No. 1 Mira Costa (CA) sits atop Blue Star Media Net 25 girls’ volleyball rankings; No. 2 Cornerstone Christian (TX) rolls to title at Nike TOC Southeast

BENSALEM, Pa. – The most recent Blue Star Media Net 25 girls’ volleyball rankings encapsulate the first four weeks of the campaign. The winners of the big-time tournaments are rewarded and so are ones that went to them and competed the highest level.

No. 1 Mira Costa (Manhattan Beach, Calif.) is the top dog for now. The Mustangs are Ann Kang Invitational champions despite losing a match in pool play.

Last weekend, No. 2 Cornerstone Christian School (San Antonio) added the Nike Tournament of Championships Southeast Platinum Division title, going 6-0, in Wesley Chapel, Fla.

No. 3 Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.) went to Texas and won the Volleypalooza (neat Austin) two weekends ago, cementing their early season legacy.

Essentially, it’s a road map but the journey has just begun.

It’ll be another busy week as the unofficial end of summer is here. We move forward.

The Blue Star Media Net 25 volleyball rankings return Sept. 13.

Before we sign off, please remember those who perished after the terrorist attacks in New York City, Washington, D.C., and Shanksville, Pa. (the crash site of United Flight 93 that originated in Newark, N.J.). September 11, 2001, started out as a beautiful, sunny Tuesday morning when the unthinkable occurred. This horrific event reshaped our lives and being a resident of New Jersey and less than 10 miles from the World Trade Center site, 9/11 is surreal.

22 years later it’s still haunting to look at the skyline where the buildings stood.

I recall waking up and looking skyward for weeks to see the plumes of smoke from the smoldering pile of rubble. Walking down the street most were in a zombie like trance. Instead, people walked with their heads hung low and a look of disbelief etched in their faces.

If you did not know someone who perished, you still felt the grief. You prayed. You wept. Next week, the wounds will be reopened when the roll call or calling of names of those who were murdered that fateful day takes place at the 9/11 site in lower Manhattan.

It’s sacred times around here and the rest of the world. Say a prayer for those who died that September morning or in the coming years. The police, fire fighters, emergency workers and average citizens who died in the last 20 years of residual effects is staggering. Essentially, they inhaled the poisonous soot and would later die, many from cancer.

Please remember these souls and their families.

Until then stay safe. We hope to see you at a game soon. – Christopher Lawlor

Blue Star Media Net 25 Girls’ Volleyball Rankings, Sept. 6, 2023

1. Mira Costa, Manhattan Beach, Calif. (12-1)

Previous rank: 1.

Digs: The Mustangs have already captured the Ann Kang Invitational championship in Honolulu, Hawaii, despite absorbing a pool-play setback. They erased it a few days later, sweeping No. 3 Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.), 25-21, 25-21, 25-19, on Aug. 29. They have already beaten three Net 25 teams in less than a month with a brutal slate on tap, including the Durango Fall Classic in Las Vegas from Sept. 22 to 23. Top players this season include setter Charlie Fuerbringer (Wisconsin recruit), who played this summer with the USA U19 team at the FIVB World Championships. She’s joined by junior defensive specialist Taylor Deckert (USC), libero Trixie McMillin (Cal Berkeley), right side Chloe Hynes, sophomore outside hitters Simone Roslon and Audrey Flanagan (Kang MVP) and middle blockers Bryn Shankle (Texas Christian) and Rachel Moglia.

2. Cornerstone Christian School, San Antonio (20-1)

Previous: 2.

Digs: Won the Nike TOC Southeast Platinum Division title in Wesley Chapel, Fla., beating No. 6 Carrollwood Day School (Tampa, Fla.), 25-16, 25-17 in the final. Junior outside hitter Megan Fitch (Texas A&M) and 6-4 opposite Grace Carroll (Baylor) dominated play in Florida. They were supported by seniors Maven Avendano (Texas A&M Corpus Christi) and Audrey Rogers (Texas Wesleyan for beach) and setters Kaia Thiele (UNLV) and 6-2 opposite Macey Hughes (Grand Canyon)—both juniors. The Warriors avenged an upset loss in last year’s Platinum final.

3. Mater Dei, Santa Ana, Calif. (13-1)

Previous: 3.

Digs: When the Monarchs won the Volleypalooza in Texas two weekends ago, it punched a ticket near the top of the Net 25 rankings. And it might have ascended to No. 1 but last week’s 25-21, 25-21, 25-19 loss at top-ranked Mira Costa (Manhattan Beach, Calif.). However, they did sweep No. 8 Prestonwood Christian Academy (Plano, Texas), 25-21, 25-18, in the final. The main cogs continue to be outside hitter Isabel Clark (San Diego), opposite Cymarah Gordon (Michigan), libero Malyssa Cawa (Stanford), Julia Kakkis (Brown) and junior setter Ayva Ostovar (UC Santa Barbara). This weekend it’s the Dave Mohs Tournament in Newport Beach.

4. Mother McAuley, Chicago (8-0)

Previous: 4.

Digs: In the volleyball crazy Chicagoland, the Mighty Macs remain the team to beat and a state-record 17th state title is two months away. That’s the goal but still distant. Middle hitters Keira Ohse and Ellery Rees (Alabama), libero Sam Falk (Loyola-Chicago), outside hitter Ellie White (Michigan) and setter Stephanie Theis form the senior nucleus. Freshman setter Peyton Heatherly is showing potential. This weekend the Mighty Macs travel to Louisville, Ky., for series of matches. They already won the Metea Valley/Oswego East Tournament last month.

5. Hamilton Southeastern, Fishers, Ind. (11-0)

Previous: 5.

Digs: Indiana’s top-ranked team and one of the best from the Midwest are loaded with talent and have not dropped a game in 11 matches this term while carrying a 45-game win streak over two seasons. The senior class with 6-3 outside hitter Lauren Harden (Florida), who recently surpassed 1,000 career kills, 6-2 middle blocker Tiffany Snook (Memphis) and 5-8 setter Macy Hinshaw (Santa Clara) in line for a second straight Class 4A title. This week there are three matches, including Yorktown on Sept. 5.

6. Carrollwood Day School, Tampa, Fla. (6-1)

Previous: 6.

Digs: Finished second in the Platinum Division of the Nike TOC Southeast on Saturday afternoon. The Patriots went 5-1 with a two-set loss to No. 2 Cornerstone Christian of Texas in the final. Leading the way were senior setter (and coach’s daughter) Naomi Chinchar (West Point Army) and juniors, libero Mattea Casale (Purdue) and 6-2 middle blocker Sarah Dibbs-Frantz (VCU). At 6-2, freshman outside hitter Lydia Chinchar turned heads at the TOC with her exceptional play.

7. Wayzata, Plymouth, Minn. (2-0)

Previous: 7.

Digs: Twins Stella (setter) and Olivia (outside hitter) Swenson are heavy hitters and headed to Minnesota and right side Avery Jesewitz is another protector at the net. The season just started in Minnesota but things pick up this week with a tournament.

8. Prestonwood Christian Academy, Plano, Texas (14-3)

Previous: 8.

Digs: The Lions did not graduate anyone from last year’s team that compiled an eye-popping 40-1 mark and the TAPPS Class 6A state title. Junior outside hitter Macaria Spears in one of the nation’s top players in the Class of 2025. Also back are libero Gillian Pitts, setter Camille Edwards (Michigan) and outside hitters Mikala Young (Texas Christian) and Jadyn Livings (Southern California). The next national event is the Durango Classic in Las Vegas from Sept. 21 to 22.

9. Grand Oaks, Spring, Texas (30-1)

Previous: 9.

Digs: The Houston area squad is playing like a well-oiled machine having lost just six games across 31 dates. The lone loss is to No. 8 Prestonwood Christian Academy at the Volleypalooza, 14-25, 25-17, 25-21 in the semifinals but rallied to take third place over No. 16 Dripping Springs (Texas). The Grizzlies are tied in two matches per week in District 13-6A for the rest of the term.

10. Papillion (Neb.)-La Vista South (11-0)

Previous: 10.

Digs: The Titans showed their mettle last weekend with three sensational wins in Kansas and showed why a third straight Class A state crown is in the works. They topped Kansas power St. James Academy (Lenexa) on the road trip. A pair of South Dakota recruits, middle blocker Morgan Bode and Lauren Medeck, steadied the net.

11. Pace Academy, Atlanta (15-2)

Previous: 11.

Digs: The Knights are Georgia’s top-ranked team regardless of classification but lost twice at the Nike TOC Southeast. After a shaky 1-2 start in pool play, they rallied to win the Silver Division, taking out Gainesville (Fla.), 25-20, 25-18 in the final. The senior troika of outside hitter Ellie Siskin (Pennsylvania), setter Grace Agolli (Cal Berkeley) and libero Dhru Lalji (Wake Forest) excelled in Florida.

12. Viera, Fla. (6-2)

Previous: 12.

Digs: The Hawks were unbeaten last weekend at the Nike TOC Southeast in pool play and finished third in the Platinum Division, topping Winter Park (Fla.), 25-22, 25-22. At 6-1 senior Izzy Starck, a Penn State pledge, quarterbacks the Hawks and had 17 kills and seven services aces in the consolation match.

13. Cathedral Catholic, San Diego, Calif. (7-2)

Previous: 13.

Digs: The reigning Blue Star Media Net 25 National Champions won’t go unbeaten this season after attending Volleypalooza in Texas and taking fourth. Defensive specialists Dakota Conway (FIU) and Niki Egan (Washington for beach) and 6-3 middle blocker Jenna Hanes (Michigan), right side Ayva Morris (Hawaii for beach) and setter Amanda Saeger (DePaul) form a solid senior core.

14. Huntington Beach, Calif. (7-4)

Previous: 14.

Digs: The Oilers fell in four matches at the Ann Kang Invitational in Hawaii even with seven key returnees back and a successful run in a summer league. Taylor Ponchak, Olivia Foye (Princeton), Haylee LaFontaine and Addison Williams are crushing it at the antennae.

15. Sierra Canyon School, Chatsworth, Calif. (11-3)

Previous: 15.

Digs: Playing in the CIF-Southern Section is difficult enough but the Trailblazers dropped three matches to local opponents last month at the Ann Kang Invitational in Hawaii. Seniors outside hitter Danica Rach (Boston College) and setter Sade Ilawole lead the group.

16. Dripping Springs, Texas (32-2)

Previous: 16.

Digs: The Tigers lost once at the Volleypalooza, an extravaganza held last month near Austin, Texas and previously captured an early season tournament with sophomore outside hitter Henley Anderson and Missouri-bound Ashley Euston one of the top attackers in the Lone Star State.

17. Pope, Marietta, Ga. (14-1)

Previous: 17.

Digs: Georgia’s defending Class AAAAAA champions are off to a flying start. After an 11-0 start, the Greyhounds fell in three sets to No. 11 Pace Academy (Atlanta) but have rebounded to win three straight. Setter Cooper Abney will sign with Eastern Kentucky and 6-1 outside hitter Fifi Harvey with Embry Riddle (Fla.).

18. Flint Hill School, Oakton, Va. (4-2)

Previous: 18.

Digs: Annually one of the strongest teams on the East Coast and DMV, Flint Hill won the Bronze Division last weekend at the Nike TOC Southeast with a three-set win in the final. At 6-3, senior middle blocker Ryla Jones (Pittsburgh) and setter Natalie Nguyen (Georgetown) are the leaders.

19. Assumption, Louisville, Ky. (7-1)

Previous: 19.

Digs: The Rockets won the Avon Classic in Indiana, beating Carmel (Ind.) and Seymour (Ind.) in straight sets. They already swept in-state power St. Henry (Erlanger, Ky.) but fell to rivals Sacred Heart Academy (Louisville) in five sets.

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

Previous: 20.

Digs: There’s a changing of the guard at the helm as Michelle Yoo takes over for retired coaching legend Maria Nolan. The Blue Eagles open this week with setter Kalena Stavish (720 assists in 2022), libero Abby Romero (252 digs), Eve Roman, Bryana Saenz, Julia Sobilio (90 kills) and transfer Anastasia Pesantes, who had 349 assists and 159 digs at Immaculate Conception (Lodi), which is now closed. Yoo was an assistant last year for a team that went 29-1 and took home the NJSIAA Non-Public A silverware.

21. Punahou School, Honolulu (13-1)

Previous: 21.

Digs: The Puns were off for 14 days and resumed action this week with three matches. They lost once at the Ann Kang Invitational last month in Honolulu against a talented national field.

22. Hagerty, Oviedo, Fla. (9-4)

Previous: 22.

Digs: Place fifth in the Nike TOC National Platinum Division, defeating rivals Oviedo, 25-17, 25-21.

23. Lakeville (Minn.) North (3-0)

Previous: 23.

Digs: Opening week went off without a hitch, including a 25-19, 25-22, 25-12 victory over Minnetonka. The Panthers also had a thrilling three-set win over Class 4A power Champlin Park.

24. Venice, Fla. (5-2)

Previous: 24.

Digs: It was a mixed bag seventh place finish at the Nike TOC Southeast last weekend. After going 3-0 in pool play, the defending Class 7A champions were 1-2 in the Platinum Division but did knock off Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas), 18-25, 25-20, 15-8 for seventh. Junior outside hitter Summer Kohler excelled at the event.

25. Divine Savior Holy Angels, Milwaukee (9-0)

Previous: 25.

Digs: The Dashers won The Joust, beating local power Oconomowoc, 26-28, 25-22, 21-19 for the championship. The main players are juniors Olivia Durst (Michigan State), Madison Quest (Wisconsin) and setter Jordan Czajkowski (Belmont), senior outside hitter Sophia Wendlick (Creighton), who had 18 kills in the final.

Dropped out: None.

Special Consideration: Lone Peak (Highland, Utah); Lancaster (N.Y.); Skutt Catholic (Omaha, Neb.); Byron Nelson (Trophy Club, Texas); St. Francis (Mountain View, Calif.); Archbishop Mitty (San Jose, Calif.); Washburn Rural (Topeka, Kan.); Boyd (McKinney, Texas); Bob Jones (Madison, Ala.); Collierville (Tenn.); Northville (Mich.); Roncalli (Indianapolis); Valor Christian (Highlands Ranch, Colo.); Marymount (Los Angeles); Jesuit (Portland, Ore.); and Oconomowoc (Wis.).

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.