BENSALEM, Pa. – The postseason is in the air this week. Starting Thursday, the Indiana state sectionals in four classifications will be played out. That means the rest of the nation will follow by the end of October with most state titlists crowned in November.
One of the nation’s most competitive postseason tournaments, the California Interscholastic Federation-Southern Section playoffs, get underway on Oct. 23, 24, 26, 30 and Nov. 2 with preliminary round matches. The finals are Nov. 8 and 9. The regionals will be played Nov. 12-= through 19 and the state championships are Nov. 22 and 23.
With the postseason on tap, three schools enter the Blue Star Media Net 25 girls’ volleyball rankings.
Rejoining is No. 14 Redondo Union (Redondo Beach, Calif.), No. 23 Yorktown (Ind.) and No. 25 Williamstown (N.J.).
Junior middle blocker Taylor Boice (UC Irvine), junior right side Avery Junk (Florida State for beach), setter Bella Jones (San Diego State), junior outside hitter Abby Zimmerman (California) and junior libero Addi Junk (LSU for beach) lead the way for Redondo Union.
Yorktown (27-2) won its conference title and starts the Class 4A Sectionals on Thursday with the semifinals and final Saturday in Pendleton.
Williamstown (18-0) is New Jersey’s top-ranked team and the favorite to win the Group 4 or the large-school classification state championship.
This week’s Net 25 features the aforementioned three additions; one team dipped 13 spots, No. 24 Notre Dame Academy (Park Hills, Ky.); 10 went up, including both No. 11 Divine Savior Holy Angels (Milwaukee), by four slots; and 11 remained the same. NDA was upset and had an important match on Tuesday, Oct. 15.
Change is inevitable for the Net 25 with the postseason getting started. The final rankings drop Thanksgiving Week.
That’ll do it for the second week in October. The Blue Star Media Net 25 rankings return on Wednesday, Oct. 23.
A last thought.
Two weeks ago, Hurricane Helene cut a path of destruction in Florida and the Carolinas and now Milton along the Florida Gulf Coast. If you can please donate to the relief efforts for these natural disasters at the Red Cross. No amount is too small. Your generosity is always appreciated.
Bye for now.
We hope to see you at a game soon. – Christopher Lawlor
Blue Star Media Net 25 Girls’ Volleyball Rankings, Oct. 16, 2024
1. Benet Academy, Lisle, Ill. (27-0)
Previous rank: 5.
Digs: Won the St. Charles East Scholastic Cup in Aurora, Ill., sweeping five opponents without dropping a set. In the final, they topped Normal West, 25-12, 25-15 in the final. Brooklynne Bass had eight kills and two blocks and Lynney Tarnow added kills and two assists.
2. Mater Dei, Santa Ana, Calif. (30-4)
Previous: 2.
Digs: The Monarchs swept Trinity League opponents Santa Margarita (Rancho Santa Margarita) and JSerra Catholic (San Juan Capistrano) and can go 6-0 with a win over Orange Lutheran on Tuesday, Oct. 15 in the regular-season finale.
3. Byron Nelson, Trophy Club, Texas (29-1)
Previous: 3.
Digs: The Bobcats stretched their win streak to 25 matches with two more in District 4-6A this week and five in the regular season.
4. Prestonwood Christian Academy, Plano, Texas (28-2)
Previous: 4.
Digs: Defeated Legacy Christian Academy (Frisco), 25-7, 25-16, 25-11.
5. Alpharetta, Ga. (31-0)
Previous: 5.
Digs: The Raiders needed to beat Peachtree Ridge (Suwanee) on Tuesday, Oct. 15 to finish with a perfect regular season record.
6. Cornerstone Christian School, San Antonio, Texas (32-4)
Previous: 6.
Digs: Season complete.
7. Sierra Canyon School, Chatsworth, Calif. (28-3)
Previous: 7.
Digs: Defeated No. 13 Marymount (Los Angeles) in three sets and finish up the regular season on Wednesday with Bishop Alemany (Mission Hills).
8. Roncalli, Indianapolis (28-0)
Previous: 8.
Digs: Missouri-bound junior Lydia Stahley contributed 21 kills and 10 digs and Regan Turk had 13 digs and three aces to defeat Columbus East, 25-17, 25-17, 25-18. The Royals open the Class 3A Sectional with Beech Grove on Thursday. The tournament continues with two matches on Saturday.
9. Cathedral Catholic, San Diego, Calif. (35-3)
Previous: 9.
Digs: The Dons recorded a quality two-set victory over Torrey Pines (San Diego), 25-21, 25-20, stretching the win streak to 12 matches.
10. Dripping Springs, Texas (39-2)
Previous: 12.
Digs: Junior setter Sydney Lund handed out 35 assists and senior Katie Newman had 18 when the Tigers defeated Bowie (Austin), 25-14, 25-17, 25-22.
11. Divine Savior Holy Angels, Milwaukee (39-1)
Previous: 15.
Digs: The Dashers won their own tournament with four wins on Saturday, Oct. 12. They close out the regular season on Thursday against Wauwatosa West.
12. Mira Costa, Manhattan Beach, Calif. (24-6)
Previous: 16.
Digs: The Mustangs are one win away from completing a perfect record in the Bay League with the CIF-Southern Section playoffs beginning next week.
13. Marymount, Los Angeles (29-6)
Previous: 13.
Digs: Lost to No. 7 Sierra Canyon School (Chatsworth), 25-21, 20-25, 25-27, 20-25. The Sailors close out the regular season Wednesday against Chaminade (West Hills).
14. Redondo Union, Redondo Beach, Calif. (25-8)
Previous: Not ranked.
Digs: The Sea Hawks return to the Net 25 rankings after winning the Redondo/Mira Costa Power Classic the previous week with two impressive wins over Los Alamitos and No. 12 Mira Costa (Manhattan Beach). They closed out the regular season with a Bay League matchup with Mira Costa on Tuesday, Oct. 15.
15. Hamilton Southeastern, Fishers, Ind. (28-2)
Previous: 17.
Digs: The Royals closed out the regular season, beating Brebeuf Jesuit (Indianapolis) and Franklin Central (Indianapolis) in three sets apiece.
16. Mother McAuley, Chicago (23-3)
Previous: 18.
Digs: Defeated Montini Catholic (Lombard) and St. Francis (Wheaton) in two sets apiece.
17. Colleyville (Texas) Heritage (28-5)
Previous: 19.
Digs: The Panthers defeated Grapevine, 25-16, 25-14, 25-10.
18. Mercy, Farmington Hills, Mich. (18-2)
Previous: 20.
Digs: The Marlins swept Marian (Bloomfield Hills) and Notre Dame Academy (Toledo, Ohio) in three sets.
19. Lovejoy, Lucas, Texas (28-7)
Previous: 21.
Digs: The Leopards have five matches left in the regular season and District 9-5A.
20. Mount St. Mary Catholic, Oklahoma City (34-1)
Previous: 20.
Digs: The Rockets closed on the regular season on Monday, Oct. 14 and hope to bring a 21-game win streak into the postseason.
21. Plant, Tampa, Fla. (16-1)
Previous: 23.
Digs: Idle. Hurricane Milton forced the postponement of matches.
22. Huntington Beach, Calif. (29-4)
Previous: 24.
Digs: The Oilers can clinch a share or win the league title on Tuesday against Corona del Mar (Newport Beach).
23. Yorktown, Ind. (27-2)
Previous: Not ranked.
Digs: The Tigers return to the Net 25 after two seasons. Shanese Williams spiked 10 kills and sophomore setter Hannah Clark added 20 assists when the Tigers beat Muncie Burris, 25-10, 25-10, 25-13. The Hoosier Heritage Conference champions open the postseason in the Class 4A Sectionals with Pendleton Heights (Pendleton) Thursday with the winner getting Muncie Central Saturday in the semifinals. The final is Saturday night.
24. Notre Dame Academy, Park Hills, Ky. (24-3)
Previous: 11.
Digs: Upset by Ursuline Academy (Cincinnati, Ohio), 17-25, 25-21, 24-26, 25-23, 15-10. Three matches remain in the regular season, including powerhouse Assumption (Louisville) on Tuesday, Oct. 15.
25. Williamstown, N.J. (18-0)
Previous: Not ranked.
Digs: New Jersey’s top-ranked team is on a roll. The Braves defeated Triton (Runnemede), 25-8, 25-7. Meghan McGough, Addilyn Belcher and Stella Eberly all had four kills and Callie Kozeniewski had four aces.
Dropped out: No. 10 Horizon (Scottsdale Ariz.); No. 14 Skutt Catholic (Omaha, Neb.) and No. 25 Princeton (N.J.).
Special Consideration: Skutt Catholic (Omaha, Neb.); Seton (Cincinnati); Valor Christian (Highlands Ranch, Colo.); Xavier College Prep (Phoenix); Branson (Ross, Calif.); Torrey Pines (San Diego, Calif.); St. Thomas Aquinas (Overland Park, Kan.); Lakeville (Minn.) South; Immaculate Heart Academy (Washington Township, N.J.); Marist (Chicago); Assumption (Louisville, Ky.); Grand Oaks (Spring, Texas); Carrollwood Day (Tampa, Fla.); Casteel (Queen Creek, Ariz.) and Georgetown Day (Washington, D.C.).
Records through Sunday’s matches
About: The Blue Star Media Net 25 High School Girls’ Volleyball Rankings are released weekly from August until the conclusion of the high school season in November. Criteria considered are the quality of the team and its players, strength of schedule, tradition, and quality of the team’s league, conference, region or district. The rankings are compiled by Blue Star Media’s Christopher Lawlor, who consults with a national network of coaches, talent evaluators and prep sports writers. Follow him on X at @clawlor.
