California Top 20 high school girls volleyball rankings (9/19/2023)

Top 10 largely stays intact, but the rest of the rankings are a roller coaster ride

The top teams in the state keep winning and the first 10 ranked teams stayed mainly in place. 

But outside of the top 10, it's like a roller coaster. One second, teams are up, the second, teams are down. Others are always on the hunt. 

Beckman and Foothill-Pleasanton made huge jumps upward. St. Mary’s-Stockton and Amador Valley vaulted into the ratings. 

Who tumbled?

Marymount fell to Alemany. JSerra Catholic lost to San Juan Hills. Santa Margarita Catholic was bounced by Orange Lutheran. Folsom lost to Oak Ridge and then Oak Ridge lost to Rocklin.

The second 10 has a new look and that will make for great competition as the season progresses.

1. Mira Costa-Manhattan Beach (15-1 overall record)
Section: Southern. Last rating: 1

Mustangs won at Torrey Pines-San Diego 12-25, 25-19, 25-19, 22-25, 15-13. Audrey Flanagan paced MCHS with 18 kills and Taylor Deckert had 33 digs. Later, Costa defeated Palos Verdes-Palos Verdes Estates 22-25, 25-22, 27-25, 25-17 behind 12 kills from Flanagan and 11 by Chloe Hynes.

2. Cathedral Catholic-San Diego (14-2, San Diego, No. 3)

The Dons also won at Torrey Pines, 21-25, 25-20, 23-25, 25-22, 15-9. Jenna Hanes led the Dons with 29 kills. They won the Dave Mohs Orange County Championships with a quartet of victories over powerhouse teams: JSerra, Edison-Huntington Beach, Huntington Beach (24-26, 25-14, 15-12) and Mater Dei-Santa Ana (25-18, 18-25, 15-10). Michigan-bound Jenna Hanes led way with 12 kills in the semifinals and 13 in the final.

3. Mater Dei (22-2, SS, No. 2)

Monarchs beat Redondo Union-Redondo Beach, Edison, San Clemente, San Juan Hills and Beckman. Wow. And they slide to third in the rankings because Cathedral Catholic had a similar run of victories and topped the Monarchs. Isable Clark leads MD with 3.7 kills per set and Cymarah Gordon puts down 3.1 per set.

Mira Costa (green) swept Mater Dei on Aug. 29. Photo: Heston Quan

4. Sierra Canyon (16-3, SS, No. 4)

Trailblazers swept Marymount 25-22, 25-22, 25-17 with 13 kills from Halie McGinest. Next up is a Mission League showdown with surprising Alemany, who is 15-1 even after the departure of superstar London Wijay who re-classified to head early to USC. Wilay was last week's Pac-12 Conference Player of the Week. 

5. Huntington Beach (16-4, SS, No. 5)

Oilers swept Palos Verdes in the Dave Mohs tournament. Then lost to Cathedral Catholic after stealing the first set, as the Dons prevailed 24-26, 25-14, 25-12. Since departing Hawaii and the Ann Kang Tournament on August 12, HBHS is 11-1 with the sole defeat coming at the hands of Cathedral Catholic.

6. Archbishop Mitty (13-0, Central Coast Section, No. 6)

Impressive sweep for the Monarchs in taking down Sacred Heart Prep-Atherton 25-6, 25-20, 25-13. And their sweep of Branson-Ross was another superb performance. On the horizon is the Sept. 27 rematch with rival St. Francis over in the Lancers’ gym.

7. Torrey Pines (3-2, SDS, No. 7)

Falcons lost in five sets to Cathedral Catholic and in five sets to Mater Dei. Nothing wrong with those results. Finley Krystkowiak leads Torrey Pines with 5.0 kills per set.

8. Redondo Union (9-3, SS, No. 8)

Losses for Sea Hawks have been in five games to Sierra Canyon and Torrey Pines and four games to Mater Dei. Nothing wrong with those results.

9. Los Alamitos (20-3, SS, No. 9)

Griffins own impressive record but are 0-1 in the Sunset-Surf League after loss at Huntington Beach. A dramatic first set went to the Oilers 31-29 and Los Al tried to fight back, but dropped the second set 25-19 and ran out of gas.

10. Saint Francis-Mountain View (8-1, CCS, No. 10)

Lancers beat Sacred Heart Prep 25-13, 25-14, 25-11 and bounced Branson 25-16, 21-25, 25-15, 25-23. With libero Whitney Wallace and big hitters in Taylor Williams and Erin Curtis, the experienced Lancers are geared  for next week’s rematch against Mitty.

11. Beckman (17-2, SS, No. 15)

In tournament action, the Patriots beat Palos Verdes 25-18, 15-25, 15-8 and lost to Mater Dei 25-23, 25-14. A big win and in the loss, they gave a top three team quite a tussle.

12. St. Mary’s-Stockton (16-1, San Joaquin Section, NR)

Freshman McKenna McIntosh, a 6-foot-1 outside hitter, averages 5.0 kills per set for the Rams, who beat Folsom 25-18, 25-22, 25-11 and Oak Ridge 20-25, 25-21 15-10. Only loss St. Mary’s to Valor Christian-Highlands Ranch CO, an unbeaten powerhouse from the Denver suburbs.

13. Foothill (7-1, North Coast Section, No. 17)

Foothill beat San Ramon Valley-Danville 19-25, 25-15, 25-14, 25-21 and is 4-0 in the competitive East Bay Athletic League.

14. Palos Verdes (10-6, SS, No. 16)

Sea Kings have fallen to Santa Margarita, Los Alamitos, Huntington Beach, Beckman, San Juan Hills and Mira Costa. Nothing wrong with those results. Watch out for them in Bay League play. Cal Poly-bound Kendall Beshear leads PV with 5.5 kills per set.

15. Redwood-Larkspur (12-2, NCS, No. 18)

Giants beat Amador Valley behind the attack of Jaden Hendrickson and freshman Madeleine Wagner, with Ella Moran leading the defense.

16. Amador Valley (14-3, NCS, NR)

AV and Foothill co-lead the East Bay Athletic League but Danville's Monte Vista and San Ramon Valley are just a step behind at 3-1. Plenty of great battles ahead in the EBAL.

17. Branson (8-4, NCS, NR)

Bulls fell to St. Francis 25-16, 21-25, 25-15, 25-23. Oh those tight fourth sets that go to deuce when a couple points the other way would even the contest and take it to a fifth set. Bulls also lost to Mitty, 25-20, 25-16, 27-25. Nothing shame there. 

18. Liberty-Bakersfield (12-3, Central Section, NR)

Patriots have defeated Clovis North-Fresno, Clovis West-Fresno and Clovis, the latter three times. With three girls at 6-foot-1 or taller, it is another great season for the top team in the southern part of the San Joaquin Valley.

19. Clovis North (16-3, CS, NR)

Broncos enter the ultra-competitive Tri-Valley League as one of the favorites.

20. Clovis West (15-3, CS, No. 20)

Kalani Soares, Haley Rangel and Sarah Hook lead the attack for the Golden Eagles.

On the bubble: Marymount (SS), Folsom (SJS), Poly-Long Beach (SS), Santa Margarita (SS), San Juan Hills (SS), Santa Cruz (CCS), JSerra (SS).

Got comments, questions or opinions? Email gordon.kass@gmail.com.