Lewis-Palmer celebrated a Colorado state title, and now has the inside track for the mythical national title as well.
Photo by Matt Daniels
Mount Notre Dame got its revenge over previous No. 1 St. Ursula, and in the process also captured the Ohio large schools state championship.
That also means No. 1 belongs to Lewis-Palmer (Monument, Colo.), which captured Colorado's 4A title last Saturday night. Lewis-Palmer finished 29-0 and outscored its 2014 foes 83-5.
Only 5A state champion Grandview won two sets against Lewis-Palmer this season. Three teams scored a single set victory and the other 25 opponents were shut out. The Rangers are led by Purdue-bound senior
Alexa Smith and junior setter
Mariah Evans.
In four matches at the state tournament, Smith tallied 52 kills, 38 digs and 11 aces. Evans recorded 125 assists as the Rangers lost just one set at state. Smith, a member of the U.S. Junior Women's National team, finished her career with 1,857 kills, which is second-most in Colorado history.
As a result of beating St. Ursula, Mount Notre Dame (27-2) vaulted from No. 24 to No. 9 in this week's MaxPreps Xcellent 25 National Volleyball Rankings. And with its first loss of the season, 28-1 St. Ursula dropped to No. 24. The Arrows defeated Mount Notre Dame earlier in the season.
Mercy, which captured the Kentucky state title on Sunday, moves into the No. 2 spot with a 40-1 record.
Brentwood, which captured its second-straight Tennessee large school title and finished the season with a 60-match winning streak two weeks ago, moved up to No. 3.
Jesuit , Bettendorf and Parkland all moved up a notch, while Papillion-LaVista and Benet Academy moved up two spots.
Sacred Heart Cathedral, 31-2, returned to the Top 25 at No. 10 as it avenged its only losses of the season by defeating previously ranked Archbishop Mitty.
Other new teams to the Top 25 this week are Aliso Niguel, Bellarmine Prep, Immaculate Heart Academy and Desert Vista (Phoenix). All but Bellarmine were ranked in the Top 25 previously this season.
MaxPreps Xcellent 25 National Volleyball Rankings presented by the Army National Guard
1. (2) - Lewis-Palmer (Monument, Colo.), 29-0
2. (3) - Mercy (Louisville, Ky.), 40-13. (4) - Brentwood (Tenn.), 60-1; season overWon Tennessee large school title and won final 60 matches of the season.
Madison Murtagh, Sacred Heart Cathedral
Photo by Jerry Sigua
Concluded unbeaten season by winning Oregon 6A state title.
5. (6) - Bettendorf (Iowa), 36-0
6. (7) - Parkland (Allentown, Pa.), 43-0-1
7. (9) - Papillion-LaVista (Papillion, Neb.), 40-0
8. (10) - Benet Academy (Lisle, Ill.), 38-1
9. (24) - Mount Notre Dame (Cincinnati), 27-2
10. (NR) - Sacred Heart Cathedral (San Francisco), 31-2
11. (12) - Bishop Kenny (Jacksonville, Fla.), 29-1
12. (14) - St. Mary's (Lancaster, N.Y.), 47-0-113. (18) - The Woodlands (Texas), 34-3, Nov. 6, 35-3
14. (22) - Redondo Union (Redondo Beach, Calif.), 28-2
15. (15) - Charlotte Country Day (N.C.), 44-1Season over. Won state Independent Schools 3A title.
16. (16) - Mt. Carmel (New Orleans), 44-2
17. (17) - Jupiter (Fla.), 28-1
18. (NR) - Aliso Niguel (Aliso Viejo, Calif.), 25-1
19. (20) - Carroll (Southlake, Texas), 42-3
20. (NR) - Bellarmine Prep (Tacoma, Wash.), 28-1-2
21. (NR) - Immaculate Heart Academy (Washington Township, N.J.), 36-1
22. (23) - P.K. Yonge (Gainesville, Fla.), 29-2,
23. (NR) - Desert Vista (Phoenix), 40-3
24. (1) - St. Ursula Academy (Toledo, Ohio), 28-1
25. (25) - Novi (Mich.), 48-4Dropped out: Emerald Ridge (South Hill, Wash.), Xavier College Prep (Phoenix), Archbishop Mitty (San Jose, Calif.), Kamehameha (Honolulu) and Mother McAuley (Chicago).
