3
St. Francis won twice over the weekend and plays Joliet in regional finals on Tuesday.

24. (24) Notre Dame Prep (Pontiac, Mich.), 55-2-1
The Fighting Irish opened district action with a 3-0 win over Clawson (Mich.). They last lost a set in a 1-1 tie, 13 matches ago. They have a 123-5 edge in sets over opponents this season.

25. (25) Kamehameha (Honolulu), 30-2
Kamehamaha defeated Punahou, 3-1 (25-19, 25-20, 25-15) to win the Hawaii D1 state title. Alohi Robins-Hardy handed out 18 assists, had 13 kills and 16 digs in the title game.

Dropped Out:
No. 11 Torrey Pines (San Diego)