BENSALEM, Pa. – For two days this weekend, the eyes of the schoolgirl volleyball world will focus on the Durango Fall Classic held in Las Vegas, Nevada.
And with 11 teams from the Blue Star Media Net 25 rankings in the desert, it’s a special annual event. The list of attending teams from coast to coast.
This year the tournament will play pool play games starting Friday afternoon at 1 p.m. PT at Durango, Palo Verde, Desert Oasis and Foothill high schools. When pool play concludes, the qualifying round is Saturday morning.
The final is Saturday afternoon at 4:45 p.m. at Durango. The event is cashless but tickets can be purchased here.
No. 25 Lovejoy (Lucas, Texas) enters the Net 25 rankings as one of the favorites when the University Interscholastic League Class 5A brackets are revealed next month. The Leopards are knee deep in district play.
That’ll do it for the second week of September. The Blue Star Media Net 25 rankings return on Sept. 25. We’ll have recap of the Durango Fall Classic and see how it impacts the Net 25 with so many ranked teams attending.
Bye for now.
We hope to see you at a game soon. – Christopher Lawlor
Blue Star Media Net 25 Girls’ Volleyball Rankings, Sept. 18, 2024
1. Prestonwood Christian Academy, Plano, Texas (18-1)
Previous rank: 1.
Digs: It was the quiet before the storm for the nation’s top-ranked squad. The Lions, who will compete against the best this weekend in Las Vegas at the Durango Fall Classic, swept Liberty Christian (Argyle), 25-17, 25-19, 25-50 in the lone match.
2. Byron Nelson, Trophy Club, Texas (23-1)
Previous: 2.
Digs: The Bobcats improved to 5-0 in District 4-6A.
3. Cornerstone Christian School, San Antonio, Texas (20-1)
Previous: 7.
Digs: Recorded a massive five set win at then-No. 4 Dripping Springs. This serves as a tune-up for the Durango Fall Classic in Nevada.
4. Plant, Tampa, Fla. (12-0)
Previous: 3.
Digs: The Panthers continue to dominate the in-state competition with two more wins.
5. Carrollwood Day, Tampa, Fla. (12-1)
Previous: 5.
Digs: The Patriot are headed to the Durango Fall Classic this weekend.
6. Benet Academy, Lisle, Ill. (11-0)
Previous: 6.
Digs: The Redwings reeled off three wins, capped by a 25-17, 25-15 win over Downers Grove North. This week they play in the Wheaton Classic on Wednesday and Saturday.
7. Hamilton Southeastern, Fishers, Ind. (14-1)
Previous: 8.
Digs: Lindsey Mangelson, Mississippi State pledge, spiked 21 kills, nine digs, three aces against Yorktown. She had 15 kills to help put away crosstown rival Fishers.
8. Alpharetta, Ga. (21-0)
Previous: 9.
Digs: The Raiders chalked up two more wins and head into the home stretch of the regular season.
9. Cathedral Catholic, San Diego, Calif. (19-1)
Previous: 10.
Digs: The Dons have lost one match against No. 4Cornerstone Christian (San Antonio) this season but might avenge that result this weekend at the Durango Fall Classic in Las Vegas.
10. Assumption, Louisville, Ky. (16-1)
Previous: 12.
Digs: Won the Adidas Louisville Invitational Volleyball Tournament Gold championship. Opposite hitter Bailey Blair, outside hitter Emma Barnett, setter Emilee Fuller and Wisconsin-commit setter Kristen Simon earned high recognition at the tournament. The Rockets are off to the Durango Fall Classic on Friday and Saturday in Las Vegas.
11. Dripping Springs, Texas (33-2)
Previous: 4.
Digs: Lost to No. 3 Cornerstone Christian (San Antonio) in five sets, 25-17, 21-25, 25-23, 22-25, 9-15.
12. Mercy, Farmington Hills, Mich. (10-0)
Previous: 11.
Digs: The Marlins won twice at the Motor City Power Series, including a 25-12, 26-28, 15-10 decision over Eisenhower (Utica).
13. Mater Dei, Santa Ana, Calif. (12-3)
Previous: 13.
Digs: The Monarchs have a busy weekend in Las Vegas, First, they play at Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas) Thursday and then it’s the next two days at the Durango Fall Classic.
14. Redondo Union, Redondo Beach, Calif. (11-3)
Previous: 22.
Digs: Defeated Sierra Canyon School (Chatsworth), 25-19, 25-21, 21-25, 25-18. Outside hitter Abby Zimmerman spiked 14 kills and Sienna Castillo had 11 and Taylor Boice. Sett Bella Jones dished out 33 assists. The Sea Hawks played a key match against Palos Verdes (Palos Verdes Estates) on Tuesday, Sept. 17.
15. Huntington Beach, Calif. (18-1)
Previous: 14.
Digs: Swept both Newport Harbor (Newport Beach) and Marina (Huntington Beach) in three sets. The Oilers have two league matches in the buildup to the Durango Fall Classic in Las Vegas this weekend.
16. Mira Costa, Manhattan Beach, Calif. (10-3)
Previous: 15.
Digs: Defeated Torrance, 25-12, 25-19, 25-20. Junior Audrey Flanagan pounded out 13 kills and five digs. Taylor Deckert had 16 kills and junior setter Milly McGee handed out 17 assists. This weekend is a trip to the Durango Fall Classic in Las Vegas.
17. Skutt Catholic, Omaha, Neb. (8-1)
Previous: 16.
Digs: The SkyHawks rolled Pius X (Lincoln), 25-8, 25-17, 25-21. They head to Las Vegas this weekend for the Durango Fall Classic, competing in a loaded national field, featuring at least 10 teams from the Net 25.
18. Roncalli, Indianapolis (16-0)
Previous: 18.
Digs: Defeated Martinsville, 25-8, 25-9, 25-18. Lily Jones spiked six kills, Faith Schoettle had 10 digs and Eva Hurrle contributed four service aces and seven digs. The Lady Royals played Monday and Tuesday and travel to Tri-West (Lizton) on Wednesday night. Next week, they’ll host No. 7 Hamilton Southeastern (Fishers) in a showdown for state supremacy.
19. Marymount, Los Angeles (13-2)
Previous: 17.
Digs: Idle. The Sailors travel to the Durango Fall Classic in Las Vegas this weekend.
20. Mount St. Mary Catholic, Oklahoma City (23-1)
Previous: 20.
Digs: The Rockets stretched their win streak to nine matches.
21. Divine Savior Holy Angels, Milwaukee (13-0)
Previous: 24.
Digs: Defeated the host school, Arrowhead (Hartland) and Fond du Lac at the Manitowoc Lincoln Quad meet. The Dashers are off to tournament play at the Milwaukee Sting Volleyball Center in Menomonee Falls this weekend.
22. Mother McAuley, Chicago (13-3)
Previous: 21.
Digs: The Mighty Macs return from the Louisville Invitational Volleyball Tournament in Kentucky for two matches this week.
23. Lakeville (Minn.) North (11-0)
Previous: 23.
Digs: The Panthers turned away Burnsville, 25-13, 25-13, 25-20. They have dropped only two sets all season.
24. Immaculate Heart Academy, Washington Township, N.J. (3-0)
Previous: 25.
Digs: The Eagles swept three opponents in two straight sets last week. In a 25-13, 25-17 win over Ridgewood, outside hitter Julia Sobilo put up nine kills, five digs, seven assists, five service point and three aces. Alessandra Nazor added 13 assists and two aces.
25. Lovejoy, Lucas, Texas (20-7)
Previous: Not ranked.
Digs: The Leopards enter the Net 25 as one of the favorites in UIL Class 5A. They have two district matches this week.
Dropped out: No. 19 Torrey Pines (San Diego, Calif.).
Special Consideration: Torrey Pines (San Diego, Calif.); St. Thomas Aquinas (Overland Park, Kan.); Champlin Park (Champlin, Minn.); Marist (Chicago); Dominican (New Orleans); Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas); Sierra Canyon School (Chatsworth, Calif.); Rocklin (Calif.); Bishop O’Connell (Arlington, Va.); George Day (Washington, D.C.) Stratford (Houston); Colleyville (Texas) Heritage and Fairport (N.Y.).
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.
