ALMIGHTY: No. 8 Mother McAuley (IL) Mighty Macs rise six spots in Blue Star Media Net 25 volleyball rankings; three teams enter with No. 19 Tompkins (TX) going for state title

BENSALEM, Pa. – There was a shakeup in the Blue Star Media Net 25 girls’ volleyball rankings with three teams entering, including two state champions.

No. 17 Wayzata (Minn.) returns to the Net 25 after capturing its third consecutive Minnesota state championship. The Trojans finished 30-4, winning the Class 4A final in three games.

No. 19 Tompkins (Katy, Texas) debuts and will have a shot at winning the Class 6A state championship this weekend in Garland. Tompkins won a regional title last week, improving to 41-4 overall.

No. 23 Papillion (Neb.)-La Vista South joins after annexing a third Class A title in four years earlier this month in Lincoln. PLVS went 30-4.

With two teams entering off of state championships, that brings the total to 15 state titlists from the Net 25. Teams from Ohio, New Jersey, Florida, Texas (TAPPS), Illinois and Minnesota clinched titles last weekend.

Five teams remained the same in positioning, 17 shifted slots with three moving up six spots and No. 25 Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.) slipped seven.

This week No. 1 Cathedral Catholic (San Diego, Calif.) and No. 5 Mira Costa (Manhattan Beach, Calif.) played for the California Interscholastic Federation Southern Regional final with the winner off to the state final this weekend. In Michigan, No. 4 Marian (Bloomfield Hills, Mich.) needs three wins for a Division 1 state crown. The quarterfinals were Tuesday and if Marian moves on, the semifinals are Thursday and the final is Saturday at Kellogg Arena in Battle Creek.

Elsewhere, the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) announced its All-America Teams.

There were a record 1,183 nominations were submitted, resulting in 300 All-Americans and Honorable Mention All-American selections. Fifty athletes were named to each of the AVCA All-America First, Second, and Third Teams, and 150 athletes were named Honorable Mention All-America.

Okay, that’ll do it for the second week in November. More championships and more stories are in store for next time. Schools from Texas, California, Michigan, Pennsylvania and New York will play for state championships this the final weekend of the season.

The Blue Star Media Net 25 girls’ volleyball rankings return for the final time on Nov. 23. Stay safe!

We hope to see you at a game soon. – Christopher Lawlor

Blue Star Media Net 25 Girls’ Volleyball Rankings, Nov. 16, 2022

1. Cathedral Catholic, San Diego, Calif. (40-0)

Previous rank: 1.

Digs: The Dons are one win from earning a trip to the CIF Open Division final after dispatching local rival Torrey Pines (San Diego), 25-20, 25-16, 25-21, in Southern California Regional Open Division semifinals. Also defeated Lakewood, 25-21, 25-15, 25-17, in the quarterfinals. The Dons played No. 5 Mira Costa (Manhattan Beach) on Tuesday in the regional final.

2. Cornerstone Christian School, San Antonio (55-2)

Previous: 2.

Digs: Season complete.

3. Hamilton Southeastern, Fishers, Ind. (34-1)*

Previous: 3.

Digs: Won first-ever Class 4A state championship. Season complete.

4. Marian, Bloomfield Hills, Mich. (46-1)

Previous: 4.

Digs: Won Division 1, Regional 7, sweeping Macomb Dakota, 25-15, 25-22, 25-17. In the semifinals, they defeated Stoney Creek (Rochester Hills), 25-18, 25-13, 25-17. The Mavericks played Clarkston on Tuesday in the quarterfinals. If they advanced, the semifinals are Thursday. Elsewhere, setter Ava Sarafa  was named AVCA First Team All-America. Wofford-recruit Ella Schomer made third team and libero Lauren Heming was honorable mention.

5. Mira Costa, Manhattan Beach, Calif. (38-4)

Previous: 6.

Digs: The Mustangs won twice in the CIF Southern Region Open Division playoffs last week. They knocked off then-No. 5 Sierra Canyon School (Chatsworth), 26-28, 25-19, 25-18, 23-25, 15-13, in the semifinals and Newport Harbor, 25-18, 25-23, 25-18, in the quarterfinals. Up next was the region final at No. 1 Cathedral Catholic (San Diego) on Tuesday night.

6. Sierra Canyon School, Chatsworth, Calif. (34-5)

Previous: 5.

Digs: The Trailblazers fell to No. 5 Mira Costa (Manhattan Beach), 28-26, 19-25, 18-25, 25-23, 13-15, in the CIF Southern Region Open Division semifinals. They also stopped then-No. ghghg Marymount (Los Angeles) in five sets in the quarterfinals. Season complete.

7. Prestonwood Christian Academy, Plano, Texas (40-1)*

Previous: 8.

Digs: Won TAPPS 6A state tournament, beating Bishop Lynch (Dallas), 25-20, 25-19, 25-21, in the final. Earning all-tournament honors were Jadyn Livings, Macaria Spears, Gillian Pitts and Mikala Young. Also defeated Parish Episcopal (Dallas), 25-14, 25-15, 25-19, in the semifinals. Season complete.

8. Mother McAuley, Chicago (39-3)*

Previous: 14.

Digs: Won Illinois Class 4A state championship, beating Benet Academy (Lisle), 25-22, 17-25, 25-14, in the exciting final. It was the 16th state title for the Mighty Macs, who are the winningest program in Illinois history. Coach Jen Dejarld won states with her alma mater for the third time. Michigan-recruit and junior Ellie White finished with 20 kills and 9 digs, setter Olivia Klapp handed out 20 assists and Northwestern-bound libero Gigi Navarette  had 20 digs. In the semifinals, the Mighty Macs rallied past St. Charles East,  25-27, 25-17, 25-20. White pounded out 23 kills and had 9 digs. Season complete.

9. Santa Fe, Alachua, Fla. (30-2)*

Previous: 15.

Digs: Won the Class 4A state championship for the second straight year, beating Academy of the Holy Names (Tampa), 25-13, 25-25, 12-25, 25-14, in the final. The Raiders closed the term with nine consecutive wins and in the postseason went 20-1 in sets won in seven matches. For seniors Miya Thomas, Sarah Falck and Coastal Carolina-bound Jalyn Stout, they went 101-24 record with three state title matches and a pair of state crowns. Season complete.

10. Fayetteville, Ark. (37-2)*

Previous: 16.

Digs: Won third consecutive Class 6A state championship. Season complete.

11. Yorktown, Ind. (34-3)

Previous: 10.

Digs: Advanced to Class 4A final. Season complete.

12. McCutcheon, Lafayette, Ind. (33-2)

Previous: 12.

Digs: Season complete.

13. Marymount, Los Angeles (30-10)

Previous: 11.

Digs: The Sailors lost to No. 6 Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth), 25-15, 23-25, 16-25, 25-23, 13-15, in Southern California Region Open Division quarterfinals. Season complete.

14. Washburn Rural, Topeka, Kan. (45-1)*

Previous: 17.

Digs: Won Class 6A state tournament. Season complete.

15. Immaculate Heart Academy, Washington Township, N.J. (29-1)*

Previous: 20.

Digs: Won NJSIAA Non-Public A state championship, beating Paul VI (Haddonfield), 25-16, 23-25, 25-23. The Blue Eagles have won 14 titles since 2007. Brookelyn Talmadge 19 kills and 5 blocks and setter Kalena Stavish added 33 assists. In the semifinals, the Blue Eagles defeated Union Catholic (Scotch Plains), 25-11, 25-19. Coach Maria Nolan picked up her 1,100th victory. Abby Romero had 13 digs and Grace Coughlin added 7 kills and 5 digs. Stavish handed out 21 assists. Season complete.

16. Notre Dame Academy, Park Hills, Ky. (34-5)*

Previous: 20.

Digs: Won Kentucky State championship for the 10th time. Season complete.

17. Wayzata, Plymouth, Minn. (30-4)*

Previous: Not ranked.

Digs: Won Class 4A state championship for a third consecutive year, defeating Lakeville North, 26-24, 25-12, 25-23, in the final. Olivia Swenson spiked 14 kills and Avery Jesewitz had 10 and 17 digs. Sophia Johnson also had 17 digs and setter Stella Swenson had 35 assists. In the semifinals, the Trojans swept Rogers, 25-15, 25-14, 25-23. Season complete.

18. Cleveland, Tenn. (48-5)*

Previous: 21.

Digs: Won Tennessee Class AAA state championship. Season complete.

19. Tompkins, Katy, Texas (41-4)

Previous: Not ranked

Digs: The Falcons advanced to the Class 6A state semifinals, beating Cinco Ranch (Katy), 25-20, 25-22, 25-19, in the Region 3 final. They have dropped one game in five postseason matches. Up next is Keller in the semifinals on Friday in Garland. The winner gets The Woodlands (Conroe) or Dripping Springs in Saturday’s state final.

20. Iolani School, Honolulu (24-5)*

Previous: 22.

Digs: Won Division I state championship. Season complete.

21. St. Thomas Aquinas, Overland Park, Kan. (40-3)*

Previous: 24.

Digs: Won the Class 5A state championship. Season complete.

22. Ursuline Academy, Cincinnati (26-3)*

Previous: 24.

Digs: Won Ohio Division I state championship, defeating Magnificat (Rocky River), 21-25, 25-22, 25-22, 25-21. Ella Grimes and Katie Gielas each had 14 kills and Lindsey Green added 48 assists. In the semifinals, Green set up 42 assists and Brooke Bultema had 17 kills and 4 blocks in a sweep of Bishop Watterson (Columbus), 25-16, 25-15, 25-23. Season complete.

23. Papillion (Neb.)-La Vista South (34-5)*

Previous: Not ranked.

Digs: Won Class A state championship for the third time in four years. Season complete.

24. Skutt Catholic, Omaha, Neb. (30-10)*

Previous: 25.

Digs: Won an eighth straight Class B state championship. Season complete.

25. Mater Dei, Santa Ana, Calif. (29-10)

Previous: 18.

Digs: Lost to Torrey Pines (San Diego), 26-28, 23-25, 21-25, in CIF-Southern California Region Open Division quarterfinals. Season complete.

Dropped out: No. 7 Westminster Christian (Palmetto Bay, Fla.); No. 9 Highland Park (Texas) and Barrington (Ill.).

Special Consideration: St. Francis (Mountain View, Calif.); Divine Savior Holy Angels (Milwaukee)*; Northville (Mich.); Lafayette (Wildwood, Mo.)*; Buford ( Ga.)*; Sequoyah (Canton, Ga.); Brandon (Miss.)*; St. James Academy (Lenexa, Kan.); Edmond (Okla.) Memorial*; Oconomowoc (Wis.); Pope (Marietta, Ga.)*; St. Mary’s (Lancaster, N.Y.)**; Tompkins (Katy, Texas); The Woodlands (Conrie, Texas); Sheldon (Eugene, Ore.)*; Lakeville (Minn.) North; Marshall (Minn.)*; Flint Hill School (Oakton, Va.)**; Torrey Pines (San Diego, Calif.); Clearwater Fla.) Central Catholic*; Highland Park (Texas); Benet Academy (Lisle, Ill.); Westminster Christian (Palmetto Bay, Fla.); Magnificat (Rocky River, Ohio) and Lancaster (N.Y.).

* Denotes a state or conference tournament postseason champion

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. 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. The final rankings will be released at the conclusion of the season in November. Follow him on Twitter at @clawlor.