BALL (RED)HAWKS: No. 10 Marist (IL) blasts up Blue Star Media Net 25 girls’ volleyball rankings after claiming Class 4A state championship; California Open Division closes out season

BENSALEM, Pa. – The RedHawks of Marist High School in Chicago pulled off one of the top results of the girls’ volleyball season. What is often said, “Save the best for last.”

No. 10 Marist rockets up the Blue Star Media Net 25 rankings after rallying to beat Chicagoland rivals No. 11 Benet Academy (Lisle, Ill.) to annex the Class 4A state championship on Saturday in Normal. Benet (40-2) was believed to be one of the deepest teams in Illinois history with at least a dozen major Division I recruits. At one point, the Redwings moved into the top spot in the Net 25 but a late season loss dropped them from the lofty slot.

Benet had lost in the previous Class 4A title matches to Mother McAuley (Chicago) but needed to push over the finish line to complete the dream season.

But there is a reason you play the games. That was Marist’s thinking all along, leaving it all on the court and taking down the state’s top-ranked team. And it did not start so swimmingly for the RedHawks, who dropped the opening set 19-25, would rally for a 25-16 victory in the second and then put up a 25-19 victorious score line in the third.

Celebrate, RedHawks!

The Class 4A championship hardware now resides at 4200 W. 115^th Street in the Mount Greenwood neighborhood of the Windy City. The RedHawks (33-9) moved up 13 positions with the victory. Bella Bullington, a 6 foot 1 outside hitter, helped control the net in two state matches, totaling 23 kills in five sets. The Northwestern recruit was injured this season but returned to the lineup to go out a winner.

There are 10 state champions in the Net 25, including Marist. This week, nine teams rose in the Net 25, eight dropped with No. 23 Mercy (Farmington Hills, Mich.) going down nine spots, five remain the same and there are three debutants.

Joining the Net 25 are No. 21 Northville (Mich.), No. 22 St. Francis (Mountain View, Calif.) and No. 23 Ledo (Texas). Coincidentally, all three are in play for state titles this week. All told there are three teams from California, two from Texas and one from Michigan in the Net 25 still active. The season ends nationwide on Saturday. If you are counting there are six California teams ranked with five from the California Interscholastic Federation-Southern Region Open Division. It’s clearly the nation’s hotbed for girls’ volleyball and since they frequently play one another, the strength of schedule factor kicks in.

If you are in California this weekend, check out the CIF State Championships Friday and Saturday at Santiago Canyon College in Orange.

Friday’s matches (all times local)

Division V at 4 p.m.

Division I at 6:30 p.m.

Saturday

Division IV  at 11 a.m.

Division III at 1:30 p.m.

Division II at 4 p.m.

Open Division at 6:30 p.m.

The Open Division match will likely decide the Blue Star Media Net 25 National Championship. Tickets are available only online here.  General admission is $12 and children (5+years)/Students/Seniors are $8. Regardless of where you live, get out for the final time until the club season starts in January 2025.

We’re done for another week and return one last time. This weekend should contain a few surprises and more superior play. The Blue Star Media Net 25 girls’ volleyball rankings return on Monday, Nov. 24 for the final set.

Bye for now.

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

Blue Star Media Net 25 Girls’ Volleyball Rankings, Nov. 20, 2024

1. Mater Dei, Santa Ana, Calif. (37-4)

Previous rank: 1.

Digs: The Monarchs defeated No. 9 Sierra Canyon School (Chatsworth), 25-18, 18-25, 25-22, 22-25, 15-13 in the CIF-Southern Region Open Division semifinals. They also toppled Torrey Pines (San Diego), 19-25, 13-25, 25-16, 25-13, 15-13. Two tenuous regional wins and the Monarchs played No. 2 Cathedral Catholic (San Diego) in the final. The winner goes to the CIF Open Division state final on Saturday.

2. Cathedral Catholic, San Diego, Calif. (44-3)

Previous: 8.

Digs: The Dons defeated a pair of Elite 25 teams in the CIF-Southern Regional Open Division playoffs. They rallied to beat No. 12 Redondo Union (Redondo Beach), 22-25, 25-19, 25-12, 25-16 in the semifinals and swept then-No. 18 Los Alamitos, 25-16, 25-17, 25-19 in the first round. They face No. 1 Mater Dei (Santa Ana) in the regional final on Tuesday, Nov. 19. The state final is Saturday in Orange.

3. Byron Nelson, Trophy Club, Texas (38-1)

Previous: 2.

Digs: The Bobcats are headed to the state semifinals after taking down Plano West, 25-10, 25-13, 25-18 in the UIL Class 6A, Division II, Region 1 final. They meet College Park (The Woodlands) Monday, Nov. 18 in the state semifinals with the final on Saturday at the Curtis Culwell Center in Garland .

4. Prestonwood Christian Academy, Plano, Texas (37-2)*

Previous: 3.

Digs: Won third straight TAPPS Class 6A state championship, defeating San Antonio Antonian, 25-16, 25-19, 25-16 in the final. The Lions captured their final 13 matches and dropped only eight sets all season. Texas-bound outside hitter Macaria Spears contributed 16 kills and seven digs. Spears is a candidate for the Gatorade national player of the year. Coach Ryan Mitchell picked up his 10^th state title and third with the Lions. He is 113-7 since taking over in 2021. Kansas-commit and setter Taylor Cook distributed 39 assists, Houston-signee Gillian Pitts had 14 digs and Anya Baklenko hammered down nine kills. Taylor Clarke (Princeton recruit), Spears, Cook and Pitts were named to the all-tournament team. Season complete.

5. Alpharetta, Ga. (36-0)*

Previous: 4.

Digs: Won the Class 6A state championship. Season complete.

6. Cornerstone Christian School, San Antonio, Texas (32-4)

Previous: 6.

Digs: Season complete. The Warriors do not compete for a state championship.

7. Roncalli, Indianapolis (35-0)*

Previous: 7.

Digs: Won the Class 3A state championship. Season complete.

8. Divine Savior Holy Angels, Milwaukee (47-1)*

Previous: 9.

Digs: Won the Division 1 state championship for third straight year. Season complete.

9. Sierra Canyon School, Chatsworth, Calif. (33-6)

Previous: 10.

Digs: Advanced to the CIF-Southern Region Open Division semifinals, losing to No. 1 Mater Dei (Santa Ana), 18-25, 25-18, 22-25, 25-22, 15-13 in one of the tightest matches all season. The Trailblazers rallied from two sets down in the first round to defeat No. 13 Mira Costa (Manhattan Beach). Season complete.

10. Marist, Chicago (33-9)*

Previous: 23.

Digs: Won the Illinois Class 4A state championship, stopping then-No. 5 Benet Academy (Lisle, Ill.), 19-25, 25-16, 25-19 in the final. Northwestern-bound Bella Bullington, who missed most of the regular season with an injury, returned for 16 kills and nine digs and two service aces; Savanah Weathers had 10 kills; setter Maddie Berry dished out 33 assists and Elyna Davidson was good for 14 digs. In the semifinals, the RedHawks swept Lockport 25-14, 25-22. Bullington had seven kills, Berry contributed 24 assists and Davidson had nine digs. Season complete.

11. Benet Academy, Lisle, Ill. (40-2)

Previous: 5.

Digs: Upended in Class 4A state final by No. 10 Marist (Chicago) in three sets 25-19, 16-25, 19-25. Brooklynne Brass, a Maryland recruit, had 12 kills and Wisconsin-bound Lynney Tarnow added 10. Setter Audrey Asleson handed out 23 assists. Season complete.

12. Redondo Union, Redondo Beach, Calif. (28-11)

Previous: 16.

Digs: Advanced to the CIF-Southern Regional Open Division semifinals before losing to No. 2 Cathedral Catholic (San Diego) in four sets, 25-22, 19-25, 12-25, 25-16. Also topped then-No. 12 Marymount (Los Angeles), 25-20, 23-25, 28-30, 25-9, 15-10 in the first round. Season complete.

13. Mira Costa, Manhattan Beach, Calif. (26-9)

Previous: 11.

Digs: Fell to No. 9 Sierra Canyon School (Chatsworth), 25-23, 25-22, 26-28, 23-25, 7-15 in the CIF-Southern Regional Open Division first round. Season complete.

14. Marymount, Los Angeles (33-8)

Previous: 12.

Digs: The Sailors dropped a heartbreaking five-set match to then-No. 16 Redondo Union (Redondo Beach), 25-20, 23-25, 28-30, 25-9, 15-10 in the CIF-Southern Region Open Division first round. Season complete.

15. Mount St. Mary Catholic, Oklahoma City (39-1)*

Previous: 15.

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

16. Xavier College Prep, Phoenix (31-4)*

Previous: 19.

Digs: Won Conference 6A state championship, defeating Corona del Sol (Tempe), 25-16, 25-16, 17-25, 27-25 in the final. It was the program’s first title since 2018 and the 14^th overall. Sophomore Tessa Larkin pounded out 22 kills and Elle McCreery and Vivian Hickman teamed for 26 kills. Season complete.

17. Assumption, Louisville, Ky. (35-8)*

Previous: 20.

Digs: Won second straight Kentucky State Tournament championship and 24^th all-time under coach Ron Kordes. Season complete.

18. Winter Park, Fla. (28-1)*

Previous: 21.

Digs: Won Class 7A state tournament. Season complete.

19. Carroll, Fort Wayne, Ind. ( 33-3)*

Previous: 22.

Digs: Won Class 4A state championship. Season complete.

20. Northville, Mich. (37-2)

Previous: Not ranked.

Digs: The Mustangs joined the Net 25 rankings after knocking off then-No. 14 and defending state champions Mercy (Farmington Hills) in five sets in the Division I, Section 23 semifinals and then swept Stevenson (Livonia) in three sets for the title. They faced Bedford (Temperance) in the state quarterfinals on Tuesday, Nov. 19. The semifinals are Thursday and the final is Saturday at Kellogg Arena in Battle Creek.

21. St. Francis, Mountain View, Calif. (30-5)

Previous: Not ranked.

Digs: The Lancers slide into the Net 25 rankings on the penultimate weekend of play. They will meet archrivals Archbishop Mitty (San Jose) for the fourth time this season for the CIF-Northern Region Open Division final on Tuesday, Nov. 19. The Lancers have dropped two of three to Mitty this season but the stakes are much higher. In the semifinals, the Lancers defeated St. Ignatius College Prep (San Francisco) 22-25, 25-8, 25-16, 22-25, 15-10.

22. Aledo, Texas (35-7)

Previous: Not ranked.

Digs: The Bearcats crack the Net 25 with potentially two matches remaining in the UIL Class 5A, Division 1 state tournament. They played McKinney North on Tuesday, Nov. 19 in the state semifinals and with a win they are in Saturday’s final to be played in Garland. In the regional final, the Bearcats defeated then-No. 17 Colleyville Heritage 25-23, 25-17, 26-24. Senior Kinley Elms and junior Sophia Franks teamed for 26 kills; juniors Alyssa Todd and Ella Meador each posted 13 digs, and setter Ava Reding sent out 22 assists.

23. Mercy, Farmington Hills, Mich. (31-3)

Previous: 14.

Digs: Lost to No. 20 Northville in five sets in Division 1, District 23 semifinals. Season complete.

24. Mother McAuley, Chicago (33-5)

Previous: 20.

Digs: Advanced to Class 4A Super-sectional, where it lost to eventual Class 4A state champions Marist (Chicago). Season complete.

25. Yorktown, Ind. (33-3)

Previous: 25.

Digs: Advanced to the Class 4A state championship. Season complete.

Dropped out: No. 13 Lovejoy (Lucas, Texas) No. 17 Colleyville (Texas) Heritage and No. 18 Los Alamitos (Calif.).

Special Consideration: Pleasant Valley (Riverdale, Iowa)*; Wakeland (Frisco, Texas); North Allegheny (Wexford, Pa.)*; Lone Peak (Highland, Utah)*; Papillion-LaVista (Neb.) South*; Bishop O’Connell (Arlington, Va.)**;Norris (Neb.)*; Seton (Cincinnati)*; Bullis School (Potomac, Md.)*; Princeton (N.J.)*; Valor Christian (Highlands Ranch, Colo.)*; Torrey Pines (San Diego, Calif.); St. Thomas Aquinas (Overland Park, Kan.)*; Lakeville (Minn.) South*; Hamilton Southeastern (Fishers, Ind.); Plant (Tampa, Fla.); and Fulshear (Texas).

* Denotes a state or conference postseason champion [Note: a second asterisk indicates a team has multiple postseason titles.]

Records through Sunday

 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.