TAKING FLIGHT: New No. 1 Benet Academy (IL) Redwings flying high; three teams join Blue Star Media Net 25 girls’ volleyball rankings

BENSALEM, Pa. – It didn’t take a crystal volleyball to figure the Blue Star Media Net 25 girls’ volleyball rankings might receive a jolt.

That’s because the final two major tournaments of the term took place in Arizona and Chicago. And after the results were tabulated, it was determined there were several teams shifting positions within the Net 25, three teams who excelled over the weekend have been added and finally, yes, we have a new No. 1.

The Benet Academy Redwings are the new No. 1 after peeling off 21 straight wins with 20 sweeps.

The Redwings had a quality win last week over a Net 25 team from Nebraska and feature 11 players who have Division I offers. Wisconsin-bound middle blocker Lynney Tarnow is a notable recruit. That’s a whole lotta talent from the program that is located in the Chicagoland volleyball-crazy footprint and coached by Brad Baker. When the Illinois Class 4A state playoffs begin in three weeks, the Redwings will be the favorite. No. 18 Mother McAuley (Chicago), the current title holders, will have something to say about it.

Benet will put their No. 1 status on line against Marist (Chicago) on Tuesday, Oct. 8 and then this week in tournament play in Aurora.

The highest riser is a newcomer to the Net 25 is Horizon (Scottsdale, Ariz.) went 6-0 last weekend in claiming the Nike Tournament of Champions Southwest Platinum chip in Mesa, Ariz. Horizon’s main players are Teraya Sigler (Nebraska pledge), middle blocker Sophia Gilbert and libero Ava Lambert. The Huskies are aiming for a fourth straight Arizona 5A Conference state title.

No. 11 Notre Dame Academy (Park Hills, Ky.) won the prestigious ASICS Challenge Gold Division championship in Chicago, beating No. 14 Skutt Catholic (Omaha, Neb.), 25-18, 25-16 in the final. NDA (23-2) is among the favorites to win Kentucky’s single-class state crown in November.

Finally, No. 25 Princeton (N.J.) joins the Net 25 after capturing a showdown match with then-No. 3 Immaculate Heart Academy (Washington Township) on Saturday, Oct. 5. The Tigers (13-0), who won the NJSIAA Group 3 title last year, are rolling with setter Lois Matsukawa engineering the attack. She recently posted her 1,400^th career assist.

With the addition of three programs and a new top dog, the Net 25 has a fresh look with the playoffs nationwide on the horizon.

That’ll do it for the first week in October. The Blue Star Media Net 25 rankings return on Wednesday, Oct. 16.

Bye for now.

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

Blue Star Media Net 25 Girls’ Volleyball Rankings, Oct. 9, 2024

1. Benet Academy, Lisle, Ill. (21-0)

Previous rank: 5.

Digs: The Redwings won three matches last week, including a 25-21, 25-16 victory  over No. 14 Skutt Catholic (Omaha, Neb.). This weekend the Redwings compete at the St. Charles East Scholastic Cup in Aurora, Ill.

2. Mater Dei, Santa Ana, Calif. (28-4)

Previous: 2.

Digs: The Monarchs three remaining Trinity League matches after going 5-1 and advancing to the final of the Nike Tournament of Champions Southwest in Mesa, Arizona.

3. Byron Nelson, Trophy Club, Texas (27-1)

Previous: 3.

Digs: The Bobcats stretched their win streak to 23 matches with two more in District 4-6A this week.

4. Prestonwood Christian Academy, Plano, Texas (27-2)

Previous: 1.

Digs: The Lions won a pair of three-set matches in region play.

5. Alpharetta, Ga. (29-0)

Previous: 8.

Digs: Brooke Boyles had 15 kills when the Indians swept South Forsyth (Cumming), 25-12, 25-7, 25-15 after nearly a two-week layoff following Hurricane Helene.

6. Cornerstone Christian School, San Antonio, Texas (34-4)

Previous: 4.

Digs: The Warriors dropped two matches at the Nike Tournament of Champions Southwest.

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

Previous: 6.

Digs: Went 3-1 at the Redondo Union Power Classic in Redondo Beach.

8. Roncalli, Indianapolis (27-0)

Previous: 11.

Digs: The Royals are Marion County champions after defeating Franklin Central (Indianapolis), 25-13, 25-10, 25-11 in the final. Missouri-bound Lydia Stahley totaled 22 kills in the semifinals and final. Logan Bell had 19 kills, 15 digs and 11 aces in both matches. Mackenzie Kruer added 16 kills and nine blocks while junior setter Addie Haberthy added 60 assists and 13 digs in the two matches.

9. Cathedral Catholic, San Diego, Calif. (28-3)

Previous: 9.

Digs: Defeated La Jolla, 25-14, 25-15, 25-10 and Point Loma (San Diego), 25-11, 25-6, 25-13.

10. Horizon, Scottsdale, Ariz. (17-3)

Previous: Not ranked.

Digs: Won Nike TOC Southwest Platinum Division championship in Mesa, Ariz. Outside hitter and Nebraska recruit Teraya Sigler was the best player in the gym for the three-time Arizona state champions. Middle blocker Sophia Gilbert and libero Ava Lambert were key in the later rounds.

11. Notre Dame Academy, Park Hills, Ky. (24-2)

Previous: Not ranked.

Digs: Won the ASICS Challenge Gold Division championship in Chicago, beating No. 14 Skutt Catholic (Omaha, Neb.), 25-18, 25-16 in the final. Ava Tilden had seven spikes, Julia Grace 14 digs and Lizy Larkins handed out 16 assists.

12. Dripping Springs, Texas (38-2)

Previous: 13.

Digs: The Tigers won two matches in District 26-6A and are 6-0.

13. Marymount, Los Angeles (27-5)

Previous: 8.

Digs: Went 5-1 at the Nike TOC Southwest in Mesa, Arizona last weekend.

14. Skutt Catholic, Omaha, Neb. (19-6)

Previous: 21.

Digs: Finished second at the ASICS Challenge Gold Division.

15. Divine Savior Holy Angels, Milwaukee (33-1)

Previous: 10.

Digs: The Dashers went 5-1 at the ASICS Challenge in Chicago.

16. Mira Costa, Manhattan Beach, Calif. (22-6)

Previous: 12.

Digs: Advanced to the finals of the Redondo Union Power Classic. The Mustangs are fueled by seven Division I-bound players, six of whom are only juniors. The future is bright in Southern California.

17. Hamilton Southeastern, Fishers, Ind. (26-2)

Previous: 18.

Digs: The Royals rebounded from a rare in-season loss with three-set sweeps of Noblesville, Franklin Community and Center Grove (Greenwood).

18. Mother McAuley, Chicago (21-3)

Previous: 19.

Digs: The Mighty Macs finished third at the ASICS Challenge Gold Division in their home gymnasium.

19. Colleyville (Texas) Heritage (27-5)

Previous: 22.

Digs: The Panther won twice, improving to 6-0 in District 6-5A.

20. Mercy, Farmington Hills, Mich. (16-2)

Previous: 15.

Digs: The Marlins lost two games at the ASICS Challenge last weekend in Chicago.

21. Lovejoy, Lucas, Texas (26-7)

Previous: 24.

Digs: The Leopards swept Sherman and Greenville in district play.

22. Mount St. Mary Catholic, Oklahoma City (32-1)

Previous: 20.

Digs: Junior Ella Hale spiked 16 kills and Livia Ward had 30 assists in a three-set sweep of Bishop Kelley (Tulsa).

23. Plant, Tampa, Fla. (15-1)

Previous: 16.

Digs: The Panthers dropped a five-set thriller to Winter Park. Games this week are wiped out by Hurricane Milton.

24. Huntington Beach, Calif. (28-3)

Previous: 25.

Digs: Defeated Marina (Huntington Beach), 27-25, 25-22, 25-22.

25. Princeton, N.J. (13-0)

Previous: Not ranked.

Digs: Defeated then-No. 23 Immaculate Heart Academy (Washington Township), 25-23, 21-25, 25-16, in a battle of New Jersey’s top two teams. The Tigers stretched their win streak to 24 matches. Lois Matsukawa handed out her 1,400^thcareer assist. Junior Naomi Lygas had 20 kills along with 11 digs and two aces. Junior Kaelin Bobetich added 17 kills.
Dropped out: No. 14 Assumption (Louisville, Ky.); No. 17 Carrollwood Day (Tampa, Fla.) and No. 23 Immaculate Heart Academy (Washington Township, N.J.).

Special Consideration: Xavier College Prep (Phoenix); Redondo Union (Redondo Beach, Calif.); Branson (Calif.); Torrey Pines (San Diego, Calif.); Palos Verdes (Palos Verdes Estates, Calif.); St. Thomas Aquinas (Overland Park, Kan.); Champlin Park (Champlin, Minn.); Marist (Chicago); Immaculate Heart Academy (Washington Township, N.J.); Marist (Chicago); Assumption (Louisville, Ky.); Grand Oaks (Spring, Texas); Carrollwood Day (Tampa, Fla.); Casteel (Queen Creek, Ariz.); Georgetown Day (Washington, D.C.) and Yorktown (Ind.).

 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.