No. 2 Cornerstone Christian (TX), No. 6 Mother McAuley (IL) get bumps in Blue Star Media Net 25 volleyball rankings after impressive weekends

BENSALEM, Pa. – Two of the nation’s girls’ volleyball top teams from the Blue Star Media Net 25 rankings completed special weekends in impressive fashion.

No. 2 Cornerstone Christian (San Antonio, Texas) and No. 6 Mother McAuley (Chicago) were crowned champions of major tournaments and it led to healthy rises in the Net 25 rankings. First, Cornerstone Christian won the Nike Tournament of Champions Southwest Platinum Bracket title, going 7-0 at the tournament in Mesa, Arizona. The Warriors redeemed themselves from a month earlier when they fell in the Nike TOC Southeast Platinum final in Wesley Chapel, Florida. The Warriors stopped two teams from the Net 25.

In Chicago, the Mother McAuley Mighty Macs bagged the ASICS Challenge Gold Division title on their home court. Last Friday, the Macs won their pool, qualifying for the elite bracket on Saturday. McAuley beat No. 20 Skull Catholic (Omaha, Neb.) in three sets in the semifinals and then topped Notre Dame Academy (Park Hills, Ky.) in three sets for the championship. McAuley shot up five spots in the Net 25.

There was one addition to the Net 25 from Chicagoland. No. 19 Benet Academy (Lisle, Ill.). The Redwings are one of the top Class 4A teams in Illinois and could see McAuley when the playoffs start later this month. The Illinois 4A tournament is Nov. 11-12 in Normal, Ill.

If you’ve been following the Net 25 rankings, here’s a chance to see our No. 1 team on national television this weekend at a tournament in Nebraska.

The GEICO Girls’ Volleyball Invitational on ESPNU and ESPN+ begins Friday.

The two-day tournament, hosted at Papillion (Neb.)-La Vista South, gathers four teams from four states: Papillion-La Vista South, Ponte Vedra (Fla.), Skyview (Nampa, Idaho) and No. 1 Cathedral Catholic (San Diego, Calif.).

The weekend schedule:

Friday, Skyview vs. Papillion-La Vista South, 5 p.m. ET; and Ponte Vedra vs. Cathedral Catholic, 7:30 p.m. ET.

Saturday, third place match, 5 p.m. ET; and championship is 7:30 p.m. ET.

The GEICO Girls Volleyball Invitational is a product of the Paragon Marketing Group in Chicago. For ticket and more tournament information click here.

Finally, our thoughts and prayers are with the people of Florida and the Carolinas. They took a beating from Hurricane Ian with the death toll closing in on 100. Several matches were either cancelled or postponed. However, it will take time before life gets back to normal.

In the meantime, to aid the Red Cross in its relief efforts you can donate here.

That’s it for another week.

The Blue Star Media Net 25 girls’ volleyball rankings return on Oct. 12.

Until then we hope to see you at a game soon. – Christopher Lawlor

Blue Star Media Net 25 girls’ volleyball rankings, Oct. 5, 2022

1. Cathedral Catholic, San Diego, Calif. (27-0)

Previous rank: 1.

Digs: The Dons breezed by Scripps Ranch (San Diego), 25-13, 25-6, 25-10, in Western League action. Three weeks remain in the regular season, including two nationally televised games in Nebraska this weekend.

2. Cornerstone Christian School, San Antonio (53-2)

Previous: 4.

Digs: Won the Nike Tournament of Champions Southwest Platinum Bracket, knocking off then-No. 2 Mira Costa (Manhattan Beach, Calif.), 25-23, 26-28, 15-8, in the final in Mesa, Ariz. In the semifinals, the Warriors stopped then-No. 7 Marymount (Los Angeles), 25-19, 25-21. Earlier in the week, Nayeli Gonzalez put away 11 spikes and Rylee Busse added 13 digs when the Warriors beat Davenport, 25-13, 25-17, 25-12.

3. Marian, Bloomfield Hills, Mich. (27-0)

Previous: 3.

Digs: Defeated archrivals Mercy (Farmington Hills), 25-20, 25-15, 25-19. Wofford-bound Ella Schomer had 12 kills, five aces and six digs while setter Ava Sarafa paced the offense with 28 assists and eight digs. The Mavericks play St. Catherine of Siena Academy (Wixom) on Wednesday evening.

4. Mira Costa, Manhattan Beach, Calif. (23-3)

Previous: 2.

Digs: In Arizona, the Mavericks went 5-1 at the Nike Tournament of Champions Southwest, falling in the Platinum Bracket final to No. 2 Cornerstone Christian (San Antonio, Texas) in a gut-wrenching three set title match.

5. Hamilton Southeastern, Fishers, Ind. (25-1)

Previous: 5.

Digs: Defeated Franklin Community, 25-9, 25-9, 25-16 and Center Grove (Greenwood), 25-10, 25-13, 25-14. The Royals will host the Class 4A, Section 8 tournament later this month to open the state playoffs.

6. Mother McAuley, Chicago (23-2)

Previous: 11.

Digs: Won the prestigious ASICS Challenge in Chicago, defeating Notre Dame Academy (Park Hills, Ky.), 25-22, 22-25, 25-13, in the Gold Bracket final. The Mighty Macs went 5-0 over two days as the tournament host. The night prior to the tournament’s start, the Mighty Macs lost to then-No. 12 Assumption (Louisville, Ky.), 25-19, 18-25, 25-23, in tightly played match. Michigan-bound Ellie White recorded 24 kills and Gigi Navarrete added four service aces. White (MVP) and Navarrete were named to the ASICS all-tournament team.

7. Sierra Canyon School, Chatsworth, Calif. (26-3)

Previous: 6.

Digs: Defeated Marlborough (Los Angeles), 25-13, 25-12, 25-17 as Lauren Lynch provided four aces and junior Sade Ilawole passed off 20 assists. They also topped Harvard-Westlake (Studio City, Calif.), 25-19, 25-18, 25-23, as junior Danica Rach had 12 kills and eight digs and Ilawole assisted 33 times. The Blazers play No. 8 Marymount (Los Angeles) in a key Mission League match.

8. Marymount, Los Angeles (25-5)

Previous: 7.

Digs: Placed third at the Nike Tournament of Champions Southwest Platinum Bracket, defeating then-No. 13 Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.), 25-18, 31-29. The Sailors went 6-1 in the tournament, including 3-0 in pool play.

9. Westminster Christian, Palmetto Bay, Fla. (13-0)

Previous: 9.

Digs: Defeated St. Brendan (Miami), 25-19, 25-21, 25-10.

10. McCutcheon, Lafayette, Ind. (24-1)

Previous: 10.

Digs: Purdue-bound outside hitter and All America Chloe Chicoine compiled 19 kills and six digs when the Mavericks crushed Munster, 25-12, 25-17, 25-9. The Mavs beat Avon, 25-22, 25-21, 25-17 as Chicoine 20 kills and 14 digs and junior setter Allie Shondell had 41 assists. Finally, they handled Benton Central (Oxford), 25-16, 25-18, 25-18, as Chicoine totaled 22 kills and 16 digs; junior Isabella Humphrey added 19 digs and Shondell handed off 40 assists.

11. Prestonwood Christian Academy, Plano, Texas (30-1)

Previous: 14.

Digs: The win streak reached 17 games after dispatching Ursuline Academy (Dallas), 25-22, 25-19, 25-15. Sophomore outside hitter Macaria Spears collected 22 spikes and junior setter Jadyn Edward had 22 assists. In a 25-13, 25-16, 25-17 victory over Parish Episcopal (Dallas), Spears crushed 15 kills and sophomore Gillian Pitts added 15 digs.

12. Highland Park, Dallas (32-2)

Previous: 15.

Digs: Defeated Richardson, 25-14, 25-11, 25-15 and Irving MacArthur, 25-8, 25-12, 25-8.

13. Yorktown, Ind. (26-2)

Previous: 16.

Digs: Won its ninth straight Delaware County Tournament title, defeating Wapahani (Selma), 25-13, 25-11, 25-17. Sophomore Charlotte Vinson had 18 kills and libero Addi Applegate totaled 11 digs. The Tigers will host the eight-team Class 4A, Section 9 tournament later this month.

14. Assumption, Louisville, Ky. (24-6)

Previous: 12.

Digs: Went 3-2 at the ASICS Challenge in Chicago, taking fourth in the Gold Bracket. They lost to No. 20 Skutt Catholic (Omaha, Neb.) 15-25, 11-25 in the third-place match.

15. Cypress Ranch, Houston (34-2)

Previous: 17.

Digs: Defeated Langham Creek (Houston), 25-18, 20-25, 25-17, 14-25, 15-9 as Bianna Muoneke had a monster game with 35 kills, 20 digs and two aces and setters Kirby Kliafas (19) and Zora Bello (18) combined for 37 assists. Also, swept Cypress Falls (Houston), 25-10, 25-4, 25-13.

16. Mater Dei, Santa Ana, Calif. (23-7)

Previous: 13.

Digs: Took fourth place at the Nike Tournament of Champions Southwest Platinum Bracket in Mesa, Ariz. The Monarchs went 5-2 overall, winning all three in pool play.

17. Santa Fe, Alachua, Fla. (13-1)

Previous: 18.

Digs: The hurricane wiped out play last week.

18. Nolensville, Tenn. (35-4)

Previous: 19.

Digs: Defeated Centennial (Franklin), 25-8, 25-10, 25-22 and Franklin, 25-23, 25-21, 25-20. In the latter match, sophomore Kaira Knox and senior Maggie Rickert each recorded 10 spikes, junior Marlee Holden had four aces and senior setter Ellie Tant had 17 assists.

19. Benet Academy, Lisle, Ill. (20-1)

Previous: Not ranked.

Digs: The Redwings enter the Net 25 rankings after dropping then-No. 21 Skutt Catholic (Omaha, Neb.), 20-25, 25-21, 25-18, pushing their win streak to 13 matches. This weekend the Redwings will participate in the St. Charles East Scholastic Cup in Aurora, Ill.

20. Skutt Catholic, Omaha, Neb. (18-6)

Previous: 20.

Digs: Finished in third place at the ASICS Challenge in Chicago. The SkyHawks beat then-No. 12 Assumption (Louisville, Ky.), 25-15, 25-11, for third. They lost to eventual champion and host Mother McAuley (Chicago) 25-23, 24-26, 25-17 in the semifinals. The night before the tournament began, the SkyHawks dropped a tight three-set match at powerhouse Benet Academy (Lisle, Ill.), 25-20, 21-25, 18-25.

21. Fayetteville, Ark. (28-2)

Previous: 8.

Digs: Went 4-1 at the Blue Springs South Invitational in Missouri. The Bulldogs won nine consecutive sets but dropped two against Liberty (Mo.) North, 18-25, 26-24, 20-25, in the semifinals.

22. Huntington Beach, Calif. (23-3)

Previous: 21.

Digs: The Oilers swept local rivals Edison (Huntington Beach) and Marina (Huntington Beach) in three sets apiece.

23. Immaculate Heart Academy, Washington Township, N.J. (14-1)

Previous: 23.

Digs: When the Blue Eagles swept Roxbury (Succasunna) and defending Group 4 state champions Williamstown at a tri-match, outside hitter Brookelyn Talmadge totaled 15 kills and five service points in five games. In a 25-8, 25-11 defeat of state ranked Fair Lawn, Kalena Stavish chalked up 23 assists and Talmadge spiked 14 kills.

24. Mountain View, Orem, Utah (16-2)

Previous: 24.

Digs: The Bruins rolled over Timpanogos (Orem), 25-20, 25-14, 25-14, in their lone match.

25. Wayzata, Plymouth, Minn. (16-3)

Previous: 22.

Digs: It was mixed results with a 25-13, 25-15, 25-13 victory over Hopkins (Minnetonka) but a shock loss to Champlin Park (Champlin), 25-14, 23-35, 13-25, 23-25.

Dropped out: No. 25 Redondo Union (Redondo Beach, Calif.).

Special Consideration: Iolani School (Honolulu); Liberty (Mo.) North; Punahou School (Honolulu); Buford (Ga.); St. James Academy (Lenexa, Kan.); Pace Academy (Atlanta); Dike (Iowa)-New Hartford; Oconomowoc (Wis.); Pope (Marietta, Ga.); Marshall (Minn.); Ursuline Academy (Cincinnati); Notre Dame Academy (Park Hill, Ky.); Flint Hill (Oakton, Va.); Lincoln (Neb.) Southwest; Papillion (Neb.)-La Vista South; Washburn Rural (Topeka, Kan.); Fairport (N.Y.); Lakewood (Calif.); Xavier (Cedar Rapids, Iowa) and Penfield (N.Y.).

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. 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. The final rankings will be released at the conclusion of the season in November. Follow him on Twitter at @clawlor.