TURNOVER: Newbies from Kentucky, Tennessee, Ohio slide in Blue Star Media Net 25 volleyball rankings; No. 25 Skutt Catholic (NE) returns after 8-peat!

BENSALEM, Pa. – Whenever playoff volleyball is on full display, the best of the best emerges. Perhaps it was a favorite that endured a season with the bull’s-eye squarely on their backs, fulfilling dream, or a pesky team in the regular season that peaked in the state tournament.

That’s why you play the games. Nothing is guaranteed but earned in the Blue Star Media Net 25 girls’ volleyball rankings.

This week four teams slide into the Net 25.

Three are state champions as No. 25 Skutt Catholic (Omaha, Neb.) re-entering after capturing the Nebraska Class B final over the top seed for the eighth consecutive year. That’s right, eight straight for the SkyHawks, who annually play one of the nation’s most competitive schedules. Skutt traveled to neighboring states such as Kansas, Missouri and Illinois plus the Nike Tournament of Champions Southeast in Wesley Chapel, Florida over the Labor Day Weekend.

We viewed quality several teams at Nike Southeast but realized Skutt is among the elite and worthy of the Net 25. The SkyHawks did endure a rough patch about a month ago but rebounded for glory last weekend in Lincoln. That’s what champions are made of. Strength of schedule fuels Net 25 teams.

It was particularly interesting to see who would prevail in the Commonwealth of Kentucky. There’s a single-class system and one overall champion. For the 10th time, No. 20 Notre Dame Academy, an all-girls Catholic school located in Park Hills, Kentucky across the Ohio River from Cincinnati, is state champions after topping Dunbar (Lexington), 25-22, 25-11, 25-16.

The road to the Kentucky final had its challenges.

The Pandas gutted out a semifinal win, rallying to defeat then-No. 21 Assumption (Louisville), in five grueling sets, 25-12, 22-25, 21-25, 25-22, 15-7. Sydney Nolan would earn Most Valuable Player honors.

A sidenote to NDA’s victory was a special one. The Pandas played the final three matches of states with assistant coach Jenna Leistner at the helm. Head coach Leslie Litmer gave birth to her first child last Wednesday. She arrived Friday evening in Winchester just in time for the championship match victory over Dunbar (Lexington). Congratulations to all!

No. 21 Cleveland (Tenn.) also enters the Net 25 after winning the Class AAA championship while concluding with a 48-5 record.

There’s still work to be done in Ohio.

No. 24 Ursuline Academy (Cincinnati) is two wins from the Ohio Division I state title. The Lions have won three titles the last three times they made it to states, with the last one in 2018. The semifinals are Friday and the final is Saturday in Dayton. This is considered another power bracket.

Elsewhere, four teams from the Net 25 won state titles, pushing the season total to eight. The penultimate weekend of the season has teams from Texas, Ohio, Florida and Illinois on the cusp of state championships. Then it’s California, New Jersey, Texas (UIL schools) and Michigan going for the gold hardware on the weekend of Nov. 18-19.

And that leads us to the West Coast.

In perhaps the nation’s strongest brackets, the California Interscholastic Federation-Southern Regional Open Division Tournament is ready for quarterfinals action on Wednesday evening. Five teams from the Net 25 compose the three-round event, highlighted by undefeated and No. 1 Cathedral Catholic (San Diego), which waltzed to the CIF-San Diego Section Open Division crown last weekend. No. 5 Sierra Canyon School (Chatsworth), the winners in CIF-Southern Section Division 1, is the second seed. The semifinals are Saturday and the final is Nov. 15.

Remarkably, the Southern winner still has a state final on Nov. 19. Winning the CIF Open Division chip is truly special.

Finally, the American Volleyball Coaches Association announced its all-region teams. Several of the recipients play for teams in the Net 25. There are 530 players from 10 regions. The All-America Teams—First, Second and Honorable Mentions—will be released this week.

That’ll do it for the first week in November. More championships, more stories are on tap.

The Blue Star Media Net 25 girls’ volleyball rankings return on Nov. 16. Stay safe.

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

Blue Star Media Net 25 Girls’ Volleyball Rankings, Nov. 9, 2022

1. Cathedral Catholic, San Diego, Calif. (38-0)

Previous rank: 1.

Digs: Won a second consecutive CIF-San Diego Section title, whipping Torrey Pines (San Diego), 25-20, 25-10, 25-19. Junior middle blocker Jenna Hanes finished with a double-double 10 kills and 10 blocks. Stanford-commit Julia Blyashov had 11 kills and 4 blocks and Noemie Glover added 5 kills and 5 blocks. In the semifinals, the Dons beat La Costa Canyon (Carlsbad), 25-12, 25-14, 25-15. Up next is Lakewood in the Southern California Regional Open Division quarterfinals. The winner plays in the semifinals on Saturday. FYI: The Dons have not dropped a set through 38 matches.

2. Cornerstone Christian School, San Antonio (55-2)

Previous: 2.

Digs: Season complete.

3. Hamilton Southeastern, Fishers, Ind. (34-1)*

Previous: 4.

Digs: Won first-ever Class 4A state championship, beating No. 10 Yorktown, 25-17, 13-25, 25-23, 25-18. Avery Hobson spiked 17 kills and Macy Hinshaw dished off 27 assists and added 2 aces. Hobson, a Duquesne commit, earned the prestigious Mental Attitude Award. Season complete.

4. Marian, Bloomfield Hills, Mich. (44-1)

Previous: 5.

Digs: Won Division 1, District 25 title, beating Bloomfield Hills, 25-20, 25-11, 25-13. In the semifinals, the Mavericks defeated Birmingham Groves, 25-15, 25-13, 25-17. The Mavericks played Stoney (Rochester Hills) on Tuesday in the Regional 7 semifinals. The final is Thursday against Macomb Dakota or Eisenhower (Utica) with that winner off to the Division 1 quarterfinals on Nov. 15.

5. Sierra Canyon School, Chatsworth, Calif. (33-4)

Previous: 8.

Digs: Won the CIF-Southern Section Division 1 championship, sweeping then-No. 3 Mira Costa (Manhattan Beach), 28-26, 25-23, 25-23. Each game was decided by two points as the momentum seemed to shift when the Trailblazers rallied in the second set. With the sectionals in the rear view mirror, they will face No. 11 Marymount (Los Angeles) in the CIF-Southern Regional Open Division quarterfinals on Wednesday. The semifinals are Saturday and regional final is Nov. 15. The CIF final is Nov. 19.

6. Mira Costa, Manhattan Beach, Calif. (36-4)

Previous: 3.

Digs: Lost to No. 5 Sierra Canyon School (Chatsworth), 26-28, 23-25, 25-23 in CIF-Southern Section, Division 1 final. Up next is Newport Beach on Wednesday in the Southern California Regional Open Division quarterfinals. If the Mustangs win and No. 5 Sierra Canyon School (Chatsworth) does the same, they will meet Saturday in the semifinals.

7. Westminster Christian, Palmetto Bay, Fla. (27-0)

Previous: 6.

Digs: The Warriors remained perfect and are headed to the Class 3A final after stopping Lake Highlands Prep (Orlando), 25-19, 25-14, 25-16, in the semifinals. They also trounced Divine Savior Academy (Doral), 25-11, 25-17, 25-15, for the Region 4 chip. The final is set for Friday afternoon against Clearwater Central Catholic at Polk State College’s Winter Haven Health Center in Winter Haven.

8. Prestonwood Christian Academy, Plano, Texas (38-1)

Previous: 7.

Digs: Won TAPPS Class 6A regionals, defeating Ursuline Academy (Dallas), 25-22, 27-25, 28-26. Next is Parish Episcopal (Dallas) in the 6A semifinals on Friday in Waco. The final is Saturday afternoon.

9. Highland Park, Dallas (41-2)

Previous: 9.

Digs: In the Class 6A Area final, the Scots defeated Flower Mound, 25-15, 26-24, 23-25, 17-25. They also crushed DeSoto in three sets for the bi-district title. Up next is Denton Guyer in the Class 6A, Region 1 quarterfinals in McKinney. The semifinals are Friday and final is Saturday.

10. Yorktown, Ind. (34-3)

Previous: 10.

Digs: Lost in Class 4A final to No. 4 Hamilton Southeastern (Fishers), 17-25, 25-13, 23-25, 18-25. Charlotte Vinson smashed 15 kills and Gretchen Moore had 10. Emilee Hill dished off  20 assists and Kynndai Williams contributed 10. Season complete.

11. Marymount, Los Angeles (30-9)

Previous: 11.

Digs: Idle. The Sailors visit No. 5 Sierra Canyon School (Chatsworth) on Wednesday in the Southern California Region Open Division quarterfinals.

12. McCutcheon, Lafayette, Ind. (33-2)

Previous: 12.

Digs: Season complete.

13. Barrington, Ill. (39-1)

Previous: 13.

Digs: The Fillies rallied to eliminate Huntley, 10-25, 25-14, 28-26 in the Class 4A Dundee-Crown Super-Sectional. Arizona-bound Jess Horwath crushed 9 kills. Also swept Grant (Fox Lake) and Glenbrook South (Glenview) to win the Gurnee Sectional. Up next is the Class 4A state semifinals versus Benet Academy (Lisle) on Friday at the Illinois State University’s Redbird Arena in Normal. The final is Saturday with the winner facing No. 14 Mother McAuley (Chicago) or St. Charles East.

14. Mother McAuley, Chicago (37-3)

Previous: 15.

Digs: In the Class 4A Super-Sectional, the Mighty Macs defeated Joliet West, 25-18, 25-19.

They also captured the LaGrange Sectional, rallying to edge archrivals Marist (Chicago), 29-31, 25-12, 25-11, in the final. Now it’s the Class 4A semifinals against St. Charles East on Friday at Redbird Arena in Normal. The winner gets Benet Academy (Lisle) or No. 13 Barrington in Saturday’s final.

15. Santa Fe, Alachua, Fla. (29-2)

Previous: 16.

Digs: Won the Class 4A, Region 2 championship, sweeping Bishop Moore (Orlando), 25-21, 25-22, 25-14. In the Class 4A state semifinals, the Raiders stopped Bishop Kenney (Jacksonville), 25-14, 25-10, 25-20. The 4A final is Saturday against Academy of the Holy Names (Tampa) on the campus of Polk State College in Winter Haven.

16. Fayetteville, Ark. (37-2)*

Previous: 17.

Digs: Won third consecutive Class 6A state championship. Season complete.

17. Washburn Rural, Topeka, Kan. (45-1)*

Previous: 18.

Digs: Won Class 6A state tournament. Season complete.

18. Mater Dei, Santa Ana, Calif. (29-9)

Previous: 19.

Digs: Idle. The Monarchs host Torrey Pines (San Diego) on Wednesday in the CIF-Southern California Region Open Division quarterfinals. The winner plays No. 1 Cathedral Catholic (San Diego) on Saturday in the semifinals. The final is Nov. 15.

19. Immaculate Heart Academy, Washington Township, N.J. (27-1)

Previous: 20.

Digs: In the NJSIAA Non-Public A quarterfinals, the Blue Eagles downed Notre Dame (Lawrenceville), 25-4, 25-15. Also beat St. Thomas Aquinas (Edison), 25-10, 25-18, in the first round. In two matches, Bryant-bound outside hitter Brooke Talmadge had 26 kills, setter Kalena Stavish added 50 assists and Alexa Grigaliunas contributed 14 service points and 4 digs. The tournament continues Wednesday versus Union Catholic (Scotch Plains) in the semifinals and the final is Saturday. New Jersey’s dream final is the Blue Eagles against second-seeded Paul VI (Haddonfield).

20. Notre Dame Academy, Park Hills, Ky. (34-5)*

Previous: Not ranked.

Digs: Won the Kentucky state championship for the 10th time, beating Dunbar (Lexington), 25-22, 25-11, 25-16, in the final. Sydney Nolan spiked 19 kills and earned tournament Most Valuable Player. She was joined in the all-tournament by teammates Peyton Mast and Louisville-bound libero Kamden Schrand. The Pandas really earned their stripes in the semifinals, taking down then-No. 21 Assumption (Louisville), in five gut-wrenching sets, 25-12, 22-25, 21-25, 25-22, 15-7. They closed the term on a 10-match winning streak. Season complete.

21. Cleveland, Tenn. (48-5)*

Previous: Not ranked.

Digs: Won Tennessee Class AAA state championship. Season complete.

22. Iolani School, Honolulu (24-5)*

Previous: 22.

Digs: Won Division I state championship. Season complete.

23. St. Thomas Aquinas, Overland Park, Kan. (40-3)*

Previous: 24.

Digs: Won the Class 5A state championship. Season complete.

24. Ursuline Academy, Cincinnati (23-3)

Previous: Not ranked.

Digs: The Lions enter the Net 25 rankings after advancing to the Ohio Division I state semifinals by eliminating crosstown rivals St. Ursula (Cincinnati), 25-22, 25-17, 16-25, 25-19, for the regional crown. Senior Lindsey Green produced 29 assists, 8 digs and 5 kills; senior libero Sydney Breissinger had 11 digs; and senior middle blocker Brooke Bultema hammered 13 kills. The Lions, who have won championships the last three times they went to states, collide with Bishop Watterson (Columbus) in the semifinals on Friday at Wright State University’s Nutter Center in Dayton. The final is Saturday.

25. Skutt Catholic, Omaha, Neb. (30-10)*

Previous: Not ranked.

Digs: Won an eye-popping eighth straight state championship, knocking off top-seeded Elkhorn North, 25-20, 23-25, 14-25, 25-16, 15-11, in the Class B final in Lincoln. Michigan-bound outside hitter Morgan Burke pounded out 18 kills as the Skyhawks re-enter the Net 25 rankings with their 13th straight victory while playing one of the nation’s most demanding schedules. Coach Renee Saunders and her staff really rocked it this season. Season complete.

Dropped out: No. 14 Cypress Ranch (Houston); No. 21 Assumption (Louisville, Ky.); No. 23 Lincoln (Neb.) Southwest and No. 25 Jesuit (Portland, Ore.).

Special Consideration: Buford (Ga.)*; St. Francis (Mountain View, Calif.); Flint Hill School (Oakton, Va.)*; Divine Savior Holy Angels (Milwaukee)*; Wayzata (Plymouth, Minn.); Northville (Mich.); Lafayette (Wildwood, Mo.)*; Sequoyah (Canton, Ga.); Brandon (Miss.)*; St. James Academy (Lenexa, Kan.); Edmond (Okla.) Memorial*; Oconomowoc (Wis.); Pope (Marietta, Ga.)*; St. Mary’s (Lancaster, N.Y.)*; Tompkins (Katy, Texas); Sheldon (Eugene, Ore.)*; Lakeville (Minn.) North; Marshall (Minn.); Papillion (Neb.)-La Vista South*; Newport Beach (Calif.); Assumption (Louisville, Ky.); Torrey Pines (San Diego, Calif.); Magnificat (Rocky River, Ohio) and Fairport (N.Y.).

* Denotes a state or conference tournament postseason champion

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.