SBLive Sports Power 25 national girls volleyball rankings (9/5/2023)

Unbeaten Hamilton Southeastern (Fishers, Indiana) moves back to No. 1 in the national high school volleyball rankings after running record to 11-0

FISHERS, INDIANA – The Hamilton Southeastern Royals (Fishers, Indiana) look invincible through the early part of the 2023 season. One opponent after another has been swept away.

Hamilton Southeastern moved back into the No. 1 spot for our Week 3 poll after recording four more sweeps, including a 3-0 victory against previously unbeaten Bellmont of Decatur. The Royals feature at least six Division I commits, including 6-foot-3 senior outside hitter Lauren Hardy (Florida), junior outside hitter Lindsey Mangelson (Mississippi State), 6-0 senior middle hitter Breonna Goss (Duke) and senior setter Macy Hinshaw (Santa Clara). At least four of HSE’s players will compete for powerhouse club program Munciana next spring.

HSE, which was ranked No. 1 in our Week 1 poll, vaulted back to the top spot after Mater Dei (Santa Ana, California) was upset by Mira Costa (Manhattan Beach, California) in a huge national showdown. Mira Costa moved up to No. 2.

The SBLive Power 25 national high school volleyball rankings include teams affiliated with state high school athletic associations in the state they compete in or those allowed to play affiliate high schools in their home state and beyond.

The rankings will be released weekly throughout the 2023 volleyball season. Find the complete breakdown of the SBLive Power 25 below.

The Power 25 rankings are compiled by SBLive freelancer Jeff Gardenour based on research and conversations with an extensive network of coaching and media sources across the nation. Reach Jeff on Twitter @JMarkG1962 or email him at jgardenour1962@gmail.com

1. Hamilton Southeastern

(Fishers, Ind.) (13-0)

Last week: 2

The Royals reeled off four more victories, including sweeps of previously unbeaten Bellmont and Carroll in a Labor Day tournament in Fort Wayne. The Royals are led by outside hitters Lauren Hardy, Madison Evett and Sophie Ledbetter, middle hitter Breonna Goss, and setter Macy Hinshaw.

2. Mira Costa

(Manhattan Beach, Calif.) (12-1)

Last week: 3

The Mustangs picked up their biggest non-tournament win of the season last Tuesday when they shocked No.1 Mater Dei, 3-0, in a home match. Mira Costa, which has won 10 matches in a row, will visit Torrey Pines of San Diego on Friday.

3. Cornerstone Christian

(San Antonio, Texas) (18-1)

Last week: 4

The Warriors have won nine in a row since falling to Mira Costa in the Ann Kang Invitational in Hawaii on Aug. 12. They went 6-0 to win the Nike Southeast Tournament of Champions (TOC) National Division, beating Pace Academy (Atlanta), Tampa Berkeley Prep, Boca Raton Saint Andrew’s (Florida), Winter Park (Florida), Carrollwood Day (Tampa) and Bishop Gorman of Las Vegas. Outside hitter Megan Fitch, middle hitter Elly Stewart, Grace Carroll and junior setter/opposite hitter Kaia Thiele lead the Warriors.

4. Mother McAuley

(Chicago) (8-0)

Last week: 6

The defending Class 4A state champ Mighty Macs defeated Sandburg of Orland Park, 2-0, to remain unbeaten. They visit Sacred Heart of Louisville on Thursday before participating in the 2023 Adidas LIVT on Friday and Saturday in Louisville.

They are led by senior outside hitter Ellie White, senior middle hitter Ellery Rees, senior Libero Samantha Falk, freshman setter Peyton Heatherly, senior outside hitter/defensive specialist Olivia Urbon, and senior setter Steph Theis.

5. Grand Oaks

(Spring, Texas) (30-1)

Last week: 8

The Grizzlies went 2-0 last week, sweeping Caney Creek of Conroe and Willis. They face two good teams this week in The Woodlands (18-11) and Oak Ridge of Conroe (22-7).

6. Pope

(Marietta, Ga.) (14-1)

Last week: 18

The defending Class 6A state champ Greyhounds last week defeated Roswell, 3-1; Buford, 2-1; and North Cobb of Kennesaw, 2-0. Pope’s only loss has come to Pace Academy.

Pope has been led by senior outside hitter Fifi Harvey, junior middle hitter Ellis Crawford, senior Libero Dayla Ortiz, and senior setter Cooper Abney.

7. Divine Savior Holy Angels

(Milwaukee, Wisconsin) (9-0)

Last week: Unranked

The Holy Angels have been unbeatable, thus far, sweeping away Wauwatosa East and Kettle Moraine Lutheran by 3-0 scores last week. The defending WIAA Division 1 state champs are led by senior outside hitter/rightside hitter Sophia Wendlick, sophomore middle blocker Maddie Brown, junior Libero Olivia Durst, junior setter Jordan Czajkowski, and junior outside hitter/rightside hitter Madison Quest.

8. Notre Dame Academy

(Park Hills, Ky.) (8-0)

Last week: 13

The Pandas last week swept Elizabethtown and Mercy of Louisville. They are expected to receive much stiffer competition on Friday and Saturday when they compete in the 2023 Adidas LIVT.

Playing well for ND Academy are junior outside hitter Ava Tilden, Gracie Portwood, junior outside hitter/middle hitter Ella Goetz, junior defensive specialist/Libero Julia Grace, junior defensive specialist/Libero Hannah Dannenberg, and junior setter Lauren Ott.

9. Mater Dei

(Santa Ana, Calif.) (13-1)

Last week: 1

Just days after winning the 68-team VolleyPalooza in Texas, the Monarchs returned home and were swept 3-0 by Mira Costa (Manhattan Beach, California) and then defeated Edison (Huntington Beach, Calif), 3-0. Mater Dei plays Foothill (Santa Ana, California) and Redondo (Beach) Union this week.

10. Papillon La Vista South

(Neb.) (8-0)

Last week: 17

The two-time defending Class A state champ Titans beat Elkhorn South, 3-1, and Millard North, 3-0, to remain unbeaten. They host Pius X of Lincoln on Wednesday.

The Titans are led by senior outside hitter Lauren Medeck, freshman middle hitter Lyric Judson, senior middle hitters Kate Ligon and Morgan Bode, junior setter/right-side hitter Charlee Solomon, and senior setter/defensive specialist Kyla Dyrstad.

11. McKinney Boyd

(McKinney, Texas) (15-1)

Last week: 25

The Broncos last week beat Wakeland of Frisco, 3-1. They host Allen on Friday. The Broncos are led by junior outside hitter/Libero Ale Romo, junior middle hitter Sasha Purdin, sophomore middle hitter Keira Bose, senior Libero/defensive specialist Kali Vanderhoof, and senior setter Carson Eickenloff.

12. Dripping Springs

(Texas) (32-2)

Last week: Unranked

The Tigers have won four in a row since falling to Grand Oaks on Aug. 26. They visit Akins on Tuesday and New Braunfels on Friday. They are led by sophomore Henley Anderson, junior middle hitter Ashley Euston, Libero Ella Kuhn, and senior setter/Libero Presley Alford.

13. Northville

(Michigan) (8-1)

Last week: Unranked

The defending Michigan High School Athletic Association Division 1 state runner-up has won eight straight matches after falling to Hudsonville in the season opener.

The Mustangs are led by junior outside hitter Molly Reck, senior middle hitter Avry Nelson, senior Libero/defensive specialist Ashlee Gnau, and junior setter Ella Craggs.

14. Pace Academy

(Atlanta) (15-2)

Last week: 9

The Knights last week won two matches in Georgia before going 4-2 in the prestigious Nike Southeast TOC in Tampa. They bounced back from a 1-2 start on opening day to go 3-0 on the final day and win the Silver bracket championship. They play Woodward Academy of College Park, and McIntosh of Peachtree City this week.

15. Cathedral Catholic

(San Diego, Calif.) (7-2)

Last week: 10

The defending national champion Dons take on La Jolla on Wednesday. Last year, the Dons were the consensus national champion by multiple media outlets last year after winning the California State Open Division title and finishing unbeaten (42-0).

16. Immaculate Heart Academy

(Washington Township, N.J.) (0-0)

Last week: 15

The top-ranked team in New Jersey last year opens the season on Friday against Northern Valley-Demarest. The Blue Eagles won the NJSIAA Non-Public A girls state championship in 2022.

17. St. Thomas Aquinas

(Overland Park, Kansas) (3-0)

Last week: 12

The defending Class 5A state champ Saints swept Shawnee Heights of Tecumseh and Bonner Springs to remain undefeated. They face a tough opponent, however, on Saturday when they take on Skutt Catholic (Omaha, Nebraska) and then play Blue Valley of Randolph. Top players for STA are junior outside hitter Alea Goolsby, senior middle hitter Tatum Grimes, senior setter Kelsey Schenck, sophomore outside hitter Grace Martin, and junior defensive specialist/Libero Emma Nash.

18. Assumption

(Louisville, Ky.) (9-1)

Last week: 20

The Rockets opened last week with a 3-2 loss to rival Sacred Heart but then reeled off four wins to win the Avon Classic in Indiana. They visit Mercy on Tuesday before hosting the 2023 Adidas LIVT on Friday and Saturday.

19. Prestonwood Christian Academy

(Plano, Texas) (13-3)

Last week: 7

The Lions opened last week with a shocking 3-2 loss to Decatur. Last year, Prestonwood went 40-1, winning the TAPPS Class 6A state title – their fifth state championship, but first since 2018.

20. Flint Hill

(Oakton, Va.) (4-2)

Last week: 14

The Huskies opened their season with a 4-2 showing in the Nike Southeast TOC in Tampa. Flint Hill bounced back from a 1-2 record on opening day by going 3-0 and winning the Bronze bracket championship on the second and final day. The Huskies went 36-0 last year, winning two Virginia state titles.

21. Wayzata

(Plymouth, Minn.) (2-0)

Last week: 19

The three-time defending Class 4A state champ Trojans resume play Thursday at Lakeville South.

Senior outside hitters Olivia Swenson and Avery Jesewitz, senior setter Stella Swenson, junior middle hitter Katie Kelzenburg, and junior outside hitter Katie Kelzenberg lead the way.

22. Fayetteville

(Ark.) (5-1)

Last week: 21

The three-time defending Class 6A state champ Bulldogs last week beat Bentonville, 3-1, and Northside, 3-0, of Fort Smith. The Dogs play Bentonville of Centeron before heading to a tournament in Oklahoma on Friday and Saturday.

23. Corona del Sol

(Tempe, Ariz.) (3-0)

Last week: 23

The defending Class 6A state champ Aztecs opened their season with sweeps against Shadow Ridge and Valley Vista of Surprise, and Basha of Chandler. They face a stiff challenge on Tuesday when they host unbeaten O’Connor of Phoenix (11-0).

24. Bob Jones

(Madison, Alabama) (14-0)

Last week: Unranked

The defending Class 7A state runner-up is off to a red-hot start. The Patriots, who went 51-7 last year, won four matches last week. They ended the week with a 3-1 victory against longtime Alabama power and defending Class 7A state champ McGill-Toolen of Mobile. The Patriots play a huge match on Friday when they host unbeaten Collierville (12-0) of Tennessee.

25. Saint Francis

(Mountain View, Calif.) (3-1)

Last week: 5

The Lancers opened last week with a 3-1 loss to unbeaten Archbishop Mitty of San Jose and then beat Presentation of San Jose, 3-0. They play St. Ignacius College Prep and Sacred Heart Cathedral on a San Francisco trip this week.

Honorable Mention

Collierville (Tenn.), Plano West (Texas), St. Mary’s Dominican (New Orleans, La.), Puyallup (Wash.), Marian (Mich.), St. Ursula Academy (Cincinnati, Ohio), Marymount (Los Angeles, Calif.), St. James Academy (Lenexa, Kan.), Valor Christian (Highlands Ranch, Colo.), Lafayette (Wildwood, Mo.), Liberty North (Liberty, Mo.), Liberty High (Liberty, Mo.), Calvary Christian (Clearwater, Florida), Oconomowoc (Wisc.), O’Connor (Phoenix, Ariz.), Bellmont (Decatur, Ind.), Punahou (Honolulu, Haw.).

Dropped out: Washburn Rural (Topeka, Kansas), Byron Nelson (Trophy Club, Texas), Venice (Florida), Westminster Christian (Miami).