Assumption (Louisville, Ky.) won four games last week to run its win streak to 18 and remains atop MaxPreps Xcellent 25 National Volleyball Rankings presented by the Army National Guard.
No. 2 St. James Academy (Lenexa, Kan.) and No. 4 New Trier (Winnetka, Ill.) opened their seasons with 2-0 wins, while No. 3 Horizon (Scottsdale, Ariz.) and No. 5 Archbishop Mitty (San Jose, Calif.) open their seasons later this week.
The Woodlands (Texas) moved up a spot to No. 6 as it a ran its record to 23-0.
Boca Raton (Fla.) moved up three spots to No. 7 with a pair of victories and Dike-New Hartford (Dike, Iowa) remained at No. 8 as it awaits its season opener.
Mercy (Louisville, Ky.), which last lost in the Kentucky state championship game (3-2) to Assumption, has opened the season 6-0 and has won 13 of its last 14 matches. The Jaguars, who start this week ranked No. 9, host Assumption on Sept. 10.
Winter Park (Fla.) rounds out the Top 10 with a 6-0 start.
In running its winning streak to 32, Dakota (Macomb, Mich.) jumped from No. 32 to No. 11. Led by All-American Carly Snyder, Dakota has won its first 11 matches of 2013.
MaxPreps Xcellent 25 National Volleyball Rankings presented by the Army National Guard
Courtnee Curl (striking the ball) and Cedar Park were included in the opening Xcellent 50. Their quality play since them has moved the squad into the Xcellent 25.
Photo by Jamie Harms
With a 3-0 win over Brown, the Rockets have opened their season 6-0 to run their winning streak to 18 as setter
Alexa Filley has dished out 157 assists. They have won 18 of their 19 games this season. They host Sacred Heart (Louisville, Ky.) on Wednesday.
2. (2) St. James Academy (Lenexa, Kan.), 1-0The Thunder opened their season with a 2-0 win over Blue Valley West (Stilwell, Kan.). They visit Blue Springs (Mo.) on Tuesday.
3. (3) Horizon (Scottsdale, Ariz.), 0-0 The Huskies open their season on Tuesday at Boulder Creek (Anthem, Ariz.). The reigning state champs were 43-3 in 2012.
4. (4) New Trier (Winnetka, Ill.), 1-0New Trier opened its season with a 2-0 win over Libertyville (Ill.) on Thursday. New Trier hosts 15 teams Friday and Saturday at its Summer's End Tournament.
5. (5) Archbishop Mitty (San Jose, Calif.), 0-0 The Monarchs participate in the Independence Spikefest in San Jose on Sept. 7.
6. (7) The Woodlands (Texas), 23-0 The Highlanders, who are off to a 22-0 start (winning 50 of 53 games), host Kingwood (Texas) Tuesday.
Courtney Eckenrode is averaging just less than 10 assists per game. The Woodlands plays at 14-3 Clear Falls (League City, Texas) on Friday.
7. (10) Boca Raton (Fla.), 2-0The Bobcats beat Cardinal Gibbons (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) 3-1, and followed that with a 3-0 win over Atlantic (DelRay Beach, Fla.). The Bobcats, who have won 15 in a row, host Ransom Everglades (Miami) on Wednesday.
8. (8) Dike-New Hartford (Dike, Iowa), 0-0This junior-dominated team is working on a 64-match winning streak after back-to-back state titles. They open the season Sept. 5 at BCLUW (Conrad, Iowa).
9. (NR) Mercy (Louisville, Ky.), 6-0The Jaguars beat Mt. Notre Dame (Cincinnati) on Saturday, 3-2 (25-27, 25-23, 25-21, 16-25, 18-16) to run their record to 6-0. Despite having only one senior, the Jaguars have lost just two games in their six matches. They play No. 1 Assumption on Sept. 10.
10. (11) Winter Park (Fla.), 3-0The Wildcats defeated their first three 2013 opponents 3-0, including reigning MaxPreps national champion Bishop Moore. The Wildcats host Colonial (Orlando, Fla.) on Tuesday.
11. (32) Dakota (Macomb, Mich.), 11-0Off to an 11-0 start, Dakota has won 32 matches in a row.
Carli Snyder has 90 kills and 77 digs and
Megan Manierski is averaging 9.9 assists per game. Dakota hosts Marysville (Mich.) on Sept. 11.
12. (12) Lafayette (Wildwood, Mo.), 0-0
Cheyenne Mountain is back to defend its Coloradostate title.
File photo by Matt Daniels
The Lancers, 40-0 in 2012, host St. Joseph's Academy (St. Louis) on Tuesday.
13. (15) Cheyenne Mountain (Colorado Springs, Colo.), 1-0Behind
Holly Huffman's 55 assists, Cheyenne Mountain defeated Chaparral (Parker, Colo.) 3-2 to open the season. Cheyenne visits Grandview (Colo.) on Wednesday.
14. (14) Los Alamitos (Calif.), 0-0The Griffins, winners of 15 of their last 16 matches, opened their season Monday at the Lakewood Tournament (Calif.).
15. (24) Lakeville North (Minn.), 2-0 The Panthers opened with a 3-0 win as
Alyssa Goehner had 22 kills, then blanked Owatonna, 3-0, as Goehner again had 22 kills. The Panthers host Wayzata (Plymouth, Minn.) on Tuesday.
16. (20) Notre Dame Prep (Pontiac, Mich.), 4-0Behind
Katherine Carlson's 44 kills, the Irish have opened the season 4-0 and participate Sept. 7 in the Croswell-Lexington Tournament.
17. (17) Wapahani (Selma, Ind.), 8-0 The Raiders didn't lose a game in capturing their own invitational Saturday. They host Jay County (Portland, Ind.) on Tuesday.
18. (18) Coppell (Texas), 6-1Off to a 6-1 start, Coppell hosts Allen (Texas) on Sept. 6.
19. (19) Punahou (Honolulu), 4-0
Abby Buckingham, Churchill
Photo by Kenneth Toso
The Buff n' Blue beat Sacred Hearts Academy (Honolulu) 25-13, 25-20 and will host Mid-Pacific Institute (Honolulu) on Tuesday.
20. (21) Churchill (San Antonio), 26-1Churchill won nine matches (losing just one game) in winning the three-day Smithson Invite. Sophomore
Abby Buckingham has 369 kills on the season (better than a 5.5 average per game). Churchill visits Judson (Converse, Texas) on Tuesday.
21. (22) Benet Academy (Lisle, Ill.), 5-0 Winners of 84 of their last 89 matches, the Redwings stretched their winning streak to 30 matches as they won their own tournament with a 5-0 record. In winning the 31st Benet Invitational, Benet has finished first in its last 10 tournaments dating back to 2010 — 12 straight if you include the 2011 and 2012 state tournaments.
22. (9) Mother McAuley (Chicago), 5-1The Macs beat St. Francis (Wheaton, Ill.), 2-0, as
Ryann DeJarld had 12 kills and
Courtney Joyce added 23 assists. They play at Lockport (Ill.) on Tuesday.
23. (23) Bishop Miege (Shawnee Mission, Kan.), 0-0The reigning state 3A champions (35-7) host Gardner-Edgerton (Gardner, Kan.) on Sept. 5.
24. (6) Carmel (Ind.), 8-1Carmel followed a 3-2 loss to Sacred Heart (Louisville, Ky.) by bouncing back for a 32-30, 25-15, 25-15 win over No. 13 Avon on Tuesday and didn't lose a match in winning the Mishawaka Invitational for the second-straight year.
Carly Skjodt was named MVP. Carmel hosts Center Grove (Greenwood, Ind.) on Tuesday.
25. (27) Cedar Park (Texas), 10-0The Timberwolves aren't outscoring their opponents by many points, but are 22-4 in games and unbeaten in matches. The T'Wolves, who won the Westwood tournament, play at Westlake (Austin, Texas) on Tuesday.
Dropped Out: Avon (Ind.)
Notre Dame Academy (Park Hills, Ky.)
