MAC ATTACK: No. 10 Mother McAuley (IL) wins 17th state title; No. 24 Bishop Gorman (NV) enters Blue Star Media Net 25 girls’ volleyball rankings

BENSALEM, Pa. – Less than a week remains in the season and the Blue Star Media Net 25 girls’ volleyball rankings still have not been decided.

That means things can take an interesting twist this week with state championships being play in California and Texas. Things will got right down to the end.

Depending on the results from the California Interscholastic Federation Open Division championship, it could open the door for a Midwest team to slide in. And they check all the boxes.

No. 2 Hamilton Southeastern of Fishers, Indiana is done with its season having won out for the second consecutive year in Class 4A on Nov. 4. The Royals completed a perfect 32-0 season and carry a 67-match win streak into the 2024 term. The Royals are worthy of occupying the top spot if No. 1 Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.) can’t close the deal. If  the Monarchs win twice this week, they will have earned the Blue Star Media Net 25 National Championships. The Monarchs will face two Net 25 teams in order to secure the coveted CIF Open Division title.

There is one addition to the Net 25 from Nevada. No. 24 Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas) joins after winning the Class 5A state championship in four sets over defending champion Coronado (Henderson). The Gaels (34-5) last won it in 2021.

There were also a series of shifts, nothing seismic, but No. 13 Archbishop Mitty (San Jose, Calif.) hopped up eight slots and are two wins away from winning the CIF Open Division championship. The dream pairings from Tuesday in the Open Division are four Net 25 teams. In the Northern Region, it’s Mitty vs. No. 21 St. Francis (Mountain View) and in the Southern Region, it’s No. 3 Cathedral Catholic (San Diego) vs. No. 1 Mater Dei.

Last weekend, champions from seven state were crowned: Texas (TAPPS), Minnesota, Illinois, Florida, Hawaii, New Jersey and Nevada and three more from Louisiana, New York and Utah from the Special Considerations.

In Normal, Ill., No. 10 Mother McAuley (Chicago) did it again! Wow, the Mighty Macs (37-5) captured the Class 4A state title for the second straight year. They beat No. 12 and rivals Benet Academy (Lisle) in three sets to take home the program’s Illinois record 17^th championship.

Congratulations to all the players and coaches from the state winners. There will be more this weekend in California, Texas (UIL), Michigan and Pennsylvania.

So, the final week is nearly here and the finish line is in sight.

The Blue Star Media Net 25 girls’ volleyball rankings return for the final time on Nov. 22. Actually, they will go live by Monday night. So, stay tuned.

Keep an eye out for the Blue Star Media Elite 25 girls’ preseason basketball rankings that will go live soon. We already dropped the boys’ rankings.

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

Blue Star Media Net 25 Girls’ Volleyball Rankings, Nov. 15, 2023

1. Mater Dei, Santa Ana, Calif. (41-2)

Previous rank: 1.

Digs: The Monarchs are two victories from securing the CIF Open Division state championship. In the Southern Regionals, they defeated then-No. 13 Huntington Beach, 25-19, 23-25, 25-27, 25-13, 15-3, in the semifinals and Los Alamitos, 25-16, 25-17, 25-17 in the first round. Up next is a showdown with No. 3 Cathedral Catholic (San Diego) in the regional final. The winner is headed to the state final Saturday night.

2. Hamilton Southeastern, Fishers, Ind. (32-0)*

Previous: 3.

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

3. Cathedral Catholic, San Diego, Calif. (34-4)

Previous: 5.

Digs: The defending CIF Open Division champions played No. 1 Mater Dei (Santa Ana) in the Southern Region final Tuesday.

4. Prestonwood Christian Academy, Plano, Texas (36-4)*

Previous: 4.

Digs: Won second straight TAPPS Class 6A state championship, sweeping Antonian (San Antonio), 25-13, 25-14, 25-16, in the final. The Lions dropped only 19 sets all fall. Season complete.

5. Mira Costa, Manhattan Beach, Calif. (39-4)

Previous: 3.

Digs: It was a tough way to bow out this campaign after dropping a four-set game to then-No. 5 Cathedral Catholic (San Diego), 22-25, 25-21, 24-26, 22-25, in the CIF Southern Region semifinals. Season complete.

6. Wayzata, Plymouth, Minn. (34-0)*

Previous: 6.

Digs: Won its fourth consecutive state championship, defeating New Prague, 25-20, 25-23, 26-24, in the final. Olivia Swenson spiked 14 kills and Katie Kelzenberg added 10 more. The Trojans were dominant and perfect, sweeping all three matches in three sets and closing on a 44-game win streak. Season complete.

7. Grand Oaks, Spring, Texas (48-1)

Previous: 7.

Digs: The Grizzlies advance to the UIL Class 6A semifinals after defeating Tomball Memorial, 25-13, 25-18, 25-15, in the region final. Up next is Prosper Friday in the state semifinal with the winner moving on to face Northside Harlan or Cinco Ranch (Katy) Saturday in the final.

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

Previous: 8.

Digs: Won the WIAA Division I state championship. Season complete.

9. Assumption, Louisville, Ky. (34-5)*

Previous: 9.

Digs: Won the Kentucky State Championship for the 23^rd time and the first since 2020. Season complete.

10. Mother McAuley, Chicago (37-5)*

Previous: 12.

Digs: For the 17^th time in program history and second straight season, the Might Macs are Illinois state champions after defeating then-No. 11 Benet (Lisle), 25-22, 18-25, 25-16, in the Class 4A state finals. Michigan-bound Ellie White provided a spark with 18 kills and eight digs. Junior Sydney Buchanan had eight kills and Ellery Rees had five. Sam Falk, a Loyola (Ill.) recruit, made 15 digs and Peyton Heatherly doubled up with 32 assists and 13 digs. In the semifinals, the Mighty Macs beat Barrington, 25-19, 25-12. Season complete.

11. Carrollwood Day School, Tampa, Fla. (31-2)*

Previous: 10.

Digs: Won Class 3A state championship, knocking off Westminster Christian (Palmetto Bay), 23-25, 25-23, 25-19, 29-27, in the final. Lydia Chinchar hammered 35 kills and had 19 digs and Sarah Dibbs-Frantz added nine kills and 5.5 blocks. Season complete.

12. Benet Academy, Lisle, Ill. (39-3)

Previous: 11.

Digs: Lost in the Class 4A state final to then-No. 12 Mother McAuley, 22-25, 25-18, 16-25. In the semifinals, the Redwings defeated Willowbrook (Villa Park), 25-19, 24-26, 25-16.

13. Archbishop Mitty, San Jose, Calif. (31-4)

Previous: 21.

Digs: Advanced to the CIF-Northern Region Open Division final, defeating No. 25 Branson School (Ross), 25-21, 25-20, 20-25, 27-25, in the semifinals. The Monarchs played No. 21 St. Francis (Mountain View) Tuesday in the regional final with the winner going to the state final Saturday at Santiago Canyon College.

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

Previous: 14.

Digs: Season complete.

15. Huntington Beach, Calif. (33-10)

Previous: 13.

Digs: Lost to No. 1 Mater Dei (Santa Ana), 19-25, 25-23, 27-25, 13-25, 3-15, in five grueling sets in the CIF-Southern Region Open Division semifinals. The Oilers had the nation’s top-ranked team on the ropes but could not finish in the final two sets.

16. Pace Academy, Atlanta (37-3)*

Previous: 15.

Digs: Won Georgia Class AAAA state championship. Season complete.

17. Lincoln (Neb.) Southwest (33-4)*

Previous: 16.

Digs: Won first-ever Class A state championship. Season complete.

18. Alpharetta, Ga. (38-3)*

Previous: 17.

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: 19.

Digs: Won the Hawaii Division 1 state championship, defeating Punahou School (Honolulu), 25-23, 19-25, 25-22, 25-22, in fourth close sets. Adrianna Arquette finished with 16 kills and Kalaweloilehua Chock added 13 kills for the 24-time state champions. Season complete.

21. St. Francis, Mountain View, Calif. (35-5)

Previous: 24.

Digs: Swept Foothill (Pleasanton) and St. Ignatius College Prep (San Francisco) in three sets apiece in the CIF-Northern Regional Open Division playoffs. The Lancers met archrivals No. 13 Archbishop Mitty (San Jose) in the regional final Tuesday. The state final is Saturday.

22. Bob Jones, Madison, Ala. (54-3)*

Previous: 20.

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

23. Immaculate Heart Academy, Washington Township, N.J. (27-1)*

Previous: 22.

Digs: Won a second straight Non-Public A state championship, defeating Paul VI (Haddonfield), 25-17, 26-28, 25-15, in the final. It was the program’s 17^th state title. Senior libero Abby Romero had 25 digs and Julia Sobilio pounded out 10 kills. That’s quite a debut season for coach Michelle Yoo, who inherited the position earlier this year. Season complete.

24. Bishop Gorman, Las Vegas (34-5)*

Previous: 24.

Digs: Won Nevada Class 5A state championship, defeating Coronado (Henderson), 25-17, 25-12, 23-25, 25-19, in the final. Alabama-bound Leilia Toadiloa pounded out 21 kills and added 13 digs and six service aces. Sophomore outside hitter Ayanna Watson had 26 kills and four aces while sophomore setter Trinity Thompson handed out 59 assists and senior libero Taum Thompson made 29 digs. Season complete.

25. Branson School, Ross, Calif. (28-5)

Previous: 25.

Digs: Lost to then-No. 21 Archbishop Mitty (San Jose), 21-25, 20-25, 25-20, 25-27 in the CIF-Northern Regional Open Division semifinals. Season complete.

Dropped out: No. 23 Sierra Canyon School (Chatsworth, Calif.).

Special Consideration: Valor Christian (Highlands Ranch, Colo.)*; Academy of Holy Cross (Kensington, Md.)*; Skutt Catholic (Omaha, Neb.)*; Mill Valley (Shawnee, Kan.)*; Marist (Chicago); Notre Dame Academy (Park Hills, Ky.); Harlan (San Antonio, Texas); St. Mary’s Dominican (New Orleans)*; Archbishop Hannan (Covington, La.)*;Lake Catholic (Mentor, Ohio)*; Northville (Mich.); 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.)*; 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

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.