HOLDING COURT: CIF-Southern Section elites dominate Blue Star Media Net 25 girls’ volleyball rankings; No. 25 Los Alamitos enters fray

BENSALEM, Pa. – From Orange County to Los Angeles to the San Fernando Valley, the California Interscholastic Federation-Southern Section is pretty darn special. Regardless of the sport, it’s the most fertile swath of land featuring high school talent.

It’s common knowledge, the Southern Section puts out the best girls’ volleyball talent so when the Southern Section playoff brackets or pools were revealed over the weekend, seven of the eight teams in the Division 1 were in the Blue Star Media Net 25 volleyball rankings.

That’s called respect for the deep talent pools in Southern California and if you allow the San Diego Section to the south, it’s quite an impressive haul. Essentially, the seven teams from Division 1 compose Pools A and B with eighth-seeded Temecula Valley (Temecula) the lone outlier from the Southwestern League or Inland Empire. Add No. 9 Cathedral Catholic (San Diego) from the CIF-San Diego Section and there are eight Net 25 teams or approximately one-third recognized in the national rankings.

Because there are multiple divisions in the Southern Sections, it takes three weeks to whittle down the competition for champions. The Division 1 playoffs open Wednesday at 6 p.m. PT with the first of three round-robin round pool matches.

The schedule (teams are preceded by their seed):

Pool A — First Round

No. 8 Temecula Valley at No. 1 Sierra Canyon School

No. 5 Marymount at No. 4 Mira Costa

Pool B — First Round

No. 7 Los Alamitos at No. 2 Mater Dei

No. 6 Redondo Union at No. 3 Huntington Beach

The second round is Tuesday, Oct. 29; third round Saturday, Nov. 2; finals are Saturday, Nov. 9 at Cerritos College in Norwalk at 6 p.m. The entire section volleyball brackets.

It was nearly quiet this week in the Net 25. The lone addition was No. 25 Los Alamitos (Calif.). Otherwise, the top-13 teams were static; five dropped positions, including No. 23 Redondo Union (Redondo Beach, Calif.) going down nine and six moved up with Huntington Beach (Calif.) surging seven positions.

All told 15 teams are involved in the postseason from the states of Georgia, Indiana, California, Wisconsin, Oklahoma and Kentucky. Illinois and Michigan start up next week and Texas is two weeks out. No. 6 Cornerstone Christian Academy (San Antonio, Texas) does not compete in the postseason.

The postseason will certainly weed out teams and shine a positive light on others. For the next five weeks the nation will determine state champions and the Net 25 will have it all. The final rankings drop Thanksgiving Week.

That’ll do it for the third week in October. The Blue Star Media Net 25 girls’ volleyball rankings return on Wednesday, Oct. 30.

Bye for now.

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

Blue Star Media Net 25 Girls’ Volleyball Rankings, Oct. 23, 2024

1. Benet Academy, Lisle, Ill. (33-0)

Previous rank: 1.

Digs: The Redwings captured another weekend tournament, annexing the Glenbard East Autumn Fest. They topped No. 17 Mother McAuley (Chicago), 25-13, 25-22 in the final. The two could meet in the Class 4A postseason which tips off next week. Two matches remain with the season finale on Wednesday with Loyola Academy (Wilmette).

2. Mater Dei, Santa Ana, Calif. (30-4)

Previous: 2.

Digs: The Monarchs captured the Trinity League crown and will begin the CIF-Southern Section Division 1 Pool B round-robin playoffs with No. 25 Los Alamitos Wednesday in the first round. The second round is Tuesday, Oct. 29 and the third is Saturday, Nov. 2. The finals are Saturday, Nov. 9 in Norwalk.

3. Byron Nelson, Trophy Club, Texas (31-1)

Previous: 3.

Digs: There’s no stopping the Bobcats, who have won 27 consecutive matches. Two matches this week and three are left in the regular season with the District 4-6A in sight.

4. Prestonwood Christian Academy, Plano, Texas (30-2)

Previous: 4.

Digs: The Lions have three matches left before the postseason.

5. Alpharetta, Ga. (33-0)

Previous: 5.

Digs: The Raiders face East Coweta (Sharpsburg) Tuesday, Oct. 22 in the Class AAAAAA quarterfinals. The semifinals are Saturday.

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

Previous: 6.

Digs: Season complete.

7. Sierra Canyon School, Chatsworth, Calif. (30-3)

Previous: 7.

Digs: The Mission League champions went 10-0 for the title. They open the CIF-Southern Section Division 1 Pool A round-robin playoffs in the first round with Temecula Valley (Temecula) on Wednesday.

8. Roncalli, Indianapolis (31-0)

Previous: 8.

Digs: Won the Class 3A Sectional, topping New Palestine, 25-9, 25-15, 25-11 in the final. Missouri-bound junior Lydia Stahley hammered down 19 kills. Junior setter Addie Haberthy had 36 assists. The Royals face Northview (Brazil) Saturday in the Class 3A Regionals.

9. Cathedral Catholic, San Diego, Calif. (37-3)

Previous: 9.

Digs: The City Western League ends this week with two matches. After that are the CIF-San Diego Section playoffs.

10. Dripping Springs, Texas (41-2)

Previous: 10.

Digs: The Tigers keep rolling with nine straight wins and a 9-0 record in District 26-6A after sweeping Lake Travis (Austin), 25-19, 25-15, 25-17. The trio of Henley Anderson had 15 kills, Christa Wilburn had 18 digs and setter Sydney Lund dished out 16 assists.

11. Divine Savior Holy Angels, Milwaukee (41-1)

Previous: 11.

Digs: The Dashers went 8-0 to claim the Greater Metro championship. The Division 1 Regionals are Thursday and Saturday followed by the Sectionals on Oct. 31 and Nov. 2.

12. Mira Costa, Manhattan Beach, Calif. (25-6)

Previous: 12.

Digs: The Bay League champions went 8-0 in the powerful loop. Up next is the CIF-Southern Section Division 1 Pool A round-robin playoffs with No. 13 Marymount (Los Angeles) Wednesday in the first round.

13. Marymount, Los Angeles (31-6)

Previous: 13.

Digs: The Sailors closed out the Mission League regular season with two easy wins. They open the CIF-Southern Section Division 1 playoffs with No. 12 Mira Costa (Manhattan Beach) Wednesday in the first round of the Pool A round-robin format. The second round is Tuesday, Oct. 29.

14. Hamilton Southeastern, Fishers, Ind. (30-2)

Previous: 15.

Digs: Won the Class 4A Sectional, stopping Westfield, 25-13, 20-25, 25-12, 25-19 in the final. Lindsey Mangelson, Mississippi State pledge, spiked 14 kills and junior Madison Miles added 12. Senior setter Ava Hunter handed out 40 assists. The Royals are back at it Saturday afternoon with Harrison (West Lafayette) in the regional final.

15. Huntington Beach, Calif. (30-4)

Previous: 22.

Digs: The Sunset League champions open the CIF-Southern Section Division I playoffs against No. 23 Redondo Union (Redondo Beach) Wednesday in Pool B round-robin play. The second round is Tuesday, Oct. 29.

16. Lovejoy, Lucas, Texas (30-7)

Previous: 19.

Digs: Defeated Walnut Grove (Prosper) and McKinney North for a perfect 11-0 record in District 9-5A. Three matches are left on the schedule.

17. Mother McAuley, Chicago (31-4)

Previous: 16.

Digs: Lost to No. 1 Benet Academy (Lisle, Ill.), 13-25, 22-25 in the finals of the Glenbard East Autumn Fest. Senior Sydney Buchanan had nine kills and seven digs and sophomore Peyton Heatherly had 19 assists.

18. Yorktown, Ind. (30-2)

Previous: 23.

Digs: Senior outside hitter Charlotte Vinson hammered down 18 kills when the Tigers defeated Greenfield-Central, 25-17, 25-10, 25-14 in the Class 4A Sectionals. Up next is Lawrence North (Indianapolis) in Greenfield-Central Regional on Saturday.

19. Notre Dame Academy, Park Hills, Ky. (26-3)

Previous: 24.

Digs: The Pandas opened the 35^th District tournament on Monday, Oct. 20 with Holmes (Covington) and the final is Wednesday.

20. Mercy, Farmington Hills, Mich. (21-2)

Previous: 18.

Digs: The Marlins won the Detroit Catholic League championship, stopping archrivals Marian (Bloomfield Hills) in three sets.

21. Mount St. Mary Catholic, Oklahoma City (36-1)

Previous: 20.

Digs: The Rockets closed out the regular season on a 22-match winning streak, crushing Altus in three sets. They begin the Class 6A state tournament Wednesday with Shawnee in Moore. The tournament continues Thursday through Saturday (final).

22. Plant, Tampa, Fla. (18-1)

Previous: 23.

Digs: The Panthers swept two local opponents and will close out the regular season on Wednesday with Strawberry Crest (Dover).

23. Redondo Union, Redondo Beach, Calif. (25-9)

Previous: 14.

Digs: The Sea Hawks are headed to the CIF-Southern Section Division 1 playoffs as the sixth seed and open the Pool B round-robin format with No. 15 Huntington Beach Wednesday in the first round.

24. Colleyville (Texas) Heritage (29-6)

Previous: 17.

Digs: The Panthers lost to Argyle in four sets and sit in a first-place tie in District 6-5A. Only three matches remain.

25. Los Alamitos, Calif. (31-6)

Previous: Not ranked.

Digs: The Griffins enter the Net 25 just in time for the CIF-Southern Section Division 1 playoffs, one of the top postseasons in the nation. They were second in the competitive Sunset League behind No. 15 Huntington Beach and open Pool B as the seventh seed against No. 2 Mater Dei (Santa Ana) on Wednesday.

Dropped out: No. 25 Williamstown (N.J.).

Special Consideration: Skutt Catholic (Omaha, Neb.); Seton (Cincinnati); Princeton (N.J.); Valor Christian (Highlands Ranch, Colo.); Xavier College Prep (Phoenix); Branson (Ross, Calif.); Torrey Pines (San Diego, Calif.); St. Thomas Aquinas (Overland Park, Kan.); Lakeville (Minn.) South; Immaculate Heart Academy (Washington Township, N.J.); Marist (Chicago); Assumption (Louisville, Ky.); Grand Oaks (Spring, Texas); Carrollwood Day (Tampa, Fla.); Casteel (Queen Creek, Ariz.).

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.