Top 25 Arkansas high school volleyball rankings (9/12/2023)

This week's SBLive Arkansas Top 25 prep volleyball rankings

NOTE: Records reflect the Arkansas Activities Association’s rule where only matches in bracket play of tournaments count toward overall record. 

1. Fort Smith Southside (8-0)

Previous rank: No. 1

Last week: def. No. 7 Springdale Har-Ber 3-0; def. No. 6 Bentonville 3-0

This week: vs. Rogers Heritage Tuesday; vs. No. 2 Fayetteville Thursday; at Springfield (Mo.) Classic. Saturday

COMMENT: First place in 6A-West at stake Thursday night. Gabriela DuPree had 26 kills and 22 digs in both matches. Lydia Pitts had 23 kills and 26 assists in both victories. Ella Shelby had 33 digs in both victories.

2. Fayetteville (7-3)

Previous rank: No. 2

Last week: def. Bentonville West 3-1; at Bishop Kelly (Okla.) Tournament: lost to Mount St. Mary (Okla.), def. Bixby (Okla.), lost to Jens (Okla.) 2-0.

This week: vs. Rogers; at No. 1 Fort Smith Southside Thursday.

COMMENT: Reagan Harp named to all-tournament team in Oklahoma. Lady Bulldogs have an in-state winning streak of 27 matches dating back to Oct. 19, 2021 when it lost Springdale Har-Ber at the end of the regular season.

3. Brookland (10-0)

Previous rank: No. 4

Last week: def. No. 9 Valley View 3-1; def. Trumann 3-0

This week: vs. Nettleton Monday; at Jonesboro Westside Thursday

COMMENT Chloe Rodriguez 63 assists in both matches. Maddie Smith had 28 kills and Evan Polsgrove had 21 kills and 4 aces in both victories. “I love the way we are playing right now. We have good team chemistry and energy and remain calm and composed in tough situations. Everyone is contributing and playing at a high level.” — Brookland head coach Nancy Rodriguez

4. Benton (7-3)

Previous rank: No. 3

Last week: def. Lake Hamilton 3-0; at LRCA Classic: def. No. 21 Bryant 2-0; lost to No. 12 Baptist Prep in semifinals

This week: vs. White Hall Tuesday; at Sheridan Thursday

COMMENT: Lady Panthers latest to fall to 3A power Baptist Prep.

5. Conway (6-2)

Previous rank: No. 3

Last week: def. North Little Rock 3-0; def. No. 10 Cabot 3-1

This week: at Fort Smith Northside Tuesday; vs. No. 18 Little Rock Central Thursday

COMMENT: Conway winning without libero Kim Quinit, who has been battling a knee injury and has an MRI scheduled this week. Bishop Floyd had 20 digs against Cabot and 16 vs. North Little Rock. Megan Smith had 12 kills and 3 aces vs. North Little Rock. Wren Jones had 16 kills vs. Cabot.

6. Springdale Har-Ber (7-3)

Previous rank: No. 7

Last week: lost to No. 1 Fort Smith Southside 3-0; def. Springdale 3-1

This week: at No. 8 Bentonville Tuesday; vs. Fort Smith Northside Thursday

COMMENT: Har-Ber the latest to discover how tough Southside is.

7. Marion (7-2)

Previous rank: No. 8

Last week: def. West Memphis 3-0

This week: at Paragould Tuesday; vs. Greene County Tech Thursday

COMMENT: Team effort vs West Memphis. Abbigaile Simmons had 15 digs while Kaitlyn Austin had 6 kills and 14 digs, Kennedy Bulliins had 15 kills, 2 blocks, 2 aces and 5 digs and Maggie Miller and 29 aces and 7 aces.

8. Bentonville (4-3)

Previous rank: No. 6

Last week: def. Rogers 3-0; lost to No. 1 Fort Smith Southside 3-0

This week: vs. No. 6 Springdale Har-Ber Tuesday

COMMENT: Audrey Adair had 20 assists vs. Rogers. Tori Otter had 12 kills and Madi Hooper had 9 kills vs. Lady Mounties.

9. Hackett (8-0)

Previous rank: No. 10

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

This week: vs. Alma Monday; at Lincoln Tuesday; vs. Elkins Thursday

COMMENT Michaelyn Freeman had 31 kills and 13 digs in both victories. Prairie Vaughn topped 1,000 career assists with 57 this week. She had 14 digs and 3 aces. Makenzie Freeman had 22 kills, 5 aces and 7 digs.

10. Baptist Prep (9-1)

Previous rank: No. 12

Last week: def. Mayflower 3-0; at LRCA Classic, def. Nettleton, def. No. 3 Benton, def. No. 13 Shiloh Christian.

This week: vs. No. 24 Episcopal Tuesday; vs. Perryville Thursday

COMMENT Baptist Prep dominated against Mayflower (25-17, 25-12, 25-17), jumping out to leads of 18-5 in the first set and 16-5 in the second. “We just passed it short and given how good their hitters are, they were able to take advantage of the open spaces.” — Mayflower head coach Monty Smith.

11. Shiloh Christian (6-3)

Previous rank: No. 13

Last week: def. No. 19 Prairie Grove 3-1; def. Farmington 3-0; at LRCA Classic, def. No. 18 Little Rock Central 2-0, def. No. 21 Bryant 2-0, lost to No. 12 Baptist Prep 2-1.

This week: vs. Clarksville Tuesday; vs. Pea Ridge Thursday

COMMENT “I was extremely proud of how consistent we played in all six matches we played. We faced some great competition that we had not previously played this season which speaks to how quickly my team figured out their strengths and weaknesses and capitalized on that. It didn’t end the way we would have liked , but we grew a lot and am so proud of the progress we made this weekend.” — Shiloh Christian head coach Nathan Bodenstein.

12. Cabot (7-2)*

Previous rank: No. 11

Last week: def. Little Rock Southwest 3-0; lost to No. 5 Conway 3-1

This week: at No. 18 Little Rock Central Tuesday; vs. No. 21 Bryant Thursday

* - Cabot went 1-2 in pool play at the Bentonville Tournament, beating Bentonville West in pool play, but lost to Greenwood and Springdale Har-Ber.

COMMENT: McKinzee Haas had 7 kills and 9 aces vs. LR Southwest. Molly Ivy had 11 assists vs. LR Southwest and Jaycie Cook had 14 assists.

13. Valley View (3-4)

Previous rank: No. 9

Last week: lost to No. 4 Brookland 3-1; def. Paragould 3-0

This week: at Greene County Tech Tuesday; vs. West Memphis Thursday

COMMENT: Grantley Hughes had 11 kills and 4 digs in victory over Paragould. Annika Willbanks had 10 kills, 3 digs and 2 blocks. “I’m extremely proud of our growth and players stepping up to the challenge of our schedule. Have high hopes for the weeks ahead.” — Valley View head coach Margie McGee

14. Mansfield (9-1)

Previous rank: No. 14

Last week: def. Lifeway Christian 3-0; def. Thaden 3-0

This week: vs. Booneville Monday; vs. Lavaca Tuesday; vs. Ozark Catholic Thursday

COMMENT: Nothing stopping the Lady Tigers these days.

15. Mount St. Mary (5-2)

Previous rank: No. 15

Last week: def. Beebe 3-0; def. Vilonia 3-2

This week: at Jacksonville Tuesday; vs. LR Parkview Thursday

COMMENT: “I think our team is progressing in the right way for the season. We’re making the right adjustments and settling in on defense and our offensive connections. I’m hoping to fine timing a few things and be ready to push deep into state this season.” — Mount St. Mary head coach Jason Lambert

16. Russellville (7-2)

Previous rank: Not ranked

Last week: def. No. 17 Greenwood 3-0; def. Greenbrier 3-1; at LRCA Classic, def. No. 22 Little Rock Christian; lost to No. 13 Shiloh Christian 2-0.

This week: vs. Alma Tuesday; vs. Mountain Home Thursday

COMMENT: Lady Cyclones distinguishing themselves in 5A-West.

17. Little Rock Central (5-2)

Previous rank: No. 18

Last week: def. No. 23 Episcopal Collegiate 3-0; def. No. 21 Bryant 3-1; at LRCA Classic, lost 2-0 to No. 13 Shiloh Christian.

This week: at Cabot Tuesday; at Conway Thursday.

COMMENT: Lady Tigers continue to keep showing improvement.

18. Hot Springs Lakeside (5-2)

Previous rank: No. 16

Last week: lost to Pulaski Academy 3-1; def. White Hall 3-0

This week: at Sheridan Tuesday; at Texarkana Thursday

COMMENT Head coach Rhonda Thigpen was not happy about blowing a 23-20 lead in the fourth set against Pulaski Academy, including a 5-second call that gave the ball to PA with the match tied 24-24. “PA had the chemistry edge on us the other night. But I have tweaked some things. I was embarrassed you saw that. But proud you got to see PA. That was great game for her.” — Thigpen

19. Mena (5-0)

Previous rank: No. 20

Last week: def. Malvern 3-0; def. Camden Fairview 3-0

This week: vs. Paris Monday; at Bauxite Tuesday; at No. 20 Fountain Lake Thursday

COMMENT Reese Montgomery averaging 18 kills per match. “Next week we will find out if we have made the steps necessary to be a contender.” — Mena head coach Brad Lyle

20. Fountain Lake (7-0)

Previous rank: Not ranked

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

This week: vs. Magnolia Tuesday; No. 19 Mena Thursday

COMMENT Big match in 4A-West on Thursday.

21. Prairie Grove (4-2)

Previous week: No. 19

Last week: lost to No. 13 Shiloh Christian 3-1; def. Ozark 3-0

This week: Monday at Elkins; Thursday vs. Berryville.

COMMENT: Emma Kate Vertz had 62 assists in both matches. Kaylee Watson had 30 digs and Ashlyn Tag had 19 kills.

22. Greenwood (3-4)

Previous rank: No. 17

Last week: lost to Russellville 3-0; def. Van Buren 3-0

This week: at Harrison Tuesday; vs. Siloam Springs Thursday

COMMENT: Miya McCoy had 23 kills and 31 digs in both matches. Tori Howard had 21 digs while Loren Eckart had 46 assists.

23. Conway Christian (7-0)

Previous rank: No. 23

Last week: vs. Cotter ppd.; def. Marshall 3-0

This week: vs. Atkins Monday; vs. Alpena Tuesday; at Conway St. Joseph Thursday.

COMMENT Tuesday’s match with Cotter postponed until Sept. 28 because of COVID at Cotter.

24. Lavaca (7-2)

Previous rank: No. 25

Last week: def. Thaden 3-1; def. Ozark Catholic 3-0

This week: at No. 14 Mansfield Tuesday; vs. Founders Classical Thursday

COMMENT Golden Arrows have their biggest conference test Tuesday night.

25. Taylor (11-1)

Previous rank: Not ranked

Last week: def. El Dorado 3-0; def. Magnet Cove 3-0

This week: at Jacksonville Lighthouse Tuesday; vs. Mineral Springs Thursday

COMMENT Only loss was to Chapel Hill, Texas in a tournament

DROPPED OUT

No. 21 Bryant, No. 22 Little Rock Christian, No. 24 Episcopal Collegiate

--Jeff Halpern