By Christine Jinbo

This week, ESPN RISE FAB 50 top ten teams, previoiusly ranked No. 3 Mira Costa (Manhattan Beach, Calif.) and No. 2 Assumption (Louisville, Ky.) sustained upset losses.  The Mustangs fell to previously ranked No. 40 Marymount (Los Angeles, Calif.) High School on their own turf.  The Sailors traveled to Mustang territory and toppled the giants, 25-21, 25-27, 19-25, 25-23 15-11.  USC commit, Sam Hirschman had a team high 20 kills, 15 digs and four blocks. 

Assumption traveled to the Burris Invitational (Muncie, Ind.) and took a beating from tournament host, No. 18 Burris in the finals.  Florida commit Taylor Unroe led the team and propelled the Owls into the top ten with their straight set win over Assumption.  The Rockets redeemed themselves in straight sets over rival No. 7 Mercy (Louisville, Ky.) (25-14, 25-18, 25-16), which knocked the Jags out of the top ten.  The Rockets went into the Louisville Invitational Tournament with one loss and emerged with one more to Sacred Heart (Louisville, Ky.) in a best of three match (25-21, 23-25, 25-18).

The season is heating up with early tournaments set for the coming weeks.  Competitive tournaments take place in Northern and Southern California.  No. 1 Archbishop Mitty (San Jose, Calif.) hosts its Invitational with 16 teams on four courts.  No. 21 Berkeley Prep (Tampa, Fla.) and No. 23 Cardinal Gibbons (Raleigh, N.C.) will travel to the event, which includes top California talent.  Besides host Mitty, No. 13 Marymount, No. 20 Dos Pueblos (Goleta, Calif.) and No. 39 Santa Barbara will be in attendance.  In Southern California, the 32nd annual Dave Mohs, hosted by Edison (Huntington Beach, Calif.) High School will feature top Southern California teams. The tournament field has 64 teams competing in two divisions with Orange County well represented. Championship matches are on Sept. 21.

ESPN RISE FAB 50 No. 31 St. Joseph (St. Louis, Mo.) will host its Invitational also this weekend.  Louisville  schools, No. 25 Mercy and No. 7 Sacred Heart will travel to St. Louis for the event.  The much anticipated Durango Classic is set for Sept. 25-26 and will feature, five ESPN RISE top ten teams and 12 ESPN RISE ranked teams.   The tournament represents eight states and has expanded its field to 48 teams this year.  This is one nobody wants to miss.

Check out the pre-season girls' volleyball ESPN RISE FAB 50 ranking for 2009 below, previous rank in parenthesis.  Click the link for more.

ESPN RISE FAB 50
National girls' volleyball rankings
Week 1 Rankings- Records reflect games played through September 13.

Rank  School, City, ST, Rec.   
1 (1) Archbishop Mitty (San Jose, Calif.) 6-0
2 (5) Joliet Catholic (Chicago, Ill.) 8-0
3 (8) Reagan (San Antonio, Texas) 29-1
4 (9) La Costa Canyon  (Carlsbad, Calif.) 1-0
5 (18) Muncie Burris  (Muncie, Ind.) 15-0
6 (4) Amarillo (Amarillo, Texas) 28-3
7 (12) Sacred Heart Academy (Louisville, Ky.) 7-2
8 (6) J.J. Pearce (Richardson, Texas) 21-4
9 (2) Assumption (Louisville, Ky.) 12-2
10 (22) Floyd Central  (Floyds Knobs, Ind.  11-0
11 (11) Wilson (Long Beach, Calif.) 0-0
12 (20) St. Francis (Wheaton, Ill.) 8-0
13 (40) Marymount  (Los Angeles, Calif.) 1-0
14 (14) Ursuline Academy  (Cincinnati, Ohio) 6-0
15 (3) Mira Costa  (Manhattan Beach, Calif.) 0-1
16 (23) O'Connor  (Helotes, Texas)  23-3
17 (16) Marian  (Omaha, Neb.) 9-0
18 (15) Los Alamitos (Los Alamitos, Calif.) 4-0
19 (19) Dublin Coffman (Dublin, Ohio) 4-0
20 (21) Dos Pueblos  (Goleta, Calif.) 2-0
21 (25) Berkley Prep  (Tampa, Fla.) 5-0
22 (17) Lakewood  (Lakewood, Calif.) 3-0
23 (37) Cardinal Gibbons  (Raleigh, N.C.) 4-0
24 (NR) Sandburg (Orland Park, Ill.) 5-0
25 (7) Mercy  (Louisville, Kent.) 10-2
26 (32) St. James  (Lenexa, Kan.) 3-0
27 (24) Mother McAuley (Chicago, Ill.) 3-0
28 (28) Chaska (Chaska, Minn.) 3-0
29 (35) Plant  (Tampa, Fla.) 8-0
30 (NR) Canyon Randall (Amarillo, Texas) 21-1
31 (34) St. Joseph's Academy  (St. Louis, Mo.)  8-1
32 (38) Elkhart Memorial  (Elkhart, Ind.) 8-0
33 (NR) St. Ursula Academy (Toledo, Ohio) 6-0
34 (NR) Allen (Allen, Texas) 22-3
35 (39) Shakopee  (Shakopee, Minn.) 8-0
36 (NR) Marist (Chicago, Ill.) 3-0
37 (44) Rose (Greenville, N.C.) 6-0
38 (13) Westlake (Austin, Texas) 19-5
39 (NR) Santa Barbara  (Santa Barbara, Calif.) 2-0
40 (42) Harvard Westlake (North Hollywood, Calif.) 0-1
41 (NR) Lee's Summit West  (Lee's Summit, Mo.) 9-0
42 (43) Punahou (Honolulu, Hawai'i) 7-0
43 (49) Blue Springs  (Blue Springs, Mo.) 8-2
44 (26) Center Grove  (Greenwood, Ind.) 9-1
45 (33) Lakota West (West Chester, Ohio) 6-0
46 (NR) Hinsdale Central (Hinsdale, Ill.) 6-0
47 (45) Bishop Miege  (Shawnee Mission, Kans.) 7-1
48 (48) Mount Notre Dame (Cincinnati, Ohio) 6-1
49 (50) Kamehameha (Honolulu, Hawai'i) 6-1
50 (46) Santa Margarita  (Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif.) 0-1

By Christine Jinbo

ESPN RISE FAB 50
2009 First Girls' Volleyball Ranking -
Records and previous ranking from final 2008 FAB 50 Rankings

Last year, ESPN RISE crowned, Archbishop Mitty (San Jose, Calif.) High School the ESPN RISE National Champion.  The Monarchs picked up where they left off, atop the rankings as the pre-season No. 1, with nine seniors and six of seven starters who returned from the 2008 squad.  Head Coach Bret Almazan-Cezar prepares his veteran squad to achieve national excellence again this year.

	Leonard Xu/ESPN RISE
	Bret Almazan-Cezar coached Archbishop Mitty to a CIF State Div. II Championship.

"We're simply doing things that will continue the excellence and success of the past," said Almazan-Cezar.

Last year, Almazan-Cezar told ESPN RISE Volleyball, "This team really enjoys hanging out with each other."  To promote team unity this year, the team hiked 14 miles and camped in the Big Basin (Redwoods State Park, Calif.).

The Monarchs will host their own national tournament with Berkeley Prep (Tampa, Fla.) and Cardinal Gibbons (Raleigh, N.C.) traveling from out of state to test the competition.

Check out the pre-season girls' volleyball ESPN RISE FAB 50 rankings for 2009 below or click the link for more.

ESPN RISE Volleyball FAB 50
Pre-season Rankings

Rank School, City, ST 2008 Record
1 (1) Archbishop Mitty San Jose, Calif.  42-1
2 (22) Assumption Louisville, Ky.  30-7
3 (18) Mira Costa  Manhattan Beach, Calif. 28-6
4 (4) Amarillo Amarillo, Texas 48-3
5 (17) Joliet Catholic Chicago, Ill.  39-3
6 (NR) J.J. Pearce Richardson, Texas  36-6
7 (3) Mercy  Louisville, Kent.  40-1
8 (23) Reagan San Antonio, Texas  45-3
9 (2) La Costa Canyon  Carlsbad, Calif.  37-1
10 (6) St. Charles East  St. Charles, Ill. 39-4
11 (20) Wilson Long Beach, Calif.  28-4
12 (19) Sacred Heart Academy Louisville, Ky.  29-10
13 (8) Westlake Austin, Texas  40-8
14 (24) Ursuline Academy  Cincinnati, Ohio  28-1

	Leonard Xu/ESPN RISE
	Carly Wopat along with twin sister Samantha will lead the Chargers this season.

15 (41) Los Alamitos Los Alamitos, Calif.  25-6
16 (36) Marian  Omaha, Neb.  34-8
17 (NR) Lakewood  Lakewood, Calif.  19-8
18 (50) Muncie Burris  Muncie, Ind.  36-4
19 (NR) Dublin Coffman Dublin, Ohio  25-2
20 (NR) St. Francis Wheaton  27-9
21 (29) Dos Pueblos  Goleta, Calif.  28-7
22 (NR) Floyd Central  Floyds Knobs, Ind.   35-4
23 (32) O'Connor  Helotes, Texas  38-5
24 (13) Mother McAuley Chicago, Ill.  39-3
25 (45) Berkley Prep  Tampa, Fla.  28-3
26 (NR) Center Grove  Greenwood, Ind.  25-10
27 (NR) Nevada Union Grass Valley, Calif.  24-9
28 (NR) Chaska Minn.  25-5
29 (35) Notre Dame  Covington, Ky.  29-5
30 (NR) Redondo Union Redondo Beach, Calif.  13-13
31 (12) Papillion La Vista  Papillion, Neb.  41-1
32 (5) St. James  Lenexa, Kan.  45-1
33 (NR) Lakota West West Chester, Ohio  14-12
34 (NR) St. Joseph's Academy  St. Louis, Mo.   28-9
35 (27) Plant  Tampa, Fla.  28-3
36 (NR) Grandview Aurora, Colo.  27-4
37 (49) Cardinal Gibbons  Raleigh, N.C.  29-0
38 (38) Elkhart Memorial  Elkhart, Ind.  36-2
39 (43) Shakopee  Shakopee, Minn.  32-2
40 (47) Marymount  Los Angeles, Calif.  25-6
41 (46) Washburn Rural  Topeka, Kan.  35-2
42 (NR) Harvard Westlake North Hollywood, Calif.  22-6
43 (NR) Punahou Honolulu, Hawai'i   22-4
44 (NR) Rose Greenville, N.C.  27-1
45 (NR) Bishop Miege  Shawnee Mission, Kans.  36-5
46 (7) Santa Margarita  Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif.  29-8
47 (14) Clear Creek  Houston, Texas  44-5
48 (NR) Mount Notre Dame Academy   Cincinnati, Ohio  23-5
49 (NR) Blue Springs  Blue Springs, Mo.  33-3
50 (NR) Kamehameha Honolulu, Hawai'i  20-4
 

Teams to watch list (in alphabetical order):

Beckman, Irvine, CA
Bingham, South Jordan, UT
Brighton, Salt Lake City, UT
Buchanan, Clovis, CA
Carson City, Carson City, NV
Chugiak, Chugiak, AK
Clovis, Clovis, CA
Clovis West, Clovis, CA
Cottonwood, Salt Lake City, UT
El Dorado, Placentia, CA
Gilbert, Gilbert, AZ
Newport Harbor, Newport Beach, CA
Ponderosa, Shingle Springs, CA
Redlands East Valley, Redlands, CA
Saint Mary's, Stockton, CA
Saint Pius X, Albuquerque, NM
Torrey Pines, San Diego, CA
Xavier College Preparatory, Phoenix, AZ
Marist, Chicago, Ill.
Olmsted Falls, Olmsted Falls, Ohio
Benet, Lisle, Ill.
Roncalli, Indianapolis, Ind.
St. Thomas Aquinas, Overland Park, Kans.
Eastview, Apple Valley, Minn.
Incarnate Word Academy, Houston, Texas
Lee's Summit West, Lee's Summit, Mo.
Mother of Mercy, Cincinnati, Ohio
Friendswood, Friendswood, Texas
Lake Highlands, Dallas, Texas
Timber Creek, Orlando, Fla.
Sandburg, Orland Park, Ill.
Glenbrook South, Glenview, Ill.
Naperville Central, Naperville, Ill.
Naperville North, Naperville, Ill.
New Castle Chrysler, New Castle, Ind.
Muncie Central, Muncie, Ind.
Cathedral, Indianapolis, Ind.
Delta, Muncie, Ind.
West Henderson, Hendersonville, N.C.
Grand Island, Grand Island, Neb.
Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, Calif.
Orange Lutheran, Orange, Calif.
Thousand Oaks, Thousand Oaks
Cherry Creek, Greenwood Village, Colo.
St Michael-Albertville, Albertville, Minn.

By Christine Jinbo

Videos, pictures and conversation, can be found on the ESPNRISEVolleyball group page.  Join the group and join the conversation.

Follow the links below to navigate to the group site:

1) Register here it's FREE… so you can join the group and see all the latest on the group page!

2) Check out the group by clicking the tabs within the group or click the links below:

a) Videos   
b) Photos   
c) Leave comments on all the latest volleyball.  
d) Create your own sting of comments on the Comment Wall 

By Christine Jinbo

This week brings the final ESPN RISE FAB 50 National Volleyball Rankings. The three part series, "Who will be No. 1? debated each team's argument for the spot atop the rankings and the title, ESPN RISE National Champion.  Many teams had exceptional seasons, and three have legitimate claims to the title: current ESPN RISE FAB 50 No. 1 Archbishop Mitty (San Jose, Calif.), No. 2 La Costa Canyon (Carlsbad, Calif.) and No. 3 Mercy Academy (Louisville, Ky.).

&nb...

(Read full post)

By Christine Jinbo

The newest installment of the ESPN RISE FAB 50 has little movement as the volleyball season winds to a close.  Final rankings wait as California finishes its state playoffs this weekend.
 
In the CIF Division II race, No. 1 Archbishop Mitty (San Jose) looks primed to take the CIF Northern Region State Championship for the seventh consecutive year.  The Central Coast Section proved to be the most dominant section in the Northern Region as Mitty matches up against a Central Coast Section

	Leonard Xu/ESPN RISE
	Redlands East Valley (Redlands)faces off agains Corona del Mar (Newport) again.

rival Mountain View.  The Monarchs bested Mountain View four times this season and look to make a clean sweep with this fifth and final match.
 
In the Southern Region, the Southern Section proved dominant. No. 19 Redlands East Valley (Redlands) faces the same opponent from the CIF Southern Section Div. II-AA finals, Corona del Mar (Newport Beach).  The Wildcats bested the Sea Kings, 25-16,25-20, 25-14 in that finals match up and Corona del Mar looks to even the score.
 
In the CIF Division I race, it is all about the Southern Region Finals.  Two Sectional Champions, No. 2 La Costa Canyon (Carlsbad) San Diego Section Champion and No. 7 Santa Margarita (Rancho Santa Margarita) Southern Section Champion face off in the final showdown.  The Mavericks travel to Santa Margarita and seek revenge on the only team to hand them a loss this season. Santa Margarita looks to defend itself at home and defeat La Costa Canyon for a second time this year.  The winner of this match will face Homestead (Cupertino) of the Central Coast Section or Napa of the San Joaquin Section.(Read full post)

By Christine Jinbo

With the exception of California, the state playoff races are over. Florida and Texas came to a close and crowned their state champions this past weekend.  With these last few states playing their most meaningful games of the season, teams jostled in the rankings as upsets occured in California and Florida.
&nbs...

(Read full post)

By Christine Jinbo

Teams from California, Illinois and Texas battled in their perspective playoff races.  The California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) playoffs have all gone according to seed, without major upsets in the top divisions, but not all state races were that simple.
 
In the CIF Div. II Central Coast Section, ESPN RISE ranked No. 1 Archbishop Mitty (San Jose) received a bye, then defeated Presentation (San Jose), 25-14, 25-15, 25-22.  The Monarchs will face Palo Alto on Wednesday nig...

(Read full post)

By Christine Jinbo

In the Illinois post season, it will be a Normal battle... that is, a Normal Super-Sectional battle.   No. 12 Benet Academy (Lisle), No. 28 Naperville Central and No. 47 Naperville North all line up in the top half of the same bracket.  No. 5 Mother McAuley (Chicago) sits alone in the Palos Heights Super-Sectional and No. 36 St. Charles East (St. Charles) will contend with Wheaton Warrenville South (Wheaton) at the Elgin Super-Sectional.(Read full post)

By Christine Jinbo

The ESPN RISE FAB 50 teams from Illinois shook up the rankings this week as the top four teams squared off at the Autumnfest held at Glenbard East High School (Lombard). Previously ranked No. 4 Benet (Lisle) fell to No. 20 Joliet Catholic (Joliet), which has hit its stride this season. No. 12 Mother McAuley (Chicago) defeated No. 7 Naperville Central, 25-12, 25-22 in the semifinals and went on to win the event over Joliet Catholic, 27-25, 17-25, 29-27.(Read full post)

By Christine Jinbo

Teams across the nation raced into the next phases of their seasons and many remained unbeaten.  La Costa Canyon (Carlsbad, Calif.) 15-0, Benet (Lisle, Ill.) 26-0, Papillion La Vista (Papillion, Neb.) 26-0, Cardinal Gibbons (Raleigh, N.C.) 23-0, Washburn Rural (Topeka, Kan.) 23-0, Ursuline (Cincinnati, Ohio) 22-0, Olmsted Falls (Olmsted Falls, Ohio) 22-0, and Cherry Creek (Cherry Creek, Colo.) 18-0 make up the exclusive list.(Read full post)

By Christine Jinbo and Kirstin Olsen

The ESPN RISE FAB 50 teams jostled in the rankings with the conclusion of the Nike Challenge in Chicago, Ill.  This national tournament exposed teams' weaknesses and revealed other teams' resolve.  Plant (Tampa, Fla.) fell far in the rankings as they sustained losses to Sacred Heart (Louisville, Kent.) and Downers Grove South (Ill.) after last week's losses to Berkeley Prep (Tampa, Fla.) and Mercy (Louisville, Kent.). The Panthers placed fifth at the Nike Challenge as they missed the dominant play of the partially healthy outside hitter Maddie Martin (Penn State), who played sparingly (and not full speed) with an injured ankle.(Read full post)

 By Christine Jinbo and Kirstin Olsen

ESPN RISE Girls Volleyball National FAB 50 for games through the week of September 29, 2008.  Previous rank in parenthesis.

If it could happen to USC football, it could happen to any team.  Upsets happened around the nation and No. 2 Plant (Tampa, Fla.) fell victim along with No. 6 Assumption (Louisville, Ky.), No. 12 Muncie Central (Muncie, Ind.).   Plant (Tampa, Fla.) fell to No. 45 Berkley Prep (Tampa, Fla.) at the Berkeley Premier Invitational  (Tampa, Fla.), 25-23, 16-25, 25-18, 21-25, 10-15.  After the grueling five game loss, the squad met up with No. 8 Mercy (Louisville, Kent.) in the quarterfinals of the tournament and lost, 25-19, 25-20, 25-12. Coach Leanna Taylor's squad played without standout Penn State commit Maddie Martin and hope to have her back in time to redeem themselves at the NIKE Challenge this weekend in Chicago, Ill.
&nbs...

(Read full post)

By Christine Jinbo and Kirstin Olsen

ESPN RISE Girls Volleyball National FAB 50 for games through the week of September 20, 2008.  Previous rank in parenthesis.

1     (8)    La Costa Canyon (Carlsbad, Calif.)    9-0    
The Mavericks were continually tested under pressure and continually performed like champions at the Durango Classic where they bested the field and took home the crown.  The tournament MVP award went to Kendall Polan, who consistently delivered a hittable ball throughout the tournament.  Taking nothing away from Polan, but instead honoring the whole team, the MVP could have gone to any number of the La Costa Canyon players.   They are a great mix of talent and each add something special to the newly crowned No. 1 te...

(Read full post)

By Christine Jinbo

Lakewood (Calif.) obtained the coveted No. 1 ranking from ESPNRISE.com without ever beating a top ranked Southern California team.  A semi-final loss in the CIF Southern Section playoffs to Redondo sent the team to the State Tournament as a Div. I team where it was safe from the likes of Mira Costa (Manhattan Beach, Calif.) and Archbishop Mitty (San Jose, Calif.). 

...

(Read full post)