SHOWDOWN: No. 1 Mater Dei (CA) vs. No. 7 Sierra Canyon School (CA) for CIF-Southern Section Division 1 title; two additions to Blue Star Media Net 25 girls’ volleyball rankings

BENSALEM, Pa. – Once the schoolgirl volleyball season creeps into the month of November, it becomes a countdown to the finish. The state tournaments are underway or in some cases already completed.

There’s an appetizing matchup that could restructure the Blue Star Media Net 25 rankings.

The main topic is the California Interscholastic Federation-Southern Section Division 1 final. It’s worth noting after nearly two weeks of pool play, No. 1 Mater Dei (Santa Ana) plays No. 7 Sierra Canyon School (Chatsworth) for the title on Saturday at 7 p.m. PT at Cerritos College in Norwalk. That match tops a great day of volleyball inside the junior college gymnasium south of Los Angeles.

Once the dust settles on the sectionals in California, the Northern and Southern region tournaments are drawn up and it’s a sprint to the finish.

Otherwise, there are state championships featuring Net 25 teams from Florida, Indiana, Wisconsin and Kentucky. Last weekend, No. 4 Alpharetta (Ga.) put the finishing touches on a perfect 36-0 season after annexing the Class 6A state crown, the first for the program since 2020 and third overall. Congratulations, Alpharetta Indians!

Illinois is in the sectional stage of their postseason and Texas playoffs get rolling this week too.

Same goes No. 24 Xavier College Prep (Phoenix), which tips off the Arizona Conference 6A states this week. The Gators carry a 27-4 mark into the tournament and are Arizona’s top-ranked squad.

In Kentucky, No. 25 Assumption (Louisville) re-enters the Net 25 and are on a collision course with No. 17 Notre Dame Academy (Park Hills) in the state semifinals. Kentucky is unique—one overall state champion. Talk about great competition and Assumption (32-8) should know because they won it all in 2023 and are tested through several quality in-season national tournaments.

For the latest Net 25 rankings, there are two additions, 12 moved up with three sliding two slots, the top-11 were static and only one lost ground as No. 13 Marymount (Los Angeles) dipped one position.

That’ll do it for the month of October. The Blue Star Media Net 25 girls’ volleyball rankings return on Wednesday, Nov. 12. Less than three weeks remain in the season.

Don’t forget to thank former and present in the six branches of the military—Coast Guard, Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force and Space Force—for their service on Monday, Nov. 11 or Veteran’s Day. I’m sure there’s a ceremony in your community, so make plans to attend. You’ll be glad you did.

Bye for now.

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

Blue Star Media Net 25 Girls’ Volleyball Rankings, Nov. 6, 2024

1. Mater Dei, Santa Ana, Calif. (34-4)

Previous rank: 1.

Digs: The Monarchs are one win away from winning the CIF-Southern Section Division 1 championship. They went 3-0 Division 1 Pool B round-robin playoffs, winning nine of 10 sets in the three matches. Up next is No. 7 Sierra Canyon School (Chatsworth) Saturday in the final.

2. Byron Nelson, Trophy Club, Texas (34-1)

Previous: 2.

Digs: Junior Kylie Kleckner spiked 16 kills and Ashlyn Seay had 15, pacing the Bobcats past Keller Central, 25-22, 25-8, 25-11, in the regular-season capper. Texas’ top-ranked team also accrued a 16-0 record in winning District 4-6A. They met Weatherford on Tuesday, Nov. 5 in the Class 6A, Division II, bi-district playoff game.

3. Prestonwood Christian Academy, Plano, Texas (33-2)

Previous: 3.

Digs: The win streak reached nine matches after three-set victory over Midlothian in the regular-season finale. The Lions also went 8-0 in the TAPPS Class 6A, District 2 action.

4. Alpharetta, Ga. (36-0)*

Previous: 4.

Digs: Won the Class 6A state championship, sweeping North Cobb (Kennesaw), 25-16, 25-16, 25-19 in the final. It’s the Indians’ first title since 2020 and third overall. Season complete.

5. Benet Academy, Lisle, Ill. (36-1)

Previous: 5.

Digs: Won the Class 4A Wheaton Regional, beating Addison Trail (Addison), 25-8, 25-10 in the semifinals and Naperville Central, 25-18, 25-21 in the final. The Redwings continued their run in the postseason on Tuesday, Nov. 5 with Wheaton Warrenville South in the Aurora Sectional semifinals. The final is Thursday.

6. Cornerstone Christian School, San Antonio, Texas (32-4)

Previous: 6.

Digs: Season complete.

7. Sierra Canyon School, Chatsworth, Calif. (32-4)

Previous: 7.

Digs: Won the CIF-Southern Section Division 1 Pool A round-robin playoffs with a 2-1 record. The Blazers meet No. 1 Mater Dei (Santa Ana) Saturday for the title.

8. Roncalli, Indianapolis (34-0)

Previous: 8.

Digs: Won the Class 3A Semistate final, toppling Tri-West (Lizton), 25-20, 25-14, 25-14. The Royals return to the state final for the first time since 2006 and will meet Angola for the crown in Muncie.

9. Cathedral Catholic, San Diego, Calif. (40-3)

Previous: 9.

Digs: In the CIF-San Diego Section Open Division quarterfinals, the Dons swept San Dieguito Academy (Encinitas), 25-9, 25-16, 25-12. They played San Marcos on Tuesday, Nov. 5 in the finals. The championship match is Saturday night at University of San Diego’s Jenny Craig Pavilion.

10. Dripping Springs, Texas (45-2)

Previous: 10.

Digs: The Tigers claimed the District 26-6A crown after closing out the regular season with a 25-11, 25-21, 25-21 over Grand Oaks. Junior Henley Anderson pounded out 12 kills and added 15 service points. Lourdes Frontera had 17 assists. The Tigers played Vista Ridge on Monday, Nov. 4 in the Class 6A bi-district playoff match.

11. Divine Savior Holy Angels, Milwaukee (44-1)

Previous: 11.

Digs: In the Division 1 second round, the Dasher crushed Wisconsin Lutheran (Milwaukee), 25-9, 25-11, 25-13. Up next is Oak Creek on Thursday in the quarterfinals. The Division 1 Final Four is Friday and Saturday back at the Resch Center in Green Bay.

12. Mira Costa, Manhattan Beach, Calif. (26-8)

Previous: 14.

Digs: The Mustangs went 2-1 in the CIF-Southern Section Division 1 Pool A round-robin playoffs. They lost to No. 7 Sierra Canyon School (Chatsworth) in five sets in the final game of the pool. The regional playoffs are next.

13. Marymount, Los Angeles (33-7)

Previous: 12.

Digs: The Sailors were 2-1 in the CIF-Southern Section Division 1 Pool A round-robin playoffs.

14. Lovejoy, Lucas, Texas (33-7)

Previous: 15.

Digs: Won the District 9-5A championship with a 14-0 record. The Leopards played Hallsville on Tuesday, Nov. 5 in the Class 5A bi-district match. The winner moves onto the Area playoff match.

15. Mother McAuley, Chicago (32-4)

Previous: 16.

Digs: The Mighty Macs won the Class 4A Stagg Regionals in Palos Hills, defeating the host, 25-12, 25-14 in the final. In the semifinals, they swept Bloom Township (Chicago Heights), 25-5, 25-3. The 4A sectionals started Tuesday, Nov. 5 against Homewood-Flossmoor in the semifinals. The final is Thursday in Chicago.

16. Yorktown, Ind. (33-2)

Previous: 17.

Digs: The Tigers are headed back to the Class 4A state final after knocking off Center Grove (Greenwood), 20-25, 25-11, 25-21, 25-17 in the 4A Semistate final. Charlotte Vinson hammered down 22 kills. Addi Applegate had 20 digs and setter Bailey Stevens sent out 29 assists. Up next is Fort Wayne Carroll Saturday in the 4A state championship match to be played in Ball State University’s Worthen Arena in Muncie.

17. Notre Dame Academy, Park Hills, Ky. (32-3)

Previous: 18.

Digs: Won the 9^th District championship, defeating St. Henry (Erlanger), 25-15, 25-14, 28-26, in the final. The Pandas hosted Lexington Catholic on Monday, Nov. 4 in the Kentucky State Tournament first round and will play in the quarterfinals on Friday in Winchester.

18. Mercy, Farmington Hills, Mich. (29-2)

Previous: 19.

Digs: The Detroit Catholic League champions open the Division 1, District 23 semifinals on Wednesday on their home court. The final is slated for Friday evening. Ella Andrews, Campbell Flynn and Kate Kalczynski earned CHSL All-Catholic honors.

19. Mount St. Mary Catholic, Oklahoma City (39-1)*

Previous: 20.

Digs: Won Class 5A state championship.

20. Plant, Tampa, Fla. (21-1)

Previous: 21.

Digs: Maggie Dostic posted 31 kills in a 25-23, 23-25, 25-17, 25-12 victory over Venice in the Class 7A, Region 3 final. The Panthers face Boca Raton Thursday in the 7A semifinals. The final is Saturday against Winter Park or Osceola (Kissimmee).

21. Redondo Union, Redondo Beach, Calif. (27-10)

Previous: 22.

Digs: The Sea Hawks went 2-1 in the CIF-Southern Section Division 1 Pool B round-robin playoffs. Now await the Southern California Regional playoffs.

22. Colleyville (Texas) Heritage (32-6)

Previous: 24.

Digs: Closed out the regular with an 11-1 record in District 6-5A with Argyle. Senior Suli Davis surpassed 2,500 career kills and 1,500 career digs. The Panthers faced Granbury in the Class 5A bi-district playoff match on Monday, Nov. 4

23. Los Alamitos, Calif. (32-8)

Previous: 25.

Digs: Went 1-2 in the CIF-Southern Section Division 1 Pool B round-robin play, beating then-No. 23 Huntington Beach, 25-20, 21-25, 25-18, 25-20.

24. Xavier College Prep, Phoenix (27-4)

Previous: Not ranked.

Digs: The Gators debut in the Net 25 as Arizona’s top-ranked team in Conference 6A. They closed out the regular season with a three-set sweep of Millennium (Goodyear). The playoffs start Thursday, Nov. 7.

25. Assumption, Louisville, Ky. (32-8)

Previous: Not ranked.

Digs: The 7^th Region champions are back in the Net 25 after beating DuPont Manual, 30-28, 25-23, 25-14 in the final. The Rockets played Central Hardin (Cecilia) in the Kentucky State Tournament first round on Monday, Nov. 4 and will play in the quarterfinals on Friday in Winchester.

Dropped out: No. 13 Hamilton Southeastern (Fishers, Ind.) and No. 23 Huntington Beach (Calif.).

Special Consideration: Carroll (Fort Wayne, Ind.); Huntington Beach (Calif.); Papillion-LaVista (Neb.) South; Bishop O’Connell (Arlington, Va.)*; Skutt Catholic (Omaha, Neb.); Seton (Cincinnati);Bullis School (Potomac, Md.)*; Princeton (N.J.); Valor Christian (Highlands Ranch, Colo.); Torrey Pines (San Diego, Calif.); St. Thomas Aquinas (Overland Park, Kan.)*; Lakeville (Minn.) South; Assumption (Louisville, Ky.); Grand Oaks (Spring, Texas); Hamilton Southeastern (Fishers, Ind.); Winter Park (Fla.); Cinco Ranch (Katy, Texas).

* Denotes a state or conference postseason champion

Records 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 at @clawlor.