Video: Xcellent 25 Volleyball Rankings presented by the Army National Guard - December 1With only one week remaining in the MaxPreps Xcellent 25 National Volleyball Rankings presented by the Army National Guard, Indianapolis Cathedral holds on to a slim lead over Jesuit (Portland, Ore.) and Gabriel Richard (Ann Arbor, Mich.).
During its 36-0 season, Cathedral captured Indiana's 4A state title and won 96 sets while losing nine. The Irish were pushed to five sets on only four occasions.
Along the way, the Irish beat No. 16 Assumption (Louisville, Ky.) and knocked off then-ranked Carroll (Fort Wayne, Ind.) and Center Grove (Ind.). They also own a win over Indiana 3A champion Providence.
However, Jesuit and Gabriel Richard have made strong arguments to be No. 1.
Jesuit, which has won 69 straight matches over two seasons, won 83 of 86 sets this season and was not pushed to five sets. The Crusaders have won the last two Oregon 6A titles.
Jesuit won the prestigious Nike Invitational and owns wins over No. 6 P.K. Yonge, No. 8 Desert Vista and No. 10 Redondo Union. Desert Vista is No. 1 in the MaxPreps Computer Rankings presented by the Army National Guard. Jesuit also beat Gilbert (Ariz.), No. 24 in the Computer Rankings.
Gabriel Richard, which won the Michigan 3A title, won 102 of 108 sets and was not forced to a five-set match all season. Gabriel Richard also won the multi-state Beast of the East Tournament and beat No. 5 Novi.
By comparison, Cathedral is ranked No. 15, Jesuit No. 20 and Gabriel Richard No. 62 in the Computer Rankings.
New this week to the Top 25 are Redondo Union (Redondo Beach, Calif.) and Blue Valley West (Stilwell, Kan.).
Redondo Union defeated previous No. 5 Torrey Pines (San Diego), 3-1, in the California Division I quarterfinals to improve to 34-4 and move into the Top 10. Redondo Union, California's defending Division I champion, has been ranked in the Top 25 four times previously this season.
Blue Valley captured the Kansas 6A title to finish the season 41-4.
See volleyball playoff brackets from around the nationMaxPreps Xcellent 25 National Volleyball Rankings presented by the Army National Guard
Sydney Vach and Winter Springs finished off their season with a Florida state title.
Photo by Andrew Bershaw
1. (No. 1 last week) Cathedral (Indianapolis), 36-0 *Season overThe Fighting Irish won the state 4A title.
2. (2) Jesuit (Portland, Ore.), 32-0 *Season overThe Crusaders won the State 6A title for second year in row and extended win streak to 69.
3. (3) Gabriel Richard (Ann Arbor, Mich.), 42-0 *Season overGabriel Richard won the state Class B championship.
4. (4) St. James Academy (Lenexa, Kan.), 46-1 *Season overThe Thunder won the 5A state title.
5. (7) Novi (Mich.), 55-2 *Season overThe Wildcats captured the state large school title.
6. (6) P.K. Yonge (Gainesville, Fla.), 31-1 *Season overYonge captured the state 3A title.
7. (8) Winter Springs (Fla.), 30-2 *Season overWinter Springs captured the state 8A title.
8. (10) Desert Vista (Phoenix), 43-3 *Season overThe Thunder won the state large school title.
9. (9) Morgan (Utah), 32-0 *Season overThe Trojans won Utah's 3A title.
10. (NR) Redondo Union (Redondo Beach, Calif.), 34-4The reigning D-I champions knocked off Torrey Pines, which had won 28 straight matches. Redondo plays No. 20 Trabuco Hills on Tuesday.
11. (11) Eaton (Colo.), 28-0 *Season overEaton won its third-straight 3A title.
12. (12) Buford (Ga.), 41-0 *Season OverWon state 4A championship.
13. (13) Edmond North (Okla.), 32-1 *Season overThe Huskies won the state 6A title.
14. (14) Parkland (Allentown, Pa.), 36-2 *Season overParkland won its second-straight state 4A title.
15. (15) Hebron (Carrollton, Texas), 43-5 *Season overThe Hawks won the state 6A title.
16. (16) Assumption (Louisville, Ky.), 36-7 *Season overThe Rockets won Kentucky's state title.
17. (17) St. Francis (Wheaton, Ill.), 39-3 *Season overSt. Francis captured the 4A state title.
18. (18) Dripping Springs (Texas), 51-3 *Season overDripping Springs won the state 5A title.
19. (19) Archbishop Mitty (San Jose, Calif.), 33-5 Mitty blanked Granite Bay to move to the California D-II state semifinals against Presentation (San Jose) on Tuesday.
20. (25) Trabuco Hills (Mission Viejo, Calif.), 33-4 Trabuco Hills defeated Mater Dei to move to the California D-I semifinal on Tuesday against No. 10 Redondo Union.
21. (20) George Washington (Charleston, W. Va.), 65-1-1 *Season overThe Patriots won the state 3A championship.
22. (21) Brentwood (Tenn.), 53-3 *Season overBrentwood won the state AAA championship.
23. (23) La Cueva (Albuquerque, N.M.), 22-0 *Season overThe Bears won the state 6A title.
24. (24) Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake (Burnt Hills, N.Y.), 43-1-4 *Season overBurnt Hills-Ballston Lake captured the state Class A title.
25. (NR) Blue Valley West (Stilwell, Kan.), 41-4 *Season overBVHS won the 6A state title.
Dropped out: Redwood (Calif.), Torrey Pines (Calif.).