Arkansas Top 25 high school volleyball rankings (10/16/2023)

This week's Arkansas Top 25 prep volleyball rankings

For Classes 5A and 6A, this is the final week of the regular season. 

In 6A, Fayetteville (21-7, 14-0 6A-West) and Conway (28-3, 11-0 6A-Central) are assured of No. 1 seeds entering the state tournament. Marion (21-6-1, 13-0) is assured of winning the East. Harrison (18-4, 11-1) leads Greenwood (18-10, 9-3) by two games with two to play in the West. Mount St. Mary (18-7-1, 12-0) leads Little Rock Christian (15-7 10-2) by two games with two to play in the Central. Benton (24-5, 12-1) and Hot Springs Lakeside MTXE (21-5-2, 12-1) are tied for the lead in the South. 

Schools in 2A, 3A and 4A are playing conference tournaments to determine who gets in the state tournament and where they will be seeded.

The highest-profile match this week is a nonconference match as No. 3 Conway travels to No. 7 Benton on Thursday. Conway won 3-1 on Aug. 24 and 2-0 in the Lady Cat Invitational on Oct. 7.

NOTE: Records now reflect the team’s overall record.

1. Fayetteville (21–7)

Previous rank: No. 1

Last week: def. Rogers 3-0; def. No. 3 Fort Smith Southside 3-2

This week: at No. 14 Springdale Har-Ber Tuesday; at Rogers Heritage Thursday

COMMENT: Lady Bulldogs assure themselves on a share of the 6A-West Conference title in a match in which they won the first two sets, lost the next two before winning the fifth set 15-12, overcoming a 5-2 deficit. “What a hard fought well played match; we certainly had our hands full tonight, and I am really proud of our kids for continuing to battle down the stretch.” — Fayetteville head coach Jessica Phelan

2. Hackett (33-1-2)

Previous rank: No. 2

Last week: def. No. 9 Shiloh Christian 3-2; def. Elkins 3-0; def. West Fork 3-0

This week: 3A-West Conference Tournament at Elkins

COMMENT: Hackett won the first two sets vs. Shiloh Christian, before losing the next two and rallying to win 15-6 in the fifth set. “It was a battle, especially being at their place. I think after we won the first two, we kinda shut down some and didn’t play with our normal intensity…had to have a few ‘talks’ to get back on track!” — Hackett head coach Bridgett Freeman on the victory over Shiloh Christian

3. Conway (28-3)

Previous rank: No. 4

Last week: def. No. 20 Little Rock Central 3-0; def, Jonesboro 3-0

This week: at Bryant Tuesday; at No. 7 Benton Thursday

COMMENT: “Senior night was a success with a win. It was nice to honor our nine seniors this evening. They have all worked really hard and are great leaders for our program. The first two sets our middles hit well with transition and our right-side offense stepped it up tonight. Our ball control broke down a little in the 3rd set but the girls were able to regroup and finish hard in three.” — Conway head coach Laura Crow

4. Fort Smith Southside (23-5)

Previous rank: No. 3

Last week: def. Rogers Heritage 3-0; lost to 1 Fayetteville 3-2

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

COMMENT: Lady Mavericks are one of three in-state teams (Bentonville on Aug. 29 and Bentonville West on Sept. 7) to win a set from Fayetteville. They are the first in-state team to play a five-set match against Fayetteville since Springdale Har-Ber beat them 3-2 on Sept. 23, 2021. “Nothing to be sorry about! We don’t hang our head for a second after that one. We had our chances in set one to settle in and cut down on mistakes, but Fayetteville did what Fayetteville does well, and played steady not giving up a lot of points. We played a little too tight. We’ve trained all season to fight from behind, stay aggressive when it counts most, and play our game. We did just that down 0-2. The last three sets were exactly what we’ve been pushing toward. Third set we gave up 3 missed serves and made some key mistakes, but I’m so proud of the grit and fight we showed. The chips were down, and we showed what we are made of. Everyone did their job. We aren’t done improving just yet.” — Fort Smith Southside head coach Natalie Throneberry

5. Hot Springs Lakeside MTXE (21-5-2)

Previous rank: No. 11

Last week: def. Little Rock Christian Academy 3-0; def. Texarkana 3-0; def. No. 5 Benton 3-2

This week: vs. Hot Springs Tuesday; at No. 19 Cabot Thursday

COMMENT Lakeside won the first two sets before losing the next two, including 25-6 in game four before overcoming a 10-6 deficit in the fifth game to win 15-11. “Benton is such a great team. We came out hot and beat them two straight and were up in third but they came back and beat us. I had the girls step off after fourth and remove themselves and refocus. We had to fight back to win and that is what MTXE is and they showed it all through the game. Benton tough tough for sure., I am super proud of my MTXE ladies for regrouping and believing and trusting the process! Plus, we had a huge fan and student section that was unreal!” — Hot Springs Lakeside MTXE head coach Rhonda Thigpen

6. Baptist Prep (30-2-1)

Previous rank: No. 7

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

This week: 3A-Central Conference Tournament at Mayflower

COMMENT Lady Eagles win the 3A-Central title and now go for the 3A-Central Tournament title.

7. Benton (24-5)

Previous rank: No. 5

Last week: def. No. 16 Sheridan 3-0; lost to No. 11 Hot Springs Lakeside MXTE 3-2

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

COMMENT: Lady Panthers lose their first conference match since Oct. 21, 2021 when it fell 3-2 to Little Rock Christian Academy when they were in the 5A-Central Conference. “One of the weirdest matches I have been a part of. Just a funky feeling all night long. We could never get a rhythm going even from the warm-up. …Had them on the ropes in the fourth. Their student section injected some life into them in the fifth set and they came out to beat us 15-11.” — Benton head coach Michelle Shoppach

8. Brookland (30-4-1)

Previous rank: No. 6

Last week: def. Batesville Southside 3-0; def. No. 17 Wynne 3-0

This week: 4A-Northwest Conference Tournament at Highland

COMMENT Brookland unbeaten against 4A-Northwest and hopes to keep that string alive in conference tournament.

9. Marion (21-6-1)

Previous rank: No. 8

Last week: def. Greene County Tech 3-1; def. Searcy 3-0

This week: vs. Batesville Tuesday; vs. Jonesboro Thursday

COMMENT: Five players had at least 10 digs against Greene County Tech: Alexa Shinaberry (24), Abigaile Simmons (18), Maggie Miller (18), Kaitlyn Austin (18) and Taylor Chamness (12). Miller had 20 assists and 16 dis against Searcy.

10. Shiloh Christian (24-6)

Previous rank: No. 9

Last week: lost to No. 2 Hackett 3-2; def. Farmington 3-0; def. Clarksville 3-0

This week: 4A-Northwest Conference Tournament at Huntsville

COMMENT: Chloe Blessing had 51 kills in 3 matches while Laila Creighton had 103 assists.

11. Valley View (22-8)

Previous rank: No. 10

Last week: def. West Memphis 3-0; def. Nettleton 3-0

This week: at Jonesboro Monday; vs. Searcy Tuesday

COMMENT: Brennan Holland had 15 assists and 15 digs against West Memphis and Riley Owens had 12 assists and 15 digs.

12. Mansfield (29-2-1)

Previous rank: No. 12

Last week: def. No. 24 Lavaca 3-0, def. Ozark Catholic; def. Founders Classical 3-0

This week: 2A-West Conference Tournament at Mansfield

COMMENT: Regular-season conference title secured, now Mansfield looks forward to conference tournament title.

13. Harrison (18-4)

Previous rank: No. 14

Last week: def. Greenbrier 3-0; def. Van Buren 3-1

This week: vs. Russellville Thursday; at Siloam Springs Thursday

COMMENT: Reese Ricketts had 40 kills in both victories last week.

14. Springdale Har-Ber (17-11)

Previous rank: Not ranked

Last week: def. No. 14 Bentonville 3-0

This week: vs. No. 1 Fayetteville; vs. Rogers Thursday

COMMENT: After losing five in a row, the Lady Wildcats have won five of their past six, including a tournament at Paris.

15. Greenwood (18-10)

Previous rank: No. 15

Last week: Lost to Siloam Springs 3-1; def. Mountain Home 3-2; at Ozark (Mo.) Grand Slam: def. Springfield (Mo.) Central; lost to vs. Eureka (Mo.); def. St. Francis Borgia (Mo.); def. Logan Rogersville (Mo.); def. Park Hill South (Mo.); lost to St. Charles Lutheran (Mo.)

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

COMMENT: Losses in Missouri come to two teams with a combined record of 36-22-2. “We always love this tournament at the end of the season because it’s great competition that pushes us as we prepare to go into the state tournament. It was very productive weekend for us. We got better at some things and exposed some other things that we need to clean up. This has been the best showing that we’ve had at this tournament since we started coming to it several years ago.” — Greenwood head coach Jennifer Golden

16. Bentonville (16-14)

Previous rank: No. 13

Last week: lost to Springdale Har-Ber 3-0; at Blue Valley (Kan.) Tournament (lost to Blue Valley North (Kan.) 2-1; def. Marshfield (Mo.) 2-0; lost to Blue Spring (Mo.) 2-1; lost to Blue Spring South (Mo.) 2-1

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

COMMENT: Lady Tigers hit a rough stretch in Kansas, but the combined record of their opponents is 75-33-3

17. Sheridan (23-4)

Previous rank: No. 16

Last week: def. Benton Harmony Grove 3-0; lost to No. 5 Benton 3-0; def. Hot Springs 3-0 Thursday

This week: at Jacksonville Monday; vs. El Dorado Thursday

COMMENT Kayden Porter had 31 kills, 17 digs in all three matches. Sunnie Davis had 84 assists and 27 digs.

18. Mount St. Mary (18-7-1)

Previous rank: No. 18

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

This week: at No. 19 Cabot Monday; vs. Sylvan Hills Tuesday; at Little Rock Christian Academy Thursday

COMMENT: Strong non-conference match against Cabot and chance to wrap up 5A-Central Conference.

19. Cabot (16-8)

Previous rank: No. 19

Last week: def. Bryant 3-1

This week: vs. No. 18 Mount St. Mary Monday; at North Little Rock Tuesday; vs. No. 5 Hot Springs Lakeside MTXE Thursday

COMMENT: Lady Panthers close regular season with two 5A contenders.

20. Paragould (20-7)

Previous rank: Not ranked

Last week: def. No. 17 Wynne 3-2; def. Nettleton 3-1; def. Greene County Tech 3-1

This week: vs. West Memphis Tuesday; at North Little Rock Thursday

COMMENT: Freshman Ava Beasley had 21 kills, 18 assists and 23 digs in the victory over Greene County Tech. For the season, she has 344 kills and 266 digs.

21. Mena (18-5-1)

Previous rank: No. 21

Last week: def. Ashdown 3-0; def. Bauxite 3-1

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

COMMENT 4A-West title at stake Tuesday against Fountain Lake.

22. Pottsville (19-3)

Previous rank: No. 22

Last week: def. Pulaski Academy 3-1

This week: 4A-Central Conference Tournament

COMMENT: Apaches went undefeated (10-0) in 4A-Central Conference.

23. Conway Christian (21-1-1)

Previous rank: No. 23

Last week: def. Yellville-Summit 3-0; def. Guy-Perkins 3-0

This week: 2A-North Tournament at Quitman

COMMENT Lady Eagles shooting for No. 1 seed from 2A-North.

24. Lavaca (19-10–1)

Previous rank: No. 24

Last week: lost to No. 12 Mansfield 3-0; def. Founders Classical 3-0; def. Eureka Springs 3-0

This week: 2A-West Tournament at Mansfield

COMMENT Lavaca looking for strong showing in conference tournament.

25. England (16-4)

Previous rank: Not ranked

Last week: def. Abundant Life 3-0; def. No. 25 Taylor 3-2; lost to Quitman 3-0

This week: 2A-Central Tournament at England.

COMMENT: Win over Taylor gives them puts Lady Lions into rankings.

DROPPED OUT

No. 17 Wynne, No. 20 Little Rock Central, No. 25 Taylor