Major tournaments in Arizona and Illinois could reshape Blue Star Media Net 25 girls’ volleyball rankings; Texas Class 5A powerhouse debuts

BENSALEM, Pa. – What a way to start the month of October with two major national tournaments on Friday and Saturday that will certainly impact the Blue Star Media Net 25 girls’ volleyball rankings.

In a week, the Net 25 could have a new look especially at the top. With No. 2 Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.) off to the Nike Tournament of Champions Southwest on Friday and Saturday in Mesa, Arizona along with other national programs, the winner could rise to No. 1. The tournament will mostly feature teams from the West Coast with California supplying powerhouse programs.

The same goes for the ASICS Challenge on Friday and Saturday in Chicago. The event is hosted by No. 19 Mother McAuley (Chicago) with several Midwestern powers headed to the Windy City.

This week No. 22 Colleyville (Texas) Heritage joins the Net 25. The Panthers are among the favorites to win the University Interscholastic League Class 5A state tournament next month.

Seven teams remained the same in positioning and another seven rose. No. 6 Sierra Canyon School (Chatsworth, Calif.) jumped 12 spots after a solid week. Ten teams dropped with No. 18 sliding 11 spot after a three-set loss to No. 11 Roncalli (Indianapolis). Unfortunately, this was the lone meeting between the Hoosier State powers. Each will compete in different classifications once the playoffs are seeded.

That’ll do it for the month of September. The Blue Star Media Net 25 rankings return on Wednesday, Oct. 9.

On a personal note, Hurricane Helene took lives, rearranged them and ruined homes in its destructive path. If you are so inclined please donate to aid the recovery efforts. I did it with the Red Cross. No amount is too small for those who lost everything.

Finally, Rosh Hashanah or the Jewish New Year (Year 5785) begins at sundown on Wednesday, Oct. 2 and ends after nightfall on Friday, Oct. 4. To all our Jewish friends, “Shanah Tova” or Good Year. God’s Blessings to all.

Bye for now.

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

Blue Star Media Net 25 Girls’ Volleyball Rankings, Oct. 2, 2024

1. Prestonwood Christian Academy, Plano, Texas (23-2)

Previous rank: 1.

Digs: Defeated Bishop Lynch (Dallas), 25-18, 25-20, 25-18. Three weeks remain in the regular season.

2. Mater Dei, Santa Ana, Calif. (22-3)

Previous: 2.

Digs: It was business as usual for the Monarchs who defeated Trinity League rivals Santa Margarita (Rancho Santa Margarita), 19-25, 25-20, 27-25, 25-13. Sophomore Westley Matavao spiked 13 kills and Layli Ostavar 12. Samantha Capinpin had 17 assists. This weekend the Monarchs are off to the Nike Tournament of Champions Southeast in Mesa, Arizona on Friday and Saturday.

3. Byron Nelson, Trophy Club, Texas (26-1)

Previous: 3.

Digs: The Bobcats are playing out the string of seven matches in District 4-6A with little resistance.

4. Cornerstone Christian School, San Antonio, Texas (29-2)

Previous: 5.

Digs: The Warriors are off to the Nike Tournament of Champions Southeast this weekend in Mesa, Arizona.

5. Benet Academy, Lisle, Ill. (18-0)

Previous: 6.

Digs: The Redwings might be the favorites to win the ASICS Challenge this weekend in Chicago. They also get No. 21 Skutt Catholic (Omaha, Neb.) Thursday on the eve of the prestigious event.

6. Sierra Canyon School, Chatsworth, Calif. (21-2)

Previous: 18.

Digs: The Trailblazers defeated then-No. 4 Marymount (Los Angeles), 20-25, 25-20, 20-25, 28-26, 15-12. Hanna McGinest spiked 17 kills, Brandi Boston had seven blocks and sophomore setter Lucky Fasavalu had 27 assists and 15 digs. Two league matches this week will lead into the Redondo Union Tournament in Redondo Beach on Friday and Saturday.

7. Alpharetta, Ga. (28-0)

Previous: 8.

Digs: Idle.

8. Marymount, Los Angeles (21-4)

Previous: 4.

Digs: The Sailors returned from the Durango Fall Classic, splitting two matches, including a narrow five-set loss to No. 6 Sierra Canyon School (Chatsworth, Calif.). Up next is the Nike Tournament of Champions Southeast in Mesa, Arizona on Friday and Saturday.

9. Cathedral Catholic, San Diego, Calif. (26-3)

Previous: 9.

Digs: Defeated Our Lady Queen of Peace (San Diego), 25-23, 25-14, 25-13, in the only match of the week. Two more league matches this week on Tuesday and Thursday.

10. Divine Savior Holy Angels, Milwaukee (28-0)

Previous: 15.

Digs: The Dashers will test the national waters this weekend at the ASICS Challenge in Chicago.

Last weekend, they won the West Bend East Tournament without dropping a set. In the final, the Dashers beat Arrowhead (Hartland), 25-12, 25-11. Madison Quest had 13 spikes, Olivia Durst had 13 digs and Belmont-bound setter Jordan Czajkowski sent out 15 assists.

11. Roncalli, Indianapolis (22-0)

Previous: 17.

Digs: The Royals stamped themselves as the top dog in Indiana after sweeping then-No. 7 Hamilton Southeastern (Fishers, Ind.), 25-17, 25-20, 25-20. Logan Bell had 14 kills, 13 digs, and three aces. Lydia Stahley spiked 10 kills. Addie Haberthy added 35 assists, seven digs, and three kills. The Marion County Tournament starts Wednesday.

12. Mira Costa, Manhattan Beach, Calif. (17-5)

Previous: 10.

Digs: Defeated then-No. 19 Redondo Beach (Redondo Union, Calif.), 20-25, 25-20, 25-20, 28-13, and El Segundo, 25-21, 13-25, 25-16, 25-15. Against Redondo Union, Wisconsin-recruit Audrey Flanagan crushed 27 kills and Stanford pledge and junior outside hitter Simon Roslon added 16. Milly McGee dished out 46 assists.

13. Dripping Springs, Texas (36-2)

Previous: 11.

Digs: Riley Certain and Christa Wilburn combined for 31 spikes and junior Sydney Lund passed for 24 assists in a 26-28, 25-13, 25-20, 25-20 victory over Lake Travis (Austin) in District 26-6A play.

14. Assumption, Louisville, Ky. (20-4)

Previous: 12.

Digs: The Rockets dispatched archrivals Sacred Heart Academy (Louisville), 25-18, 25-22, 25-17. This weekend it’s a return trip to Chicago for the ASICS Challenge and a stand-along match on Thursday at No. 19 Mother McAuley (Chicago).

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

Previous: 13.

Digs: The Marlins topped St. Ursula Academy (Toledo, Ohio), 25-11, 25-15, 29-27. The Division I playoffs are around the corner.

16. Plant, Tampa, Fla. (15-0)

Previous: 14.

Digs: Idle.

17. Carrollwood Day, Tampa, Fla. (17-5)

Previous: 16.

Digs: The Patriots were idle.

18. Hamilton Southeastern, Fishers, Ind. (23-2)

Previous: 7.

Digs: The Royals lost a rare three-set to No. 11 Roncalli Catholic (Indianapolis) but rebounded to dust the field at the Crown Point Invitational. Five matches remain on the regular-season schedule.

19. Mother McAuley, Chicago (16-2)

Previous: 25.

Digs: The Mighty Macs swept crosstown rival Marist (Chicago), 26-24, 25-23. Sydney Buchanan put up 11 spikes and seven digs, Mary Clare Deacy had five kills, setter Peyton Weatherly sent out 19 assists and Lucy Maloney added 12 digs. The Mighty Macs host the prestigious ASICS Challenge on Friday and Saturday.

20. Mount St. Mary Catholic, Oklahoma City (31-1)

Previous: 20.

Digs: The Rockets won the Jenks Tournament over the weekend.

21. Skutt Catholic, Omaha, Neb. (15-4)

Previous: 21.

Digs: The Skyhawks went 3-0, claiming eight straight games in the process. Up next is the ASICS Challenge in Chicago this weekend and a stand-alone match with No. 5 Benet Academy (Lisle, Ill.) Thursday.

22. Colleyville (Texas) Heritage (25-5)

Previous: Not ranked.

Digs: The Panthers join the Net 25 rankings and are 4-0 in District 6-5A play after stopping Denton Ryan, 25-11, 25-11, 25-8. Two more district matches on tap this week.

23. Immaculate Heart Academy, Washington Township, N.J. (10-0)

Previous: 23.

Digs: Julia Sobilio put up six kills, three digs, six assists, six services and two service aces in a 25-12, 25-19 sweep of Fair Lawn. Three matches this week but the showdown with Princeton Saturday pits New Jersey’s top two teams.

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

Previous: 24.

Digs: The Leopards stretched their win streak to eight matches after winning twice in the district.

25. Huntington Beach, Calif. (27-3)

Previous: 22.

Digs: The Oilers wiped out league foes Fountain Valley and Edison (Huntington Beach) in three sets apiece.

Dropped out: No. 19 Redondo Union (Redondo Beach, Calif.)

Special Consideration: Xavier College Prep (Phoenix); Cypress Ranch (Houston); Torrey Pines (San Diego, Calif.); Palos Verdes (Palos Verdes Estates, Calif.); Princeton (N.J.); St. Thomas Aquinas (Overland Park, Kan.);Champlin Park (Champlin, Minn.); Marist (Chicago); Bishop O’Connell (Arlington, Va.); Georgetown Day (Washington, D.C.); Keller (Texas); Notre Dame Academy (Covington, Ky.); 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.