HEATING UP: No. 23 Archbishop Mitty (CA) enters Blue Star Media Net 25 girls’ volleyball rankings; postseason takes shape with several states in play

BENSALEM, Pa. – One by one the nation is gravitating to the volleyball postseason. In most cases, it’s “one and done” operation. Translation: lose and go home and wait for the club season to start up in January.

That’s the harsh reality facing teams from the Blue Star Media Net 25 girls’ volleyball rankings. Great seasons can be silenced with one bad match or set. So far, we have not lost any schools to the state tournament but the attrition is inevitable.

Expect the change in the Net 25 rankings. Things are starting to heat up.

Speaking of change, No. 23 Archbishop Mitty (San Jose, Calif.)—a.k.a. the alma mater of the great Kerri (Walsh) Jennings—enters the Net 25. Since 1993, the Monarchs have annexed 14 California Interscholastic Federation state championships. They compete in the West Catholic League with No. 24 St. Francis (Mountain View) and the teams have split four matches this term. You can bet they will meet again, perhaps twice, in the CIF-Central Coast Section Open Division playoffs and the Northern California Regionals.

Otherwise, No. 14 Cornerstone Christian School (San Antonio) is done for season and went 34-7 playing a rigorous national schedule. The Warriors do not compete for a state championship in Texas. Truly, one of the nation’s powerhouse programs.

This week’s upward movers are No. 11 Huntington Beach (Calif.) ascending five slots and No. 12 Benet Academy (Lisle, Ill.) hops six. Dropping are No. 16 Papillion (Neb.) La Vista South that suffered a shock loss and went down seven spots and No. 17 Sierra Canyon School (Chatsworth, Calif.) dipped six but redeem itself this week in CIF-Southern Section Open Division pool play. The Trailblazers have two matches remaining.

Meanwhile, the top-7 teams remained intact, including No. 1 Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.) and No. 2 Mira Costa (Manhattan Beach, Calif.), who could meet in the CIF-Southern Section Open Division final on Nov. 4.

No. 3 Hamilton Southeastern (Fishers, Ind.) are two wins from repeating in Indiana’s Class 4A but the unbeaten Royals (31-0) must first navigate Saturday’s Semi-State match with La Porte.

Naturally, we’ll have the results.

That’ll do it for the third week in October.

The Blue Star Media Net 25 girls’ volleyball rankings return Nov. 1. There are only four rankings left before the final ones drop before Thanksgiving.

In the meantime, have a Happy Halloween … trick or treat!

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

Blue Star Media Net 25 Girls’ Volleyball Rankings, Oct. 25, 2023

1. Mater Dei, Santa Ana, Calif. (36-2)

Previous rank: 1.

Digs: The Monarchs opened the CIF-Southern Section Division 1 Pool A round-robin playoffs, beating Palos Verdes (Palos Verdes Estates), 27-25, 25-17, 25-23. San Diego-bound Isabela Clark smashed 18 spikes and added seven spikes and Julia Kakkis sent out 40 assists. The final week of pool play has the Monarchs hosting Marymount (Los Angeles) Tuesday and No. 17 Sierra Canyon School (Chatsworth) Saturday. The Division 1 final is Nov. 4.

2. Mira Costa, Manhattan Beach, Calif. (36-2)

Previous: 2.

Digs: In the CIF-Southern Section Division 1 Pool B round-robin playoffs, the Mustangs recorded a 25-16, 25-15, 25-7 victory over Los Alamitos. Simone Roslon (11 kills) and Audrey Flanagan (10) teamed for 21 kills. They finish up the pool with Alemany (Mission Hills) Tuesday and No. 11 Huntington Beach Saturday.

3. Hamilton Southeastern, Fishers, Ind. (31-0)

Previous: 3.

Digs: Won the Class 4A Homestead Regional title in Fort Wayne, outlasting Homestead (Fort Wayne), 23-25, 25-9, 25-15, 22-25, 15-7, in the final. The Royals return to the 4A Semi-States Saturday against La Porte in Frankfort. The winner advances to the state final Nov. 4 in Muncie.

4. Prestonwood Christian Academy, Plano, Texas (32-4)

Previous: 4.

Digs: One match remained in the regular season—Tuesday versus rival Ursuline Academy (Dallas)—but the Lions swept Trinity Christian (Addison) and Parish Episcopal (Dallas) in three sets apiece and look to go 12-0 in the TAPPS Class 6A, District 1.

5. Cathedral Catholic, San Diego, Calif. (29-4)

Previous: 5.

Digs: The Dons won the Western League title, defeating University City (San Diego) in three set to finish 8-0. Up next is Eastlake in the CIF-San Diego Section Open Division quarterfinals Thursday. The semifinals are on Halloween.

6. Assumption, Louisville, Ky. (29-4)

Previous: 6.

Digs: Won the 26^th District championship, sweeping Male (Louisville), 25-11, 25-14, 25-10, in the final. The Region 7 tournament opened this week and the final is Wednesday.

7. Wayzata, Plymouth, Minn. (28-0)

Previous: 7.

Digs: Defeated Minnetonka, 25-12, 25-16, 25-18.

8. Grand Oaks, Spring, Texas (41-1)

Previous: 10.

Digs: Defeated Conroe, 25-14, 25-12, 25-8, as sophomore Halle Thompson had 11 kills, 10 digs and three blocks and Audrey Terry handed off 16 assists. The Grizzlies go for a perfect record in District 13-6A against Cleveland Tuesday and finish up at Episcopal (Bellaire) Friday afternoon.

9. Divine Savior Holy Angels, Milwaukee (42-1)

Previous: 10.

Digs: Defeated Whitefish Bay, 25-7, 25-15, 25-8, in the regular-season finale. Sophia Wendlick had 20 kills and Madison Quest added 13. Belmont-bound Jordan Czajkowski directed the offense with 36 assists.

10. Carrollwood Day School, Tampa, Fla. (26-2)

Previous: 12.

Digs: Won the District 9-3A tournament, beating three opponents. Up next is Clearwater Central Catholic Tuesday in the Region 3 quarterfinals. The semifinals are Friday.

11. Huntington Beach, Calif. (28-7)

Previous: 16.

Digs: Haylee Lafontaine hammered 18 kills and Dani Sparks dished off 51 assists when the Oilers defeated Alemany (Mission Hills), 28-26, 25-16, 25-14, in the first of three games in the CIF-Southern Section Division 1 Pool B playoffs. The Oilers face Los Alamitos Tuesday and No. 2 Mira Costa (Manhattan Beach) Thursday.

12. Benet Academy, Lisle, Ill. (33-2)

Previous: 18.

Digs: The Redwings host the Class 4A regionals this week on Tuesday and Thursday. The regular season concluded, sweeping Nazareth Academy (La Grange Park), 25-8, 25-12, and Montini Catholic (Lombard), 25-17, 25-12. Sophomore setter Ellie Stiernagle sent out 15 assists in the latter win.

13. Mother McAuley, Chicago (30-5)

Previous: 13.

Digs: Michigan-bound outside hitter Ellie White spiked 16 kills and six digs when the Mighty Macs swept Lyons (La Grange), 25-17, 25-20, in the regular season finale. They also went 7-0 to win the Girls Catholic Athletic Conference title and will open the Class 4A regions this week in South Holland against Thornton (South Holland) of Rich Township (Richton Park) Tuesday in the semifinals. The final is Thursday.

14. Cornerstone Christian School, San Antonio (34-7)

Previous: 14.

Digs: Season complete.

15. Pace Academy, Atlanta (34-3)

Previous: 15.

Digs: Defeated Cedartown, 25-5, 25-13, 25-11, in the Class AAAA second round. The Knights are in the Elite Eight and played Starr’s Mill (Fayetteville) Tuesday.

16. Papillion (Neb.)-La Vista South (33-1)

Previous: 9.

Digs: Lost to rivals Papillion-La Vista, 25-20, 23-25, 21-25, 25-19, 10-15, in the Metro Conference Tournament semifinals. Lauren Medeck crushed 21 kills and freshman Kam Bails had 12 in the shock loss.

17. Sierra Canyon School, Chatsworth, Calif. (33-7)

Previous: 11.

Digs: Upended by Marymount (Los Angeles) in five sets and 15-12 in the decisive fifth game of the CIF-Southern Section Division 1 Pool A playoffs. The Trailblazers played Palos Verdes (Palo Verdes Estates) Tuesday and then top-ranked Mater Dei (Santa Ana) Saturday to close out pool play.

18. Pope, Marietta, Ga. (37-3)

Previous: 17.

Digs: Defeated Jackson County (Jefferson), 25-7, 25-19, 25-15, in the Class AAAAAA second round the Woodstock, 25-15, 25-12, 26-24, in the first round. Next up was Marist (Atlanta) Tuesday in the third round or Quadrant 3 final. The winner is off the state semifinals.

19. Marist, Chicago (30-4)

Previous: 19.

Digs: The Red Hawks enter the postseason on Tuesday and Thursday in the Class 4A regional in Burbank, Ill. They ended the regular season with a 25-14, 25-16 victory over Minooka.

20. Kamehameha-Kapalama, Honolulu (26-3)

Previous: 20.

Digs: The Interscholastic League of Honolulu Division 1 double-elimination tournament continues this week on Thursday with Punahou School (Honolulu).

21. Bob Jones, Madison, Ala. (49-3)

Previous: 21.

Digs: Won the Class 7A, Area 7 championship, sweeping two teams. Up next Oak Mountain (Birmingham) in the Class 7A North Regional first round. The semifinals, consolation round and final will be contested Friday in Huntsville.

22. Immaculate Heart Academy, Washington Township, N.J. (22-1)

Previous: 23.

Digs: Won ninth Bergen County Tournament championship, defeating rivals Old Tappan, 25-17, 20-25, 25-18, in the final. Senior setter Kalena Stavish had 30 assists and three kills and junior Even Roman contributed 11 kills and 13 digs and Abby Romero added 14 digs. The Blue Eagles open the defense of their Non-Public A state championship with Mount St. Mary (Watchung) on Nov. 1 in the first round.

23. Archbishop Mitty, San Jose, Calif. (26-4)

Previous: Not ranked.

Digs: The Monarchs are in the Net 25 after solid finish to the season and a 2-2 mark against No. 24 St. Francis (Mountain View). The two West Catholic League rivals could meet again in the CIF-Central Coast Section Open Division tournament that starts Saturday with the quarterfinals. The semifinals are Nov. 1 and the final is Nov. 4 in Palo Alto.

24. St. Francis, Mountain View, Calif. (31-4)

Previous: 24.

Digs: The CIF-Central Coast Open Division playoffs roll out later this week with the quarterfinals.

25. Branson School, Ross, Calif. (24-4)

Previous: 25.

Digs: The Bulls are the top seed in the CIF-North Coast Section Division 2 playoffs and won’t play until the quarterfinals against American (Fremont) or Northgate (Walnut Creek) on Saturday. The semifinals are Nov. 1 and the final is Nov. 4.

Dropped out: No. 22 Sparta (N.J.).

Special Consideration: Punahou School (Honolulu); Notre Dame Academy (Park Hills, Ky.); Lake Travis (Austin, Texas); St. Mary’s Dominican (New Orleans); Lake Catholic (Mentor, Ohio); Northville (Mich.); St. James Academy (Lenexa, Ka.); Dike (Iowa)-New Hartford; St. Mary’s (Lancaster, N.Y.); Pope John Paul II (Royersford, Pa.); Lafayette (Wildwood, Mo.); Valor Christian (Highlands Ranch, Colo.); Blue Valley North (Overland Park, Kan.); Jesuit (Portland, Ore.); Xavier College Prep (Phoenix); Oconomowoc (Wis.); Holy Cross (Kensington, Md.) and Skyridge (Lehi, Utah).

Records are 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 (formerly Twitter) at @clawlor.