High school volleyball rankings: Reigning Michigan Division 1 champ Marian tops preseason MaxPreps Top 25

Ava Sarafa and Ella Schomer look to lead top-ranked Mustangs to another state title.

Thumbnail image of this articles writer: Aaron Williams
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Aug 25, 2022, 12:00pm
There was an air of uncertainty coming into the 2021 high school volleyball season after the pandemic made the previous year hit and miss across the country. There are plenty of unanswered questions heading into 2022, but there are more knowns than unknowns.

One of the knowns is that reigning Michigan Division 1 champion Marian (Bloomfield Hills) starts the season as the No. 1 team in the Preseason MaxPreps Top 25. The Mustangs went 53-1 on the way to the title and return a handful of pieces from that squad.

Defending MaxPreps National Champion Marymount (Los Angeles) enters the season at No. 10 after posting one of the most dominant seasons in decades. The Sailors lost National Player of the Year Elia Rubin and fellow MaxPreps All-Americans Kelly Keefe and Megan Verbiest to graduation, but Torrey Stafford, Dior Charles and the returning Sailors (many of the role players are Division I commits) are ready to tackle a loaded Southern California field. Included in that SoCal mix is No. 2 Mater Dei (Santa Ana), which brings back a trio of Preseason MaxPreps All-Americans in Babi Gubbins, Malyssa Cawa and Liv Hertzog.

Defending Indiana 4A champion McCutcheon (Lafayette), Minnesota 4A champion Wayzata (Plymouth) and Arkansas 6A champs Fayetteville round out the first five.

But perhaps the biggest unknown is how it all will shake out between now and November when MaxPreps crowns its national champion. Stay tuned.
No. 3 McCutcheon is 84-16 over the past three seasons since Chloe Chicoine (2) arrived, winning Indiana's Class 4A state title last year.
No. 3 McCutcheon is 84-16 over the past three seasons since Chloe Chicoine (2) arrived, winning Indiana's Class 4A state title last year.
Photo: Shawn Barney
Volleyball Preseason MaxPreps Top 25

1. Marian (Bloomfield Hills, Mich.), 53-1 record in 2021
Outlook: Michigan is full of contenders but the Mustangs are defending Division 1 champs and return MaxPreps All-Americans in Ava Sarafa (1,443 assists) and Ella Schomer (231 kills). They lost top hitter Ava Brizard to graduation, but PrepDig noted Izzy Busignani and Molly Banta are hitters that had dynamite club seasons.

2. Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.), 36-6
Outlook: The Monarchs return a trio of preseason MaxPreps All-Americans — Babi Gubbins, Malyssa Cawa and Liv Hertzog — and are off to a 2-0 start with contributions from junior Isabel Clark and freshman Ayva Ostovar (28 assists in six sets).

3. McCutcheon (Lafayette, Ind.), 30-6
Outlook: The defending 4A champs are off to a 3-0 start and return a pair of preseason All-Americans in Purdue commits Chloe Chicoine (440 kills and 189 digs) and Allie Shondell (1,262 assists). Isabella Humphrey (300 kills and 289 digs), sophomore Reanna Lee (219 kills), junior Lexi Blankenship (134 kills) and Raegan Burns (605 receives and 578 digs) create a formidable supporting cast.

4. Wayzata (Plymouth, Minn.), 34-0
Outlook: There were some losses to gradation but a 54-match win streak entering 2022 and returners like junior setter Stella Swenson (936 assists), 6-3 outside hitter Olivia Swenson and Avery Jesewitz (167 kills) earn the Trojans this ranking.

5. Fayetteville (Ark.), 32-4
Outlook: The Bulldogs grabbed the Arkansas 6A title (beating Har-Ber after losing to them twice in the regular season) before ending up No. 14 in the final MaxPreps Top 25. Looking for a three-peat, Fayetteville relies on Stanford beach volleyball commit Brooke Rockwell, who dropped the hammer on 503 kills last season, and Florida State commit and setter Kennedy Phelan (1,123 assists). Hitters Madeline Lafata (326 kills) and Regan Harp (269 kills) add to the mix.

6. Sequoyah (Canton, Ga.), 51-4
Outlook: The Chiefs dropped a tournament match for their first loss of the season but that's expected given the tough schedule. They return MaxPreps All-American Taylor Pecht (1,425 assists), who has a host of hitters to find in Rosa Fisher (561 kills), All-American Sara Siefert (481 kills), Catherine Brumbeloe (233 kills) and Sayler Davies (199 kills and 588 receives). Libero Skylar Martin added 694 digs on the 50-4 season.

7. Cathedral Catholic (San Diego), 36-5
Outlook: Julia Blyashov's experience on the U.S. U18 and U19 teams could prove handy come crunch time in the gauntlet of the SoCal postseason. In addition to returning their top four hitters (Ryleigh Patterson, Kapiolani Coleman, Noemie Glover and Blyashov), the Dons also have big-game experience.

8. Dike-New Hartford (Dike, Iowa), 54-1
Outlook: Yes, they play in 2A, but the reigning champion Wolverines might be better this year than last. Junior hitters Payton Petersen and Jadyn Petersen are back after dropping 583 and 402 kills, respectively, as is setter Madelyn Norton (1,209 assists and 120 kills).

9. Assumption (Louisville, Ky.), 30-6
Outlook: The Rockets lost top hitter Sydney Helmers, who left the team last week for personal reasons, but Ron Kordes' program hasn't won 22 titles by accident. MaxPreps All-American setter Whitney Woodrow, who dished up 1,233 assists last year, returns with hitters Alexis Strong, Chloe Smith and Charlotte Moriarty waiting to step up.

10. Marymount (Los Angeles), 35-0
Outlook: The Sailors completed a magical season with a CIF Open Division title and MaxPreps National Championship. There were some losses but the next-up mentality means Torrey Stafford, Dior Charles and libero Alexa Trapani will pick up the mantle.

11. Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas), 31-6
Outlook: The Gaels haven't lost a Nevada state title in four years and though setter Caroline Edgeworth graduated, Leilia Toailoa returns (491 kills) as well as Ashley Duckworth (200 kills). Libero Tatum Thompson had 865 digs and 486 receives as Gorman finished No. 12 last season in the MaxPreps Top 25.

12. North Allegheny (Wexford, Pa.), 20-1
Outlook: State player of the year Mia Tuman returns as the Tigers look for their sixth straight 4A title. Tuman tallied 223 kills, 217 digs and 356 assists. The Tigers also return Carissa Treser (184 kills) and Ella Deeter (182 kills, 251 assists and 139 digs).

13. Mother McAuley (Chicago), 35-7
Outlook: Michigan commit Ellie White leads the charge in the Land of Lincoln after a 568-kill season. They lose setter Caroline Macander's 977 assists, but others returning include senior hitters Mary Kate Sheehan (136 kills) and Maeve Moonan (113 kills) and senior libero Gigi Navarrete (598 digs, 338 receives).

14. Olathe Northwest (Olathe, Kan.), 27-13
Outlook: The Ravens are the best of a crowded Kansas field and led by 6-2 outside hitter and Nebraska commit Skyler Pierce (425 kills, 52 blocks and 345 digs). Jillian Huckabey (249 kills and 276 assists), senior Brynn LaChance (116 kills), rising junior Addison Horn (606 assists) and Emmy Sher (435 digs and 518 receives) round out a potent lineup.

15. Papillion-LaVista South (Papillion, Neb.), 40-0
Outlook: The reigning Class A champs return MaxPreps All-Americans Stella Adeyemi (387 kills) and junior Lauren Medeck (379 kills), as well as two others with more than 100 kills. Though they lost Ava Legrand at setter, Kyla Dyrstad is a versatile player who could step into that role.

16. Cleveland (Tenn.), 38-13
Outlook: The Blue Raiders are off to an 11-1 start behind MaxPreps All-Americans — and sisters — Addison Hurst and Lauren Hurst. Lauren, a 6-3 sophomore, pounded 514 kills in her initial season and senior Addison added 483 kills with 350 digs. Junior setter Kinslee McGowan has already dished up 194 assists (7.2 per set) this season.

17. Tompkins (Katy, Texas), 35-6
Outlook: The 13-1 Falcons are one of a handful of Texas squads off to a hot start as Cindy Tchouangwa (183 kills) leads a trio with more than 100 kills thus far. Presley Powell and Erica Dellesky each have more than 180 assists.

18. Skutt Catholic (Omaha, Neb.), 33-8
Outlook: The Skyhawks turned it on from October on and grabbed their seventh straight state title, a Nebraska record. Coach Renee Saunders returns her top two hitters in Morgan Burke (432 kills) and Ivy Leuck (283 kills) while junior Paisley Douglas had 482 digs and 420 serve receives as a sophomore. Skutt must find a replacement for Abby Schomers and her 1,200 assists.

19. Oconomowoc (Wis.), 39-5-1
Outlook: The Raccoons return a ton of talent, including preseason MaxPreps All-American junior setter Lilly Wagner (1,129 assists), after a 39-5-1 mark while taking the Division I crown. Also back are leading hitter Anna Bjork (325 kills) along with Cordelia Kearns (230 kills, 345 receives, 251 digs).

20. Kamehameha Kapalama (Honolulu), 12-5
Outlook: The Warriors grabbed the Division I state title last year and while they were senior-heavy there's plenty left in the quest for a repeat. Junior Adrianna Arquette has them off to a 9-0 start.

21. Byron Nelson (Trophy Club, Texas), 19-20
Outlook: The Bobcats had a down season in 2021 but are 15-1 out of the gate in 2022. They're led by preseason MaxPreps All-American Samantha Hoppes (141 kills in 2022). Freshman hitter Kylie Kleckner leads the team with 182 kills (4.0 per set) and sophomore Sydnee Peterson has added 169 kills.

22. Guyer (Denton, Texas), 21-11
Outlook: The Wildcats have Baylor commit Kyndal Stowers (493 kills in 2021) while Lauren Schneider (73 kills this season) and Drew Bridges (74 assists) look to replace losses due to graduation.

23. Buford (Ga.), 37-4
Outlook: Seniors Ashley Sturzoiu (97 kills) and Sydney Austin (69 kills) and freshman Clara Briley (57 kills) have paced the offense so far in 2022 during a 12-1 start. Setter Dylan Cummings has found a hitter 205 times (9.3 per set) in the young season.

24. Redondo Union (Redondo Beach, Calif.), 24-1
Outlook: MaxPreps All-American Mele Corral-Blagojevich has the potential to take over offensively. The Sea Hawks are out to a 7-2 start.

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