MaxPreps Top 25 national high school volleyball rankings

Mercy (Louisville, Ky.) held onto first place in the latest MaxPreps Xcellent 25 Volleyball Rankings, but the Jaguars will be facing a rejuvenated Assumption (Louisville, Ky.) on Thursday.

Mercy (28-0) previously defeated Assumption, MaxPreps' No. 1-ranked team before losing twice in the Louisville Invitational in mid-September.

The unranked Rockets lost to Mercy, 3-1, on Sept. 10, however they swept through a talented field last weekend to win the Asics Invitational held at Mother McAuley High School (Chicago). Assumption has won six straight matches.

In sweeping the field, Assumption defeated host and favorite McAuley in the championship, 2-0, and improved its record to 18-5. McCauley, ranked No. 18, lost to Mercy five weeks ago.

The top five teams in this week's rankings are the same as a week ago, as The Woodlands (Texas), St. James (Lenexa, Kan.), Dakota (MaComb, Mich.) and Torrey Pines (San Diego) all remained unbeaten.

And Carroll (Southlake, Texas) held ground at No. 6.

Seven through No. 10, however, looks different with unbeatens East Troy (Wis.), St. Ursula Academy (Toledo, Ohio), Bellarmine Prep (Tacoma, Wash.), and Cardinal Gibbons (Raleigh, N.C.) all moving up.

New to the Top 25 this week is unbeaten Merritt Island (Fla.), winners of every set it has played this season (43) and unbeaten in 16 matches.

Torrey Pines will host the annual California Challenge on Friday and Saturday. Included in the field of 32 will be Los Alamitos, Clovis West, Corona Del Mar (Huntington Beach), Harvard-Westlake (Studio City), Marymount (Los Angeles), Mater Dei (Santa Ana) and Valley Christian (San Jose). Las Alamitos, Corona Del Mar, Marymount, Mater Dei and Valley Christian have all been ranked in the Top 25 this season.

MaxPreps Xcellent 25 National Volleyball Rankings presented by the Army National Guard

1. (Last week 1) Mercy (Louisville, Ky.), 28-0
The Jaguars, who have lost only nine games this season, beat up on 19-8 Jeffersontown (Ky.) 25-5 twice on Wednesday and beat Holy Cross (Louisville) on Sunday. The Jaguars play rival and Chicago Asics champion Assumption on Thursday.

2. (2) The Woodlands (Texas), 30-0
The Highlanders beat Kingwood (Texas), 3-0, and beat Bryan on Friday. They have outscored their foes 69-4. Senior Morgan Eason has 81 blocks in 77 sets. The Highlanders host College Park (The Woodlands) on Tuesday.

3. (3) St. James Academy (Lenexa, Kan.), 27-0
The Thunder shut out St. Teresa's Academy (Kansas City, Mo.), and St. Thomas Aquinas (Overland Park, Kan.), each 3-0, to remain unbeaten and run their streak of 57 set wins against no defeats this season. Audriana Fitzmorris has 85 blocks in 51 sets. The Thunder host Lee's Summit West (Mo.) on Tuesday.

4. (4) Dakota (Macomb, Mich.), 27-0
Dakota had 50 kills and 75 digs in beating Northern (Port Huron, Mich.). Dakota hosts Fraser (Mich.) on Tuesday.

5. (5) Torrey Pines (San Diego), 14-0
The Falcons breezed by LaCosta Canyon (Carlsbad, Calif.) and Fallbrook and have outscored their opponents 36-3. On Tuesday, they host Westview (San Diego).

6. (6) Carroll (Southlake, Texas), 34-1
The Lady Dragons ran their win streak to 23 after sweeping Keller (Texas) and Timber Creek (Fort Worth). Carroll hosts Fossil Ridge (Keller, Texas) on Tuesday.

7. (8) East Troy (Wis.), 33-0
The Trojans breezed by Evansville (Wis.) and Whitewater, recording 3-0 wins each night and outscoring their foes 150-67. They visit Jefferson (Wis.) on Tuesday.

8. (15) St. Ursula Academy (Toledo, Ohio), 20-0
St. Ursula recorded lopsided 3-0 wins over Ross (Fremont, Ohio) and Lima Senior (Lima, Ohio).

9. (14) Bellarmine Prep (Tacoma, Wash.), 14-0
Bellarmine has lost one game this season (36-1) and beat Olympia (Wash.) and South Kitsip (Port Orchard, Wash.) last week and hosts Gig Harbor (Wash.) on Monday.

10. (17) Cardinal Gibbons (Raleigh, N.C.), 18-0
The Crusaders, who have won 25 straight matches and four straight state titles, routed North Carolina's No. 2 team, Apex, 2-0 (25-15, 25-4). On Saturday they also beat perennial state power, Leesville Road (Raleigh), 3-0. They visit Northern Vance (Henderson, N.C.) on Tuesday.

11. (10) Kamehameha (Honolulu), 24-1
The Warriors blanked Maryknoll (Honolulu) and Sacred Hearts Academy (Honolulu) last week and visit ‘Iolani (Honolulu) on Tuesday.

12. (12) Horizon (Scottsdale, Ariz.), 21-1
Horizon had an impressive week with 10 victories. The Huskies opened the week with 3-0 dual wins over Cactus Shadows (Cave Creek, Ariz.), O'Connor (Phoenix) and Fairfax (Laveen, Ariz.), and ended it with a 7-0 sweep of the eight-team Gilbert Invitational. They visit Mountain Ridge (Glendale, Ariz.) on Tuesday.

13. (11) Carmel (Ind.), 22-1
Since losing to Sacred Heart (Louisville, Ky.), the Greyhounds have won 19 matches. Last week, they beat Indianapolis teams Cathedral and Bishop Chatard. On Tuesday they host Warren Central (Indianapolis). Junior Carly Skjodt has 278 kills and 225 digs this season.

14. (13) Lafayette (Wildwood, Mo.), 19-1-1
Lafayette hasn't lost a match in its last dozen and have lost but one game during that span. It beat Westminster Christian (St. Louis) and Fox (Arnold, Mo.) last week and hosts Villa Duchesne (St. Louis) on Monday.

15. (20) Winter Park (Fla.), 17-1
The Wildcats bounced back to run their win streak to seven with wins over Oak Ridge (Orlando) and Lake Highland Prep (Orlando). They play at 16-3 Bishop Moore (Orlando, Fla.) on Tuesday.

16. (16) Veterans Memorial (Mission, Texas), 30-0
Led by Shania Gilpin, the Lady Patriots beat Mercedes (Texas) last Tuesday and visit Edcouch-Elsa (Edcouch, Texas) on Tuesday.

17. (21) New Castle (Ind.), 23-1
The Trojans beat Indianapolis rivals Bishop Chatard and Cathedral early last week, then polished off Burris (Muncie, Ind.), 3-0. They host once-beaten Yorktown (Ind.) on Thursday.

18. (18) Mother McAuley (Chicago), 22-2
Lost 2-0 (19-25, 8-25) to Assumption (Louisville, Ky.) in the finals of the Asics Tournament hosted by McCauley. After beating St.Thomas Aquinas (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla), the Macs reached the finals with a 2-1 win over St. Francis. Macs tuned up for the Asics event by beating 14-2 Loyola Academy (Wilmette, Ill.) and previously-ranked Assumption (Louisville, Ky.), 2-1 on Thursday. The Macs play at Resurrection (Chicago) on Tuesday.

19. (19) Fossil Ridge (Fort Collins, Colo.), 12-0
Utilizing 87 kills and 102 digs, the Sabercats beat West (Greeley, Colo.) and Boulder 3-0 last week and will host Horizon (Thornton, Colo.) on Tuesday.

20. (23) Archbishop Mitty (San Jose, Calif.), 21-2
Gabriella Carta-Samuels had 27 digs as the Monarchs beat St. Ignatius (San Francisco), then swept through the Panther Tournament defeating four good teams — including handing Redwood (Larkspur, Calif.) its first loss in 19 matches as Kelsey Crawford had 24 assists in two sets. The Monarchs host Presentation (San Jose) on Friday.

21. (NR) Merritt Island (Fla.), 16-0
Led by freshman Alyssa Zwolensky and sophomore Anna Garrett, the Mustangs have yet to lose a set this season, winning all 43. The Mustangs host Space Coast (Cocoa, Fla.) on Tuesday.

22. (22) Bettendorf (Iowa), 25-1
The Bulldogs bounced back from their first loss of the season to outscore North (Davenport, Iowa) 75-30 in a 3-0 win. The ‘Dogs host Burlington (Iowa) on Tuesday.

23. (7) Churchill (San Antonio), 34-2
Churchill lost to 29-5 Reagan (San Antonio), 3-1, last Tuesday, but bounced back to beat Lee (San Antonio) on Friday, 3-0. It was its first loss since Aug. 17 (to No. 6 Carroll), snapping a 27-match winning streak. Churchill hosts Madison (San Antonio) on Tuesday.

24. (25) Ravenwood (Brentwood, Tenn.), 40-3
Behind the play of seniors Payton Logan and Taylor Briggs, Ravenwood ran its streak to 21 straight by winning the Borders War Invitational in Atlanta. Next up is the District 11 AAA Tournament Wednesday through Friday as the Raptors begin their quest for their fourth-straight state AAA title. The Raptors have won 40 or more matches for five-straight seasons.

25. (24) St. Francis (Wheaton, Ill.), 24-3
The Spartans took third at the Asics Tournament hosted by Mother McAuley (Chicago). Their only loss was in the semi-finals to McAuley, 2-1. The Spartans play at North (Downers Grove, Ill.) on Oct. 10.

Dropped Out:
No. 9 Yorktown (Ind.)