BENSALEM, Pa. – The Blue Star Media Net 25 girls’ volleyball rankings have a little shakeup this week.
The biggest shakers were No. 4 Cathedral Catholic (San Diego, Calif.) and No. 6 Assumption (Louisville, Ky.) rising nine and 14 spots, respectively after winning key tournament titles. Both sides needed to top Net 25 team along the way.
As for the Net 25 rankings, 13 teams were static, 10 shifted positions and two teams were added. The newbies are No. 18 Plano (Texas) West at 16-3 and one of Texas’ Class 6A teams and No. 23 Notre Dame Academy (Park Hills, Ky.). NDA entered the week with a 13-1 mark and took second in the prestigious adidas LVIT Gold Bracket championship, losing to No. 6 Assumption in three sets.
No. 22 Huntington Beach (Calif.) and No. 12 Mother McAuley (Chicago) each dipped eight slots. Both will have chances to bounce back.
Elsewhere, here’s an announcement from ESPN and a chance for the nation to watch three teams from the Net 25 rankings in Plano, Texas. The third annual ESPN High School Girls Volleyball Showcase takes place on Oct. 6 with No. 2 Cornerstone Christian School (San Antonio) meeting St. James Academy (Lenexa, Kan.) at 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN+; and No. 4 Cathedral Catholic faces No. 8 Prestonwood Christian Academy (Plano, Texas) at 10 p.m. on ESPNU.
The Blue Star Media Net 25 girls’ volleyball rankings return Sept. 20.
Lastly, we wish all of our Jewish friends “Shanah Tovah,” or Good Year later this week. According to the Hebrew calendar it’s the new year of 5784. Actually, Rosh Hashanah starts Friday evening and ends at sundown on Sunday (Sept. 17). All the best, folks.
We hope to see you at a game soon. – Christopher Lawlor
Blue Star Media Net 25 Girls’ Volleyball Rankings, Sept. 13, 2023
1. Mira Costa, Manhattan Beach, Calif. (13-1)
Previous rank: 1.
Digs: The Mustangs needed five sets but knocked off pesky Torrey Pines (San Diego), 12-25, 25-19, 25-19, 22-25, 15-13. Sophomore outside hitter Audrey Flanagan spiked 18 kills and junior Taylor Deckert had 33 digs. This week it’s a pair matches in the Bay League.
2. Cornerstone Christian School, San Antonio (20-1)
Previous: 2.
Digs: The Warriors hosted La Vernia on Tuesday night.
3. Hamilton Southeastern, Fishers, Ind. (16-0)
Previous: 5.
Digs: The Royals peeled off five wins last week but did drop their first two games of the term against Yorktown and Cathedral (Indianapolis).
4. Cathedral Catholic, San Diego, Calif. (14-2)
Previous: 13.
Digs: Won the Dave Mohs Tournament, beating then-No. 3 Mater Dei (Santa Ana), 25-18, 18-25, 15-10, in the final.
5. Mater Dei, Santa Ana, Calif. (13-1)
Previous: 3.
Digs: Took second place at the Dave Mohs Tournament in Newport Bech, losing to No. 4 Cathedral Catholic (San Diego) in the three-set final.
6. Assumption, Louisville, Ky. (16-1)
Previous: 19.
Digs: Won the adidas LVIT Gold Bracket championship, beating No. 23 Notre Dame Academy (Park Hills, Ky.), 25-14, 21-25, 25-16, in the final. Outside hitter Charlotte Moriarity was the Most Outstanding Player and middle blocker, setter Emilee Fuller, opposite hitter Chloe Smith and libero Kristen Simon were named all-tournament.
7. Wayzata, Plymouth, Minn. (9-0)
Previous: 7.
Digs: Went 5-0 at the Southwest Minnesota Challenge.
8. Prestonwood Christian Academy, Plano, Texas (14-3)
Previous: 8.
Digs: The Lions split two non-district matches last week and played rivals Bishop Lynch (Dallas) on Tuesday.
9. Grand Oaks, Spring, Texas (32-1)
Previous: 9.
Digs: The Grizzlies improved to 5-0 in District 13 action with straight set wins over The Woodlands and Oak Rudge (Conroe).
10. Papillion (Neb.)-La Vista South (12-0)
Previous: 10.
Digs: Defeated in-state rivals Pius X (Lincoln), 25-15, 25-15, 25-10, in easy fashion. Middle blocker Lauren Medeck had 12 spikes and junior setter Charlee Solomon provided 24 assists.
11. Carrollwood Day School, Tampa, Fla. (12-1)
Previous: 6.
Digs: Won the Florida Gem High School Classic, defeating Lakeland, 25-12, 25-14, in the final. Freshman outside hitter Lydia Chincar earned Most Valuable Player honors.
12. Mother McAuley, Chicago (12-2)
Previous: 4.
Digs: Advanced to the adidas LVIT Gold Bracket championship semifinals but lost to eventual champions and No. 6 Assumption (Louisville). The Mighty Macs play in the Resurrection Tournament on Saturday in Chicago.
13. Pace Academy, Atlanta (17-2)
Previous: 11.
Digs: Defeated Woodward Academy (College Park), 25-16, 25-9, and McIntosh (Peachtree City), 25-19, 25-10.
14. Viera, Fla. (8-2)
Previous: 12.
Digs: Defeated Bishop Moore (Orlando), 25-20, 26-24, 18-25, 20-25, 19-17 and Satellite (Satellite Beach), 25-19, 25-15, 25-20.
15. Sierra Canyon School, Chatsworth, Calif. (13-3)
Previous: 15.
Digs: The Blazers posted three-set sweeps of Santa Margarita (Rancho Santa Margarita) and Notre Dame (Sherman Oaks). Thursday it’s showdown with Marymount (Los Angeles).
16. Dripping Springs, Texas (34-2)
Previous: 16.
Digs: Defeated Akins (Austin), 25-18, 25-13, 25-6, and New Braunfels, 25-17, 25-21, 25-14, in District 26-6A action. Sophomore outside hitter Henley Anderson recorded 19 kills in the two easy victories.
17. Pope, Marietta, Ga. (18-2)
Previous: 17.
Digs: The Greyhounds went 5-1 last week and played at the North Cobb Playdate with a 4-1 mark.
18. Plano (Texas) West (16-3)
Previous: Not ranked.
Digs: Swept both Bishop Lynch (Dallas) and Coppell in three sets apiece.
19. Flint Hill School, Oakton, Va. (4-2)
Previous: 18.
Digs: Idle. The action resumes this week with two matches.
20. Immaculate Heart Academy, Washington Township, N.J. (1-0)
Previous: 20.
Digs: Michelle Yoo picks up her first coaching win with the Blue Eagles, defeating Demarest, 28-26, 20-25, 25-18. Senior setter Kalena Stavish handed off 29 assists and had seven service points and Julia Sobilio spiked 11 kills and Abby Romero added 14 digs.
21. Punahou School, Honolulu (17-1)
Previous: 21.
Digs: Following a 16-day layoff, the Puns were back at it and defeated rivals Kamehameha (Honolulu), 16-25, 25-18, 20-25, 25-22, 15-14. Three more matches this week.
22. Huntington Beach, Calif. (14-4)
Previous: 14.
Digs: The Oilers lost in three sets to No. 4 Cathedral Catholic (San Diego) in tournament play and have three in league play this week.
23. Notre Dame Academy, Park Hills, Ky. (13-1)
Previous: Not ranked.
Digs: Finished second at the adidas LVIT Gold Bracket, falling to No. 6 Assumption (Louisville, Ky.), 14-25, 25-21, 16-25, in the final. Standout performers at the weekend event were libero Julia Grace and outside hitter Ava Tilden.
24. Venice, Fla. (8-2)
Previous: 24.
Digs: The Indians rattled off three victories following solid performance at the Nike TOC Southeast over the Labor Day Weekend.
25. Divine Savior Holy Angels, Milwaukee (13-0)
Previous: 25.
Digs: Won Manitowoc Lincoln Tournament, topping Fond du Lac, 25-15, 25-23, in the final. Setter Jordan Czajkowski had 20 assists and Wisconsin-recruit Madison Quest spiked 15 kills in the championship match. Quest also surpassed 1,000 career kills over the weekend.
Dropped out: No. 22 Hagerty (Oviedo, Fla.) and No. 23 Lakeville (Minn.) North.
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.); Corona Del Sol (Tempe, Ariz.); Northville (Mich.); Valor Christian (Highlands Ranch, Colo.); St. Mary’s Dominican (New Orleans); Marymount (Los Angeles); Jesuit (Portland, Ore.); and Oconomowoc (Wis.).
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.
