ESPN RISE FAB 50

GIRLS VOLLEYBALL RANKINGS

Much of the scrambling for final spots in this year's ESPN RISE Girls Volleyball FAB 50 national rankings is just about done, except for one rather important state.

With the Texas and Florida state playoffs concluding last week and with favored teams like Amarillo and Tampa Plant impressing in state finals, most of the drama about the FAB 50 is beginning to focus in on No. 1 Archbishop Mitty (San Jose, Calif.).

The Monarchs faced a Palo Alto (Calif.) team in the CIF Central Coast Section Division II championship last Saturday that was red-hot with a 33-match win streak and has visions of pulling off an upset.

Head coach Dave Winn told Palo Alto Online: "They make those Disney movies for a reason. The underdog does win once in a while.”

Despite Winn's optimism, Mitty was on its game from the start. The Monarchs won the match and were only challenged in the third game. Mitty's 25-14, 25-12, 25-23 win earned the program its seventh straight CCS title and a top-seed in the CIF Northern California regional playoffs. Leaders in the match included Kristina Graven with 16 kills, Rachel Williams with 11 kills and Joan Caloiro with 24 assists.

Mitty's final match of the season is expected to be the CIF Division II state championship, which will be played on Saturday, Dec. 5 at the UC Irvine Bren Events Center.

If Mitty were to suffer an upset, No. 2 Muncie Burris  (Muncie, Ind.) or No. 3 Ursuline Academy (Cincinnati, Ohio) would seem to have the strongest resumes for a move up to the top. Both of those teams have finished their seasons.

Amarillo also has seemingly cemented its position with at least a No. 4 final FAB 50 rankings. The Lady Sandies didn't have it easy against Westlake (Austin, Texas), but they captured their fourth straight UIL Class 5A state championship in a five set thriller. 

Senior libero Eden Williams was named tournament MVP after registering a match-high 25 digs. Micah Nolan led the victors with 17 kills while Danielle Barker set everyone up with 32 assists. The final three sets couldn't have ended any closer as the scores for the five sets were 19-25, 25-20, 28-26, 23-25, and 16-14. A fifth straight title next year might be a big task as Amarillo loses 11 seniors but head coach Jan Barker, who has led the school to eight state titles, sure knows how to win them.

Tampa Plant, meanwhile, will go down as the No. 1 team in Florida and will be no lower than No. 6 in the final FAB 50. The Panthers won their fourth straight state championship, and their first in Class 6A, as they defeated the three-time defending Class 6A champion Winter Park, in four sets. 

With their fourth straight title, Plant also has now won nine state championships in school history with seven of those nine coming this decade. Penn State commit Maddie Martin led the way with 22 kills while Alex Johnson also had a big game with 20 kills. Libero Ali McCurdy had a team-best 23 digs in her final high school game before heading to Duke and Becca Howard had 48 assists.

This week's biggest mover in the FAB 50 is Newport Harbor (Newport Beach, Calif.). The Sailors jumped from No. 22 to No. 11 after winning the CIF Southern Section Division IAA championship. Other teams winning CIFSS titles were Dos Pueblos (Goleta, Calif.) in Division IA, Redlands East Valley (Redlands, Calif.) in Div. 2AA and Elsinore (Wildomar, Calif.) in Div. 2A.(Read full post)

ESPN RISE FAB 50

GIRLS VOLLEYBALL RANKINGS

Getting into the final top 10 of the ESPN RISE FAB 50 rankings in girls volleyball is beginning to resemble a line looking for the hottest tables at the trendiest restaurants.

Good seats are filling up fast and there's only a handful left to be had. Unlike the powerful maitre d', don't bother slipping us a $20 to make it easier for your team to gobble up one of those positions. We can't be bought.

One week after Muncie Burris won the Class 2A state title in Indiana to secure no worse than a No. 2 position for the final rankings, three more Midwest schools completed strong seasons with state championships and in effect have also wrapped up at least no worse than a No. 8 final national ranking. 

For the second year in a row, Ursuline Academy (Cincinnati, Ohio) had the chance to end the season undefeated and this time the Lions capitalized as they defeated Dublin Coffman (Dublin, Ohio) in four sets for the Ohio Division I state championship. 

Jade Henderson led the Lions with 16 kills while Christina Beer added 10 kills in the 25-16, 25-19, 18-25, 25-17 victory. Dani Reinert also had 48 assists while Kori Moster led the way with 15 digs as the Lions handed the Shamrocks their only loss of the season. 

For the season, Ursuline Academy lost a total of just four sets out of 84 played and because of totals like that the team has jumped to No. 3 in this week's rankings. For losing to a team like that, Dublin Coffman only fell from No. 9 to No. 12.

In Illinois, Joliet Catholic captured its second straight Class 3A state championship in straight sets over Mater Dei of Breese. Recent ESPN RISE National Girls Athlete of the Week Annemarie Hickey had a match-best 13 kills as the Angels won the first set 25-20 and then rallied from a four-point deficit in the second set for the clinching 25-23 set victory. 

With their 41st win, the Angels set a school record for wins in a season while losing just four sets out of a total of 87 sets all season long. Like Ursuline Academy, they also have secured a top five final national ranking but we will still move Ursuline one spot higher since that team is unbeaten and Joliet Catholic is not.

The final three of these teams to cement a final top 10 national ranking is Shakopee (Minn.), which has moved up to No. 8 this week after winning its third straight Class 3A state final.

Seeing the Sabers lose even a set this year was a rare sight but it was just one hiccup against Wayzata as they won in four sets in their state final. 

Elizabeth Benusa, Mollie Geske, Claire Sames and Ashley Wittman were all named to the All-Tournament Team. In 88 total sets played this year, the Sabers never dropped more than one set to an opponent while losing a total of just four sets all season.

Next week, at least one and perhaps two more final top 10 slots will be sealed by winners of the Texas state tournament, which will be held from Thursday through Saturday at Strahan Coliseum on the campus of Texas State University in San Marcos.

The California Interscholastic Federation state finals will be staged on Saturday, Dec. 5 at UC Irvine's Bren Events Center. Current FAB 50 No. 1 Archbishop Mitty hopes that the final top 10 position it secures on that night will be the best one of them all. The Monarchs will be going for their sectional title this weekend.

 (Read full post)

NEW ESPN RISE FAB 50
GIRLS VOLLEYBALL RANKINGS
 
Compilers: Andrew Drennen, Kirstin Olsen, Mark Tennis
Contributing: Paul Muyskens
 
With the Indiana state playoffs now in the books, the race to be the ESPN RISE Girls Volleyball FAB 50 national champion can be whittled down to just two teams.
 
Muncie Burris, as expected, wrapped up its 13th consecutive Class 2A state crown and in the process also put an exclamation point on an unblemished 40-0 record. The Owls recorded a straight set win over Southwood (Wabash, Ind.) by scores of 25-9, 25-8, 25-16 that continued their straight set dominance since they also won in straight sets in the semifinals over Brownstown Central.

University of Florida recruit Taylor Unroe and teammate Chelsea Toth each led the team with 10 kills while four different players recorded double digit dig totals.

The situation at the top of the FAB 50 is simple. If current No. 1 Archbishop Mitty (San Jose, Calif.) completes an unbeaten season next month and wins a divisional title at the California Interscholastic Federation state finals, then it would be No. 1 in the nation for the second straight season. If the Monarchs get upset, however, then it would go to Muncie Burris.

Other teams from around the country needed for Muncie Burris to somehow get knocked off in its state playoffs to have a shot at the final No. 1 ranking. That didn't come close to happening.

In the two other largest-class state finals held last weekend in Indiana, Brebeuf Jesuit (Indianapolis) knocked off top seed Yorktown in Class 3A while Muncie Central topped Elkhart Memorial (Elkhart) to win the Class 4A banner.

After losing in the semifinals the past two seasons, Brebeuf Jesuit not only made it to the finals but avenged its only loss of the season with a 25-21, 14-25, 25-15, 25-21 win over Yorktown. Sloan White led the Braves with 16 kills while Lauren Rafdal and Jeme Obeime each had 12 kills and Jadyn Yarling stared defensively with 19 digs. The result gave Brebeuf Jesuit a jump from No. 45 to No. 19 in this week's FAB 50 and dropped Yorktown from No. 10 down to No. 30.

Muncie Central captured the fifth state championship in school history by defeating Elkhart Memorial in straight sets. Jamie Drummer had 14 kills and Alyssa Sorrell had 10 kills to lead the way offensively after starter Marquita Marshall had to leave the title game early due to injury. The Bearcats moved up to No. 17 in this week's FAB 50 with the Chargers dropping just a few spots from No. 23 down to No. 34.
 
This week's major state finals also will be in the Midwest.
 
On Saturday at Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio, it could be a matchup of unbeatens in the Ohio Division I championship between FAB 50 No. 6 Ursuline Academy and FAB 50 No. 9 Dublin Coffman. Both of those teams need to win in semifinal matches on Thursday, however, to set up their showdown.
 
The Illinois state finals also are on Saturday at Redbird Arena in Normal. In Class 3A, FAB 50 No. 5 Joliet Catholic is favored and is going for its second straight state title. In Class 4A, FAB 50 No. 25 Lyons is the favorite but has not won a state crown since 1989.(Read full post)

Compilers: Andrew Drennen, Kirstin Olsen, Mark Tennis
Contributing: Paul Muyskens
 
As the top-ranked Archbishop Mitty Monarchs of San Jose (Calif.) were winning their third major invitational of the season, state playoffs were concluding elsewhere around the nation and there were some major developments involving ESPN RISE Girls Volleyball FAB 50-nationally ranked teams.
 
* In Kentucky, Mercy (Louisville, Ky.) was the surprise winner and moved up to No. 17 in this week's rankings. Assumption (Louisville, Ky.), which has been as high as No. 4 in the FAB 50, did not make the finals and had to drop from No. 20 to No. 36 in this week's rankings.
 
Despite losing seven seniors from last year's team, the Jaguars (32-6) won a come from behind title match over Sacred Heart (Louisville) to capture their sixth state championship, but this time in back-to-back fashion. The win also marked the second straight year the two teams met in the finals in a battle of brothers as coach Todd Garvey picked up his second championship win over brother Eric Garvey, who coaches at Sacred Heart. Libero Caitlin Welch recorded 15 digs in the championship match for Mercy and was named tournament MVP. Amanda Crask added 28 assists and Madison Welsh had 12 kills.
 
* In Hawaii, season-long leader Punahou (Honolulu, Hawaii) couldn't get it done in its state final as the Buffanblu dropped a five-set match to Kamehameha. That result lifted the winners from unranked up to No. 46 in this week's FAB 50. Punahou had to fall in right behind.
 
Kamehameha captured the Division I state championship for the fifth straight year. The Warriors twice lost to the Buffanblu during the regular season but they made sure they won when it mattered the most as they rallied from a 2-1 set deficit and also trailed in the fourth set by a 14-8 score before rallying. Sophomore setter Kelci Renshaw recorded 52 assists while Chelsey Keoho led the defense with 38 digs. Taylor Akana was named the tournament's most outstanding player after recording 19 kills and 21 digs in the season finale.
 
* In Kansas, St. James (Lenexa) hoisted the Class 4A state title trophy and likely wrapped up no worse than a top 30 final ranking for the season. In the Class 5A final, previous No. 43 St. Thomas Aquinas (Overland Park) fell to No. 44 Bishop Miege (Shawnee Mission). This caused St. Thomas Aquinas to drop out of this week's rankings with Bishop Miege going up to No. 41.
 
The Stags continue to show their dominance in Kansas as they won their second straight state final. Facing their rivals in the finals for the second year in a row, Bishop Miege also was looking to avenge an October loss to the Saints and wasted no time in winning the first set 25-11 before a back and forth second set. St. James also repeated in winning its Class 4A state title. After losing the first game, coach Nancy Dorsey's squad won twice to pull past Hayden of Topeka.
 
This week's most significant state finals will take place in Indiana. Muncie Burris, which is on a current 87-match winning streak, is heavily favored to win the Class 2A crown since the Owls won't have to play any of the other FAB 50-ranked teams from the state. All of those other teams are in different divisions.
 
Once Muncie Burris is done and likely will be done with a perfect record, the waiting game will begin. Obviously, with its strength of schedule, Archbishop Mitty will finish No. 1 in the nation if it wins in the CIF state championships. But if the Monarchs slip up, Muncie Burris appears to be the next strongest choice.
 
We would like to offer our thoughts and prayers to the girls and coaches at Wilson (Long Beach, Calif.). The Bruins had to play at the Santa Barbara Tournament of Champions last weekend in Santa Barbara one night after a classmate, track and field athlete Melody Ross, was killed in a drive-by shooting just outside the Wilson football stadium following a football game between the Bruins and Long Beach Poly.(Read full post)

UPDATED ESPN RISE FAB 50 

GIRLS VOLLEYBALL RANKINGS

Compilers: Andrew Drennen, Kirstin Olsen, Mark Tennis

Other than previous No. 7 Assumption (Louisville, Ky.) suffering a second loss of the season to city rival Sacred Heart, there was little movement in this week's ESPN RISE Girls Volleyball FAB 50 national rankings.

That could change next week as arguably the biggest tournament in California outside of the CIF state playoffs is going to take place in scenic Santa Barbara. The Santa Barbara Tournament of Champions will include three of the top six teams in the FAB 50, including No. 1 and unbeaten Archbishop Mitty (San Jose, Calif.).

The Monarchs could meet local favorite and No. 6-ranked Dos Pueblos (Goleta, Calif.) in that event, but also in the field is No. 5 Newport Harbor (Newport Beach, Calif.) plus No. 25 La Costa Canyon, (Carlsbad, Calif.), No. 26 Wilson (Long Beach, Calif.) and No. 33 Santa Barbara (Calif.).

If Mitty were to lose, standing poised and ready to move up is Muncie Burris. The Owls are just four wins away from winning their 13^th straight Class 2A state title. The state finals in Indiana will be held on Saturday, Nov. 7.

Muncie Burris would not meet any of the other Indiana teams in this week's FAB 50 in those playoffs as they are in other divisions.  No. 11 Yorktown is favored in Class 3A while it likely will boil down to No. 21 Muncie Central vs. No. 24 Elkhart Memorial for the Class 4A crown.

(After results of Saturday, Oct. 24; Previous ranking in parentheses)(Read full post)

Compilers: Andrew Drennen, Kirstin Olsen, Mark Tennis
 
Defending Kentucky state champion Mercy of Louisville showed last week that it plans on continuing to hold its title without giving it up easily by beating city rival Assumption.
 
Even though Assumption was No. 4 in last week's ESPN RISE FAB 50 and was holding Senior Night, Mercy spoiled the proceedings by winning a tight match in five games. The Jaguars won the first game, 25-22, then lost the next two (15-25, 18-25) but roared back to take the match with wins of 25-20 and 15-7 in the next two games.
 
Following that victory, Mercy continued to surge with a triumph over nationally-ranked Sacred Heart Academy of Louisville and then topped perennial power Mt. Notre Dame (Cincinnati, Ohio).
 
All those wins propelled head coach Todd Garvey's team from unranked up to No. 32 in this week's FAB 50. The only other new teams in this week's rankings are Martin County of Stuart, Fla., and Westwood of Round Rock, Texas.
 
According to the Louisville Courier-Journal, Mercy's win over Assumption was paced by senior Caitlin Welch with 29 digs. Leading the way in kills were Jewell Dobson, Ally Wilbourn and Thea Mattingly. All three of those players ended with nine kills each.
 
Assumption, which defeated Mercy earlier this season, still has an overall resume of success this season that keeps the team in the top 10 of this week's rankings.

(Read full post)

NEW ESPN RISE FAB 50
GIRLS VOLLEYBALL RANKINGS

By ESPN RISE Volleyball Staff

Previous No. 2 Joliet Catholic fell from the ranks of the unbeaten after falling in the title match of the Asics tournament to Assumption of Louisville. The championship lasted three games with the final game going 26-24 after numerous ties.
 
Since Assumption has a head-to-head loss to Muncie Burris, it was therefore easy to move up the unbeaten Owls into the No. 2 slot in this week's FAB 50 behind season-long leader Archbishop Mitty from Northern California.
 
Among the teams making major moves upward this week are Dos Pueblos of Goleta, Calif., and Plant of Tampa, Fla.
 
Dos Pueblos has lost only to Archbishop Mitty and last week captured a critical Channel League victory over nationally-ranked Santa Barbara. The Chargers also own a head-to-head triumph over nationally-ranked Florida powerhouse Berkley Prep.
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Special to ESPN RISE Volleyball

Following this year's volleyball season, Wesleyan senior Anne Marie Armstrong spent a rare day off studying at a local Barnes & Noble. Sure, that isn't exactly ideal R&R, but she'll take any free moment she can get.  Such is life for Armstrong, who excels in basketball, volleyball and track.

(Read full post)

Posted by Scott Lieber.

Typically, the A5 Mizuno Volleyball in Atlanta club forbids prospective athletes from arriving late to tryouts. But when Erica Miller saw Atlanta's crown jewel walk on the hardwood, she just had to make an exception.

	Jason Braverman
	Monique Mead was rated among the Top 50 players in the Class of 2009 by PrepVolleyball.com.

(Read full post)

Posted by Scott Lieber.

Tiffany Jacobson thought she had slept funny, because when she woke up one morning last winter the entire left side of her body felt tingly and numb. Strange, she thought. But she carried on as normally as possible that chilly February morning. Then, when she got in the car to drive herself to school, her left hand couldn't feel the cold of the steering wheel.

	ESPN RISE
	Tiffany Jacobson led Reservoir to a class 3A Maryland Volleyball title.

The numbness persisted, and a few days later Jacobson lost hearing in her left ear. Not long after that, she woke up and couldn't walk straight.

(Read full post)

Posted by ESPN RISE's Mike Grimala.

As the star player for one of the country's top-ranked teams, Archbishop Mitty (San Jose, Calif.) junior Rachel Williams has a lot on her shoulders. The Monarchs are currently ranked No. 3 in the ESPN RISE FAB 50, and the 5-foot-10 outside hitter has a lot to do with it.

	Leonard Xu
	Rachel Williams leads Archbishop Mitty.

After racking up 280 blocks last year, Williams was named to the All-State Tournament Team and earned San Jose Mercury News Sophomore of the Year honors. The Monarchs have made it to the state finals the past five years, but they've fallen to Mira Costa in each of the last two seasons.