SBLive Arkansas Power 25 volleyball rankings: Big games featured in final week of the season

This week's Arkansas Power 25 prep volleyball rankings

By Jeff Halpern | Photo by Braeden Botts

NOTE: Records have been adjusted to reflect the Arkansas Activities Association’s new rule in which pool-play matches in tournament play do not count toward the team’s overall record. 

1. Fayetteville (22-2)

Previous Rank: No. 1

Last week: def. Rogers 3-0; def. No. 4 Fort Smith Southside 3-0.

This week: vs. Springdale Har-Ber Tuesday; at Rogers Heritage Thursday.

COMMENT: Wrapped up 6A-West Conference title. Haven’t lost a set against in-state opponents all year.

2. Benton (24-0) 

Previous Rank: No. 2

Last week: def. Sheridan 3-0; def. No. 18 Hot Springs Lakeside 3-0.

This week: vs. Texarkana Tuesday; at No. 3 Conway Thursday.

COMMENT: Tries to sweep No. 3 Conway next week. Benton needed five game to beat the Wampus Cats on Aug. 25.

3. Conway (21-2)

Previous rank: No. 3

Last week: def. Little Rock Central 3-0; def. Jonesboro 3-0.

This week: vs. Bryant Tuesday; vs. No. 2 Benton Thursday.

COMMENT: The best in 5A meets one of the best in 6A in final match before the state tournament.

4. Brookland (23-4)

Previous rank: No. 5.

Last week: def. Trumann 3-0; def. No. 19 Batesville Southside 3-2.

This week: 4A-Northeast Tournament semifinals at Blytheville vs. TBD on Tuesday.

COMMENT:Next goal for Lady Bearcats is get No. 1 seed for Class 4A state tournament.

5. Valley View (16-4–1)

Previous rank: No. 6.

Last week: def. West Memphis 3-0

This week: at Searcy Thursday.

COMMENT: Wrapped up No. 1 seed from 5A-East. One more regular-season match before state tournament.

6. Fort Smith Southside (17-6)

Previous rank: No. 4.

Last week: def. Rogers Heritage 3-0; lost to No. 1 Fayetteville 3-0.

This week: at Springdale Tuesday; at Fort Smith Northside Thursday.

COMMENT: Outside of the two losses to Fayetteville, Southside has won 36 of 41 sets in conference play.

7. Little Rock Christian (17–4)

Previous rank: No. 8.

Last week: def. Jacksonville 3-0; def. Beebe 3-0.

This week: vs. Vilonia Tuesday; at Mount St. Mary Thursday.

COMMENT: 5A-Central title at stake Thursday at Mount St. Mary.

8. Greenwood (19-5)

Previous rank: No. 7.

Last week: def. Siloam Springs 3-0; def. Mountain Home 3-0; at Ozark, Mo. Tournament: lost to Nixa, Mo. 2-0; lost 2-0 to Park Hill South (Mo,) 2-0; lost to Eldon (Mo.) 2-1; def. Lutheran (Mo.) 2-1.

This week: vs. Alma Tuesday; at Greenbrier Thursday.

COMMENT: 5A-West Conference title wrapped up. Head coach Jennifer Golden not alarmed by 1-3 tournament finish, adding her team played competition at a higher level than what they normally see.

9. Cabot (15-7)

Previous rank: No. 9.

Last week: def. Bryant 3-0 Tuesday.

This week: at No. 14 Mount St. Mary Monday; vs. North Little Rock Tuesday.

COMMENT: Big nonconference match on Monday before entering state tournament as No. 2 seed from 6A-Central.

10. Hackett (23-1)

Previous rank: No. 10.

Last week: def. Green Forest 3-0; def. Booneville 3-0

This week: 3A-West Conference semifinals Wednesday at Charleston vs. TBD.

COMMENT: Next goal for Lady Hornets is get No. 1 seed for 3A state tournament.

11. Mena (21-2)

Previous rank: No. 11.

Last week: def. Ashdown 3-0; def. Bauxite 3-0.

This week: at Fountain Lake Tuesday; at Arkadelphia Thursday.

COMMENT: Have 4A-West title wrapped up with two matches left.

12. Shiloh Christian (18-4)

Previous rank: No. 12.

Last week: def. Farmington 3-0; def. Clarksville 3-0.

This week: 4A-Northwest Conference semifinals at Prairie Grove vs. TBD.

COMMENT: Strong regular season with 4A-Northwest Conference title, now looking for tournament title.

13. Mansfield (21-3)

Previous rank: No. 13.

Last week: def. No. 24 Thaden 3-0; def. Eureka Springs 3-0; def. Mulberry 3-0.

This week: 2A-West Conference semifinals vs. TBD at Mulberry.

COMMENT: Aiming for third consecutive state title.

14. Mount St. Mary (16-6–1)

Previous rank: No. 14.

Last week: def. Little Rock Parkview 3-0; def. Maumelle 3-0.

This week: vs. Cabot Monday; at Sylvan Hills Tuesday; vs. Little Rock Christian Thursday.

COMMENT: Starts week with big nonconference matchup against Cabot. Looking for revenge and conference title against Little Rock Christian.

15. Baptist Prep (20-4)

Previous rank: No. 16.

Last week: def. Maumelle Charter 3-0; def. Mayflower 3-0.

This week: 3A-Central Conference Tournament vs. TBD at Episcopal Collegiate.

COMMENT: Lady Eagles been consistent and have top seed entering conference tournament.

16. Wynne (17-5)

Previous rank: No. 15.

Last week: def. Jonesboro Westside 3-1; def. Forrest City 3-0.

This week: 4A-Northeast semifinals vs. TBD at Blytheville.

COMMENT: Yellowjackets would love to knock off Brookland and get No. 1 seed from 4A-Northwest.

17. Paris (17-8)

Previous rank: No. 18.

Last week: def. Charleston 3-0; def. Elkins 3-0

This week: 3A-West Conference Tournament semifinals vs. TBD on Wednesday at Charleston.

COMMENT: Outside of Hackett, Lady Eagles handled everyone else in 3A-West without any problems.

No. 18 Pottsville (16-4)

Previous rank: No. 20

Last week: def. Mills 3-0; def. Lonoke 3-1.

This week: 4A-Central Conference tournament vs. TBD at Pulaski Academy.

COMMENT: 9-0 conference record gives this Apaches No. 1 seed for conference tournament.

19. Hot Springs Lakeside (18-7)

Previous rank: 18.

Last week: def. Texarkana 3-0; lost to No. 2 Benton 3-0

This week: vs. Jonesboro Monday; at Hot Springs Tuesday.

COMMENT: Two of three 5A-South Conference losses to No. 2 Benton.

20. Batesville Southside (20-5)

Previous rank: No. 20.

Last week: lost to No. 5 Brookland 3-2; def. Trumann 3-0.

This week: 4A-Northeast quarterfinals Monday vs. TBD at Blytheville.

COMMENT: No. 3 seed in a loaded 4A-Northwest Conference tournament.

21. Episcopal Collegiate (15-4)

Previous rank: No. 21.

Last week: def. Benton Harmony Grove 3-0; lost to Little Rock Central 3-1; def. LISA Academy North.

This week: 3A-Central Conference Tournament vs. TBD at Episcopal Collegiate.

COMMENT: Battle for No. 1 seed from 3A Central could come down to Episcopal and Baptist Prep.

22. Conway St. Joseph (20-2)

Previous rank: No. 22.

Last week: def. Jacksonville 3-2; def. Cotter 3-0; def. Alpena 3-0.

This week: 2A-North Conference Tournament at Conway St. Joseph vs. TBD.

COMMENT: Seeking No. 1 seed from 2A-North going into state tournament.

23. Lavaca (19-4)

Previous rank: No. 23.

Last week: def. Eureka Springs 3-0; def. The New School 3-0; def. No. 24 Thaden 3-0.

This week: 2A-West Tournament vs. TBD at Mulberry.

COMMENT: Closed out regular season with three conference wins. No. 2 seed from 2A-West coming down to Lavaca and Thaden

24. Thaden (18-6)

Previous rank: No. 24.

Last week: lost to No. 13 Mansfield 3-0; def. Ozark Classic 3-0; lost to No. 23 Lavaca 3-2.

This week: 2A-West Tournament vs. TBD at Mulberry.

COMMENT: Battling Lavaca for No. 2 seed from 2A-West.

25. Life Way Christian (12-5)

Previous rank; No. 25.

Last week: def. Founders Classical 3-0; def. Decatur 3-0

This week: 2A-West Tournament vs. TBD at Mulberry.

COMMENT: No. 4 seed in the toughest conference in Class 2A.

DROPPED OUT

None.


Published
Jeff Halpern
JEFF HALPERN

Jeff Halpern has more than 20 years of professional experience in the journalism field, having started with the Guthrie Daily Leader in Oklahoma in 1994. A 1993 graduate of Southeast Missouri State University, he’s worked for newspapers in Bentonville, Springdale, Benton, Hot Springs and Little Rock. He has covered high school, college and professional sports and has won seven awards. He’s also worked for The Natural State Sports Network and assisted with Hooten’s Arkansas Football magazine.