High school volleyball rankings: Sierra Canyon rises in MaxPreps Top 25 ahead of Durango Fall Classic

Powerhouse tournament includes 14 teams featured in this week's rankings.

Thumbnail image of this articles writer: Aaron Williams
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Sep 16, 2025, 11:00am
The biggest tournament of the high school volleyball season takes place in Las Vegas this weekend with the Durango Fall Classic. 

The 64-team field features 14 programs in the MaxPreps Top 25. The tournament winner has gone on to be crowned MaxPreps National Champion five times. Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.) is the two-time defending champion.

No. 2 Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth, Calif.) headlines the field along with No. 3 Marymount (Los Angeles, Calif.), No. 4 Mater Dei, No. 5 Xavier College Prep (Phoenix, Ariz.), No. 6 Cornerstone Christian (San Antonio, Texas), No. 7 Redondo Union (Redondo Beach, Calif.) and No. 8 Torrey Pines (San Diego, Calif.).
Freshman Kari Knott has helped Lovett to the No. 24 spot in the MaxPreps Top 25 volleyball rankings. (PHOTO: Ben Ennis)
Freshman Kari Knott has helped Lovett to the No. 24 spot in the MaxPreps Top 25 volleyball rankings. (PHOTO: Ben Ennis)
Sierra Canyon moved up one spot after going 4-0 last week with wins over Redondo Union, Chaminade (West Hills, Calif.), Torrey Pines and No. 11 Cathedral Catholic (San Diego, Calif.).

Meanwhile, top-ranked Byron Nelson (Trophy Club, Texas) has settled into district play and continues to steamroll opponents behind the two-headed hitting attack of Kylie Kleckner and Ashlyn Seay with setter Sophee Peterson leading the offense.

The Bobcats have dropped just one set — to Sierra Canyon — and have 11 regular-season matches remaining before a run at a second straight Texas title.

Mother McAuley (Chicago, Ill.) made the biggest jump in this week's ranking, going from No. 16 to No. 10 after a 6-0 tear through the adidas LIVT with a championship win over No. 12 Assumption (Louisville, Ky.). Cayla Prohaska, Peyton Heatherly and Lucy Maloney were all instrumental in the title run according to coach Jen DeJarld.

Winter Park (Fla.) is the lone newcomer this week, jumping in at No. 25. The reigning Class 7A champions are 10-1 this season with the lone loss to No. 21 Calvary Christian (Clearwater, Fla.). Senior Paige Lehman has 287 assists on the season after stepping into the role with the graduation of four-year starter Tyler Peluso.
 
MaxPreps Top 25 volleyball rankings

1. Byron Nelson (Trophy Club, Texas)
Record: 25-0 | Last week: 1
Junior libero Savannah Sterna has 205 digs for the Bobcats.

2. Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth, Calif.)
Record: 15-2 | Last week: 3
Lucky Fasavalu has 401 assists as three Trailblazer hitters have more than 100 kills.

3. Marymount (Los Angeles, Calif.)
Record: 16-1 | Last week: 4
Makenna Barnes, Samantha Destler and Elle Vandeweghe all have more than 100 kills for the Sailors while setter Olivia Penske has 400 assists.

4. Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.)
Record: 9-2 | Last week: 5
The Monarchs get hitter Layli Ostovar back from an ankle injury in time to try and defend their Durango title.

5. Xavier College Prep (Phoenix, Ariz.)
Record: 13-0 | Last week: 6
Selah O'Connor and Vivian Hickman have combined for more than 300 assists for the Gators.

6. Cornerstone Christian (San Antonio, Texas)
Record: 23-3 | Last week: 7
After a slow start, the Warriors have won 19 straight, including a victory over No. 4 Mater Dei.

7. Redondo Union (Redondo Beach, Calif.)
Record: 12-3 | Last week: 2
The Sea Hawks fell to No. 2 Sierra Canyon and Los Alamitos last week.

8. Torrey Pines (San Diego, Calif.)
Record: 13-2 | Last week: 8
After beating No. 11 Cathedral Catholic for the second time in 10 days, the Falcons dropped a 3-1 match to Sierra Canyon.

9. Carroll (Fort Wayne, Ind.)
Record: 18-0 | Last week: 11
The Chargers won the Slicer Invitational without dropping a set as Bailey Sinish notched 43 kills in four matches and Sophia Gisslen dished up 84 assists with 15 digs.

10. Mother McAuley (Chicago, Ill.)
Record: 15-0 | Last week: 16
The Mighty Macs also beat St Henry (Erlanger, Ky.), St. Ursula Academy (Cincinnati, Ohio), Ryle (Union, Ky.), DuPont Manual (Louisville, Ky.) and Sacred Heart (Louisville, Ky.) at the LIVT.

11. Cathedral Catholic (San Diego, Calif.)
Record: 8-3 | Last week: 10
All three losses are to ranked opponents. 

12. Assumption (Louisville, Ky.)
Record: 17-2 | Last week: 9
Fell in the LIVT final to Mother McAuley and lost to reigning Florida Class 6A champion St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale) in a pre-tournament match.

13. Alpharetta (Ga.)
Record: 27-1 | Last week: 13
Freshman Susie Dai (188 assists) and sophomore Harsha Velugoti (102 assists) have quarterbacked the offense this season.

14. Harrisburg (S.D.)
Record: 5-0 | Last week: 14
The Tigers have an 83-match win streak entering the pre-Durango Champions Challenge against Marymount on Thursday.

15. Hamilton Southeastern (Fishers, Ind.)
Record: 13-1 | Last week: 15
Bounced back with four victories after an early-September loss to No. 9 Carroll.

16. Mira Costa (Manhattan Beach, Calif.)
Record: 7-5 | Last week: 12
Senior Milly McGee has 217 assists for the Mustangs.

17. Marist (Chicago, Ill.)
Record: 9-0 | Last week: 17
The Redhawks have lost two sets this season and host Nazareth Academy (LaGrange Park) on Tuesday prior to Durango.

18. Divine Savior Holy Angels (Milwaukee, Wis.)
Record: 12-0 | Last week: 18
Sophomore Tegan Loechler and Harper Wendlick along with freshman Maia Kerry lead the Dashers in kills.

19. Archbishop Mitty (San Jose, Calif.)
Record: 6-0 | Last week: 19
The Monarchs dropped the first set against St. Ignatious (San Francisco) on Thursday before coming back to win in four.

20. Benet Academy (Lisle, Ill.)
Record: 10-1 | Last week: 20
After a 2-1 loss to Lockport at the end of August, the Redwings have lost one set over their next six matches.

21. Calvary Christian (Clearwater, Fla.)
Record: 13-1 | Last week: 21
Juniors Sophia Puleo (155 kills) and Sam Karjala (135) lead the attack.

22. 'Iolani (Honolulu, Hawaii)
Record: 10-3 | Last week: 23
Taimane Ainu'u has 103 kills and 107 assists this season.

23. Roncalli (Indianapolis, Ind.)
Record: 13-3 | Last week: 22
The Royals bounced back from a 3-1 loss to Center Grove (Greenwood) with a sweep of Martinsville as sophomore Rosanna Spearing led the way with 10 kills.

24. Lovett (Atlanta, Ga.)
Record: 17-1 | Last week: 25
The Lions have dropped four sets all season and the lone loss is to No. 12 Assumption.

25. Winter Park (Winter Park, Fla.)
Record: 10-1 | Last week: NR
Junior Isabel Incinelli (122 kills) and senior Amelia Mancino (105 kills) have paced the Wildcats' hitting attack.

Next 25

26. Austin (Texas), 27-3
27. Mansfield (Texas), 33-1
28. Prestonwood Christian (Plano, Texas), 16-4
29. Papillion-LaVista South (Papillion, Neb.), 9-2
30. Keller (Keller, Texas), 21-4
31. Elkhorn North (Elkhorn, Neb.), 9-2
32. Corona del Sol (Tempe, Ariz.), 13-0
33. Southlake Carroll (Southlake, Texas), 18-4
34. Kamehameha Kapalama (Honolulu, Hawaii), 21-3
35. Seton (Cincinnati, Ohio), 12-0
36. Allen (Texas), 25-4
37. Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas, Nev.), 10-4
38. Casteel (Queen Creek, Ariz.), 9-4
39. Buford (Buford, Ga.), 15-2
40. Oconomowoc (Oconomowoc, Wis.), 14-0
41. Harlan (San Antonio, Texas), 25-5
42. Rockford (Mich.), 16-0
43. Skyview (Nampa, Idaho), 7-1
44. Marin Catholic (Kentfield, Calif.), 6-1
45. Carrollwood Day (Tampa, Fla.), 13-2
46. Westfield (Ind.), 14-0
47. Norris (Firth, Neb.), 13-0
48. Lafayette (Wildwood, Mo.), 13-0
49. Los Alamitos (Calif.), 18-4
50. Coronado (Henderson, Nev.), 14-3

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