BENSALEM, Pa. – Game. Set. Season.
That’s it for another girls’ volleyball season and congratulations to the Monarchs of Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.) for capturing the Blue Star Media Net 25 National Championship. The Monarchs went 43-2, playing one of the nation’s most challenging schedules in an area that lives and breathes volleyball.
Coach Dan O’Dell, a former UCLA assistant, guided the Monarchs to the multiple titles this season. They won the Trinity League with a perfect and went to several national tournaments and came away with titles. The season was punctuated by winning the program’s second California Interscholastic Federation state championship, topping No. 3 Archbishop Mitty (San Jose) in the Open Division final.
The Monarchs also bagged the CIF-Southern Region Open Division and Southern Section Division 1 crowns. That’s a tremendous achievement.
No. 25 Flint Hill School (Oakton, Va.) slides back into the Net 25 rankings after winning the Virginia Independent Schools Division I state championship. No. 3 Archbishop Mitty jumps 10 spots and went down fighting in the CIF Open Division final.
So, that’s a wrap. For the second straight year, the CIF Open Division champions finish atop the Net 25 rankings. Last year, Cathedral Catholic (San Diego) finished No.1.
The Blue Star Media Net 25 rankings will return next August.
Please have a Happy Thanksgiving and then Happy Holiday’s and New Year. We really appreciate your readership. The metrics have shown exponential growth since we launched in the summer and when the word eventually spread for our second year.
If you are a basketball fan, we have just begun the season with the Elite 25 boys’ and girls’ rankings that dropped earlier this month. The updates will go until the conclusion of the season in April. We hope you drop by and check them out or follow us on X (formerly Twitter) at @clawlor.
Thank you for stopping by this season.
Stay safe! We hope to see you a game soon.—Christopher Lawlor
Blue Star Media Net 25 Girls’ Volleyball Rankings, Nov. 22, 2023
1. Mater Dei, Santa Ana, Calif. (43-2)*!
Previous rank: 1.
Digs: The Monarchs are the Blue Star Media Net 25 National Championships after winning the CIF Open Division state championship, defeating No. 3 Archbishop Mitty (San Jose), 25-18, 23-25, 25-15, 25-21, in the final. It was the program’s second state title. Michigan-bound right side Cymarah Gordon recorded 17 kills. In the Southern Region final, the Monarchs stopped then-No. 3 Cathedral Catholic (San Diego), 25-22, 25-20, 19-25, 25-16.
2. Hamilton Southeastern, Fishers, Ind. (32-0)*
Previous: 3.
Digs: Won second straight Class 4A state championship.
3. Archbishop Mitty, San Jose, Calif. (33-5)
Previous: 13.
Digs: Lost to No. 1 Mater Dei (Santa Ana) in CIF Open Division final, 18-25, 25-23, 15-25, 21-25. In the Northern Region final, the Monarchs beat No. 21 St. Francis (Mountain View), 25-12, 25-21, 19-25, 25-20.
4. Cathedral Catholic, San Diego, Calif. (34-5)
Previous: 3.
Digs: The CIF-San Diego Section Open Division champions lost to top-ranked Mater Dei (Santa Ana), 22-25, 20-25, 25-19, 25-19, in the Open Division Southern Region final.
5. Prestonwood Christian Academy, Plano, Texas (36-4)*
Previous: 4.
Digs: Won second straight TAPPS Class 6A state championship.
6. Mira Costa, Manhattan Beach, Calif. (39-4)
Previous: 5.
Digs: Advanced to CIF-Southern Region semifinals but did capture Bay League title.
7. Wayzata, Plymouth, Minn. (34-0)*
Previous: 6.
Digs: Won its fourth consecutive state championship and have won 44 straight matches.
8. Grand Oaks, Spring, Texas (50-1)*
Previous: 7.
Digs: Won UIL Class 6A state championship, defeating Cinco Ranch (Katy), 25-22, 25-23, 25-13, in the final. Halle Thompson 15 kills and eight digs, Kassie O’Brien handed out 20 assists and Samara Coleman added 13 spikes. In the semifinals, the Grizzlies beat Prosper, 26-28, 12-25, 28-26, 25-22, 15-12, in five grueling sets.
9. Divine Savior Holy Angels, Milwaukee (47-1)*
Previous: 8.
Digs: Won the WIAA Division I state championship.
10. Assumption, Louisville, Ky. (34-5)*
Previous: 9.
Digs: Won the Kentucky State Championship for the 23rd time and the first since 2020.
11. Mother McAuley, Chicago (37-5)*
Previous: 10.
Digs: Won the Illinois Class 4A state championship for the second straight year and state record 17th time in their illustrious history.
12. Carrollwood Day School, Tampa, Fla. (31-2)*
Previous: 11.
Digs: Won Class 3A state championship.
13. Benet Academy, Lisle, Ill. (39-3)
Previous: 12.
Digs: Lost in the Class 4A state final.
14. Cornerstone Christian School, San Antonio (34-7)
Previous: 14.
Digs: The Lady Warriors do not compete for a state championship but played a national schedule.
15. Huntington Beach, Calif. (33-10)
Previous: 15.
Digs: Advanced to the CIF-Southern Region Open Division semifinals.
16. Pace Academy, Atlanta (37-3)*
Previous: 16.
Digs: Won Georgia Class AAAA state championship.
17. Lincoln (Neb.) Southwest (33-4)*
Previous: 17.
Digs: Won first-ever Class A state championship.
18. Alpharetta, Ga. (38-3)*
Previous: 18.
Digs: Won Class AAAAAA state championship. Season complete.
19. Dike (Iowa)-New Hartford (50-0)*
Previous: 18.
Digs: Won Iowa Class 2A state championship. Season complete.
20. Kamehameha-Kapalama, Honolulu (30-3)*
Previous: 20.
Digs: Won the Hawaii Division 1 state championship. The Warriors, who also won the Interscholastic League of Honolulu title, have won 24 state crowns.
21. St. Francis, Mountain View, Calif. (35-6)
Previous: 21.
Digs: Lost to then-No. 3 Archbishop Mitty (San Jose), 12-25, 21-25, 25-19, 20-25, in the CIF-Northern Region Open Division final.
22. Bob Jones, Madison, Ala. (54-3)*
Previous: 22.
Digs: Won Class 7A state championship.
23. Immaculate Heart Academy, Washington Township, N.J. (27-1)*
Previous: 23.
Digs: Won a second straight Non-Public A state championship and 17 overall state titles.
24. Bishop Gorman, Las Vegas (34-5)*
Previous: 24.
Digs: Won Nevada Class 5A state championship.
25. Flint Hill School, Oakton, Va. (33-3)*
Previous: Not ranked.
Digs: Won VISAA Division I state championship.
Dropped out: No. 25 Branson School (Ross, Calif.).
Special Consideration: Valor Christian (Highlands Ranch, Colo.)*; Academy of Holy Cross (Kensington, Md.)*; Skutt Catholic (Omaha, Neb.)*; Mill Valley (Shawnee, Kan.)*; Fairport (N.Y.)*; Marist (Chicago); Notre Dame Academy (Park Hills, Ky.); Branson School (Ross, Calif.); Cinco Ranch (Katy, Texas); St. Mary’s Dominican (New Orleans)*; Archbishop Hannan (Covington, La.)*;Lake Catholic (Mentor, Ohio)*; St. Mary’s (Lancaster, N.Y.)*; Pope John Paul II (Royersford, Pa.)*; North Allegheny (Wexford, Pa.)*; Lafayette (Wildwood, Mo.)*; Blue Valley North (Overland Park, Kan.); Jesuit (Portland, Ore.)*; Mercy (Farmington Hills, Mich.)*; Sierra Canyon School (Chatsworth, Calif.); Sandra Day O’Connor (Phoenix)*; Oconomowoc (Wis.); Papillion (Neb.)-La Vista South and Lone Peak (Highland, Utah)*.
* Denotes a state or conference postseason champion
! Blue Star Media Net 25 National Champions
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 (formerly Twitter) at @clawlor.
