COURT QUEENS: No. 2 Mater Dei (CA) rise in Blue Star Media Net 25 girls’ volleyball rankings with repeat victory at Durango Fall Classic

BENSALEM, Pa. – The Monarchs of Mater Dei in Santa Ana, California bagged the Durango Fall Classic championship for the second consecutive year. No. 2 Monarchs took on the best in the nation and beat two of the nation’s top teams in their final two matches at Durango High School in Las Vegas, Nevada.

It was the highwater mark of the season for first-year head coach Dan O’Dell’s team. The Monarchs became the first team to win back-to-back DFC titles since Assumption (Louisville, Ky.) did it in 2017 and ’18.

In the final, the Monarchs knocked off No. 4 Marymount (Los Angeles) in three sets but the final one went to 28-26. Quite an ending to one of the top volleyball weekends this season. The Monarchs will play in the Nike Tournament of Champions Southwest at the Arizona Sports Facility in Mesa, Arizona on Oct. 4 and 5. Expect another national field assembled near Phoenix.

No. 1 Prestonwood Christian Academy (Plano, Texas) remains atop the Net 25 rankings but that could change quickly. The Lions have two losses but did win Volleypalooza last month. They advanced to the semifinals but fell to Mater Dei in three entertaining sets. The Lions aren’t scheduled to attend the Nike TOC, according to the school’s website.

We’ll have more next week about who is headed to Arizona but the field is traditionally top shelf.

So, the DFC brought change to the Net 25 with 17 shifting positions. Seven teams remained the same while 10 dropped and seven were on the rise. Florida schools No. 11 Plant (Tampa) fell 10 spots and No. 16 Carrollwood Day (Tampa) dipped 11. No. 4 Marymount zoomed up 15 spots and Mater Dei 11.

No. 18 Sierra Canyon School (Chatsworth, Calif.) is the lone newcomer to the Net 25 after an impressive showing at the DFC, going 6-1 with the lone loss to Mater Dei but did beat two ranked opponents. The Trailblazers are headed to the Nike TOC where they hope to make some more noise.

Two crosstown rivalry matches that can shake the Net 25 are No. 5 Mother McAuley (Chicago) vs. Marist (Chicago) on Thursday and No. 12 Assumption (Louisville, Ky.) vs. Sacred Heart Academy (Louisville) on Sunday. All four will reconvene the following weekend for a massive tournament in Chicago.

That’ll do it for the third week of September. The Blue Star Media Net 25 rankings return on Oct. 2.

Bye for now.

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

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

1. Prestonwood Christian Academy, Plano, Texas (24-2)

Previous rank: 1.

Digs: Advanced to the semifinals of the Durango Fall Classic before blowing out to No. 4 Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.), 23-25, 25-19, 22-25. Setter Taylor Cook, libero/defensive specialist Gillian Pitts and outside hitter Macaria Spears and Anya Baklenko starred in one of the nation’s foremost tournaments.

2. Mater Dei, Santa Ana, Calif. (19-3)

Previous: 13.

Digs: The Monarchs are Durango Fall Classic champions for the second straight year in defeating rivals No. 4 Marymount (Los Angeles), 25-18, 24-26, 28-26, in the final. Outside hitter Westley Matavao was the Most Outstanding Player and teammates setter Samantha Capinpin, opposite Preslie Saunders, middle blocker Addison Coady and outside hitter Layli Ostavar and Presley Kiffin getting all-tournament recognition.

3. Byron Nelson, Trophy Club, Texas (24-1)

Previous: 2.

Digs: The Bobcats improved to 6-0 in District 4-6A, sweeping Eaton (Fort Worth) and Northwest (Justin) in three sets apiece. The big match is Oct. 1 against Southlake Carroll in a district tilt.

4. Marymount, Los Angeles (20-3)

Previous: 19.

Digs: The Sailors vaulted 15 slots in the Elite 25 after falling to No. 2 Mater Dei (Santa Ana), 18-25, 26-24, 26-28, in the Durango Fall Classic championship match in Las Vegas. Last weekend’s standouts included libero/defensive specialist Declan Eastman, outside hitter Kenna Barnes, outside hitter Samantha Destler, middle blocker Elle Vandewege and setter Olivia Penske.

5. Cornerstone Christian School, San Antonio, Texas (23-2)

Previous: 3.

Digs: The Warriors made it to the semifinals of the Durango Fall Classic.

6. Benet Academy, Lisle, Ill. (17-0)

Previous: 6.

Digs: For the third consecutive year, the Redwings captured the Wheaton Classic championship and recorded a 25-10 win in the decisive set against Lincoln-Way East (Frankfort) in the final. Junior Brooklynne Brass, a transfer from Minooka (Ill.), spiked 11 kills in her first day of eligibility for Benet.

7. Hamilton Southeastern, Fishers, Ind. (18-1)

Previous: 7.

Digs: The Royals will be featured at the Crown Point Invitational and played No. 17 Roncalli (Indianapolis) on Tuesday, Sept. 24 in an area showdown of Indiana’s top two teams.

8. Alpharetta, Ga. (28-0)

Previous: 8.

Digs: The Raiders chalked up seven more wins.

9. Cathedral Catholic, San Diego, Calif. (24-3)

Previous: 9.

Digs: Went 4-2, dropping two sets at the Durango Fall Classic. The Dons accrued a 1-2 mark against Net 25 teams.

10. Mira Costa, Manhattan Beach, Calif. (15-5)

Previous: 16.

Digs: The Mustangs had a great outing at the Durango Fall Classic with outside hitter Audrey Flanagan, libero/defensive specialist Taylor Deckert and setter Milly McGee providing the leadership.

11. Dripping Springs, Texas (34-2)

Previous: 11.

Digs: Defeated Westlake (Austin), 25-17, 20-25, 25-23, 25-17. Riley Certain and Christa Wilburn teamed for 21 kills in the district play. Also swept Bowie (Austin), 25-15, 25-18, 25-17. Junior Henley Anderson spiked 18 kills and senior Lourdes Frontera had 24 assists and 12 digs.

12. Assumption, Louisville, Ky. (19-3)

Previous: 10.

Digs: After a long weekend in Las Vegas at the Durango Fall Classic, the Rockets host St. Henry (Erlanger) on Wednesday and archrival Sacred Heart Academy on Sunday afternoon.

13. Mercy, Farmington Hills, Mich. (16-0)

Previous: 12.

Digs: The Marlins won the East vs. West Invitational in Brighton, going 11-2 in sets. They beat Grand Haven, 25-12, 25-18 in the final. Junior Cree Hollier and sophomore Kate Kalczynski each pounded out six kills and senior Campbell Flynn assisted 19 times and added 14 service points. The Motor City Power Series continues Saturday in Pontiac.

14. Plant, Tampa, Fla. (14-0)

Previous: 4.

Digs: The Panthers added two more local wins, including a three-game sweep of Berkeley Prep (Tampa). This week they meet Newsome (Lithia) on Wednesday.

15. Divine Savior Holy Angels, Milwaukee (20-0)

Previous: 21.

Digs: The Dasher keep winning tournaments and they’ll have a chance to do the same at West Bend East on Friday and Saturday but the real test is at the ASICS Challenge in Chicago on Oct. 4 and 5.

16. Carrollwood Day, Tampa, Fla. (16-3)

Previous: 5.

Digs: The Patriots went 4-2 at the Durango Fall Classic. They play rival Berkeley Prep (Tampa) on Thursday.

17. Roncalli, Indianapolis (19-0)

Previous: 18.

Digs: Defeated Tri-West (Lizton) in five sets. 23-25, 25-13, 20-25, 25-23, 15-9. Logan Bell contributed 17 kills and 14 digs and Reagan Turk added 20 digs. The Lady Royals faced No. 7 Hamilton Southeastern (Fishers) on Tuesday, Sept. 24. The Marion County Tournament opens on Oct. 2.

18. Sierra Canyon School, Chatsworth, Calif. (18-2)

Previous: Not ranked.

Digs: The Trailblazers enter the Net 25 rankings after a solid performance at the Durango Fall Classic. A pair of sophomores, setter Lucky Fasavalu and outside hitter Hanna McGinest performed well in Las Vegas.

19. Redondo Union, Redondo Beach, Calif. (15-6)

Previous: 14.

Digs: The Sea Hawks had a respectable showing at the Durango Fall Classic with junior outside hitter and Cal commit Abby Zimmerman, setter Bella Jones and opposite Avery Junk playing outstanding.

20. Mount St. Mary Catholic, Oklahoma City (25-1)

Previous: 20.

Digs: The Rockets have won 11 consecutive matches and are rolling.

21. Skutt Catholic, Omaha, Neb. (12-4)

Previous: 17.

Digs: The Skyhawks returned from Las Vegas and have three matches scheduled this week. The first weekend in October they go to Chicago for the prestigious ASICS Challenge and a match with No. 6 Benet Academy (Lisle, Ill.).

22. Huntington Beach, Calif. (24-3)

Previous: 15.

Digs: The Oilers went 6-3 including a trip to the Durango Fall Classic while winning the Classic Bracket title over Liberty (Madera, Calif.), 25-18, 25-18.

23. Immaculate Heart Academy, Washington Township, N.J. (7-0)

Previous: 24.

Digs: The Eagles were pushed to three sets but finally put away Passaic County Tech (Wayne). They rebounded the next day to stop Pascack Valley (Hillsdale), 25-14, 25-18. Julia Sobilo put away eight kills and Alessandra Nazor had 15 assists and eight service points, including four aces.

24. Lovejoy, Lucas, Texas (22-7)

Previous: 25.

Digs: The Leopards won two district matches last week and have two more this week.

25. Mother McAuley, Chicago (15-3)

Previous: 22.

Digs: The Mighty Macs have a city showdown with rivals Marist (Chicago) Thursday. That’s must-see volleyball. Recently, sophomore setter Peyton Heatherly surpassed 1,000 career assists.

Dropped out: No. 20 Lakeville (Minn.) North.

Special Consideration: Xavier College Prep (Phoenix); Torrey Pines (San Diego, Calif.); St. Thomas Aquinas (Overland Park, Kan.); Champlin Park (Champlin, Minn.); Marist (Chicago); Bishop O’Connell (Arlington, Va.); Georgetown Day (Washington, D.C.); Notre Dame Academy (Park Hills, Ky.); Colleyville (Texas) Heritage and Yorktown (Ind.).

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.