That is “Dots,” VolleyballMag.com’s weekly have a look at 10 issues in highschool volleyball, previous or current, that curiosity me and hopefully will curiosity you. Search for Dots each week till the final highschool state championship in November:
• It’s lastly right here! The 64-team Durango Fall Traditional convenes in Las Vegas beginning Friday afternoon. Yearly, “Durango” assembles the best subject of any highschool event within the nation and this yr is not any totally different.
At the least 9 groups within the subject are ranked among the many prime 20 nationally on numerous lists. They embody nationwide No. 1 Mira Costa, the highest general seed; No. 2 Cornerstone Christian, which is seeded second; Mater Dei, the third seed; Cathedral Catholic, the 4-seed; Prestonwood Christian, the fifth seed; sixth-seeded Assumption; Archbishop Mitty, the seventh seed; eighth-seeded Huntington Seaside and Sierra Canyon, the tenth seed. That is actually an elite subject.
• As soon as once more this yr, I took on the problem of seeding Durango. And it was a problem, not solely as a result of I wanted to evaluate the relative strengths of each crew within the subject, but additionally as a result of on the DFC we all the time try to create “steadiness.” What I imply by that’s we attempt to preserve frequent opponents away from one another within the Day 1 swimming pools and qualifying rounds, all of the day right down to the sixty fourth crew; and we attempt to create fascinating and distinctive matchups within the eight-team Championship Bracket, ought to seeds maintain.
Which means you gained’t discover true seed order on any of the seed strains. Groups are routinely moved just a few spots up or right down to create this steadiness.
For example, Cathedral Catholic ought to in all probability be the No. 3 general seed over Mater Dei, due to a more moderen win. However Mater Dei has already performed fifth-seeded Prestonwood (finals at Volleypalooza). By shifting Mater Dei to No. 3 general, the Monarchs now will match up towards Assumption within the quarterfinals (if seeds maintain) and Cathedral will tackle Prestonwood, each distinctive match ups this yr.
• The previous two seasons, not solely has the No. 1 general seed gained Durango, the DFC champion has turned in an undefeated season that netted Marymount (2021) and Cathedral Catholic (2022) each state and consensus nationwide championships.
That exact situation can’t repeat once more this yr, as a result of the highest six seeds have all misplaced at the least as soon as. However there are undefeated groups within the subject that might run the desk right here at Durango after which again dwelling of their respective states. These groups are Archbishop Mitty, the seventh general seed; and the 14-seed, Xavier Faculty Prep.
Mitty, coached by former Santa Clara head coach Jon Wallace, is 14-0 to begin 2023, with wins over the likes of Saint Francis of Mountain View, the CIF State Open Division runner up in 2022; Branson, the CIF State defending Division I champion; and NorCal powers San Ramon Valley, Valley Christian, Saint Ignatius and Sacred Coronary heart Prep. The crew is led by Maya Baker, one of many prime junior setters within the nation (averaging 11 assists per sport); OH Makenna Crosson, one of many nation’s prime sophomore attackers; and senior OH Katelyn Prepare dinner. Each Crosson and Prepare dinner common greater than 4 kills per set.
XCP has began 7-0 this fall and is extra of an unknown. After years as THE greatest crew in Arizona bar none, the Gators have skilled lean years (for them) the previous two seasons. An early sweep of 2022 6A state champion Corona del Sol means that coach Lamar-Renee Bryant might have a state contender this fall. XCP has a robust junior libero in Olivia Lenz, who’s averaging 5 digs per set; and its balanced assault is much less by 6-0 freshman OH Tessa Larkin.
• Wanting on the Durango swimming pools, which of the 16 1-seeds are susceptible to being upset and why?
The primary is Mitty, which is in a pool with Lengthy Seaside Wilson, Louisville Mercy Academy and Brooklyn Poly Prep. Wilson is a gifted, state-ranked crew that simply obtained its Mater Dei switch, 6-3 OH Babi Gubbins, a Stanford seaside volleyball commit, eligible after a compulsory sit out interval. The Bruins are 10-3 and examined and will give Mitty bother, as might Mercy, which is younger this yr after graduating nearly everybody, however is used to profitable at a excessive stage as considered one of Kentucky’s “Large 4” powers yr in and yr out. Poly Prep is a big unknown after graduating its greatest participant (now on the College of Miami), however the Blue Devils have a high-level head coach in Ben Diaz, a former prime membership coach at SG Elite in Southern California.
In Pool 11, Saint Francis is the highest seed and at the moment sits 9-1, with its lone losses, over the previous two years, to Cathedral Catholic within the Open Division championship match final November; and to Mitty in 4 units on the finish of August. The Lancers are very gifted, particularly on the skin and within the again row, however have a younger, however white sizzling Lengthy Seaside Poly of their pool. The Jackrabbits have gained 11 matches in a row and simply younger and athletic sufficient to tug off an upset.
In Pool 12, top-seeded Redondo Union seems to be susceptible after dropping yesterday to Palos Verdes in 5. The Sea Hawks are a great, deep crew however lack superstars and will fall sufferer to Kamehameha Hawaii, which is 9-1 and owns a win over Otay Ranch, a state-ranked California crew.
Xavier Faculty Prep, topping pool 14, will certainly be examined in its pool by all three opponents. The most important risk is athletic Bishop Gorman, which is nearly actually the very best crew in Nevada; however Harvard-Westlake and surging Bakersfield Christian additionally might pose issues.
In Pool 15, Branson is 9-3 with some good wins on its schedule, however the Bulls haven’t been in a position to defeat elite groups like Mitty, Saint Francis and Foothill of Pleasanton. One other such take a look at awaits in 14-1 Nook Canyon of Utah, which boasts 6-2 OH Elina Mortensen, a BYU recruit.
Lastly, in Pool 16, Kamehameha of Honolulu involves Durango 13-1 on the yr, which features a current win over defending Div. I champion Iolani; however the Warriors should deal with 15-1 Alemany, which simply outlasted Marymount in 5 on Monday, a surprising end result since Alemany was regarded as down considerably after celebrity hitter London Wijay graduated early to attend USC, the place she is averaging 2.5 kills and 1.6 digs per set.
• Who can win? Clearly Mira Costa (16-1), which suffered its solely loss AND defeated Cornerstone Christian (23-1) and Sierra Canyon on the Ann Kang Invitational in Hawaii in early August taking part in with out All-American setter Charlie Fuerbringer. Fuerbringer was setting the US Girls’s U19 Nationwide Staff to Gold within the World Championships.
Cornerstone, which gained the Nike ToC Southeast and has celebrity pins Megan Fitch and Grace Carroll; additionally might win, as might Mater Dei, with its standout setter Julia Kakkis and robust outsides; Cathedral Catholic, with gifted setter Amanda Saeger, bulldog libero Maya Evens and unstoppable center Jenna Hanes; and Prestonwood, which has taken some curious losses, however has a roster described as the very best ever within the historical past of talent-rich Dallas.
Certainly, any of the highest 11 groups might put collectively a run to the title. Assumption just lately gained the LIVT and, extra just lately, avenged its solely loss on the yr. Huntington Seaside is senior laden and is 11-1 over the previous month, dropping solely to Cathedral Catholic. Torrey Pines, the tenth seed, is a little bit of an unknown after graduating so many influence gamers final yr. However the Falcons boast gifted outsides Finn Krystkowiak and Layla Williams and have an distinctive freshman setter, Emery Gonzales, directing the offense.
That brings us to Sierra Canyon, the tenth general seed. The Trailblazers are 16-3 heading into at the moment’s showdown versus Alemany and haven’t misplaced on the Mainland after struggling defeats to Costa, Cornerstone and Huntington Seaside on the Ann Kang. Stefanie Wigfall’s crew is also lastly at full energy, with OH Danica Rach recovered from shoulder surgical procedure and switch pins Taylor Treahy and Halie McGinest now eligible. Put these three along with libero Lauren Lynch, setter Sade Ilawole, center Madeline Manner and freshman OH Hanna McGinest and Sierra Canyon’s roster can match up bodily with anybody. This might be the sleeper crew of the event if the gamers can mesh rapidly…
• Durango predictions: Will win all of it? Prestonwood. The Lions have taken a few head-scratching losses this yr however you’ll be able to wager that their championship-level coach Ryan Mitchell shall be reminding his immensely gifted crew about taking part in exhausting and disciplined in each match from right here on out.
Who will beat their seed? Vista Murrieta, La Canada, The Hockaday College, Lakewood, Torrance and Centennial of Las Vegas, a 4-seed that simply knocked off a 2-seed, defending Nevada 45 champion Coronado, in 5.
• Benet gained its tenth Wheaton Traditional title on Saturday knocking rival Marist from the unbeaten ranks within the championship match. Lynney Tarnow, a 6-5 sophomore center, had 9 kills to guide the victorious Redwings, who are actually 15-1 on the season. Libero Aniya Warren was named tourney MVP.
IC Catholic (14-2) completed third within the loaded occasion. After dropping to York to open the season, the Knights had gained 13 matches in a row earlier than falling to Marist within the event semis.
The event additionally made headlines on Wednesday throughout pool play when Invoice Schreier, longtime head coach at Wheaton Warrenville South, gained profession match No. 500.
• Redwood, of Larkspur, California, gained the inaugural Bishop O’Dowd Invitational on Saturday. The Giants defeated Amador Valley within the semifinals and Mercy of Burlingame within the championship match.
This championship for Redwood may not ordinarily have made Dots however for the best way the Giants gained.
On the day of the occasion, the crew’s prime hitter, Jaden Hendrickson, awoke with a 102 fever and didn’t journey with the crew. She confirmed up simply earlier than Redwood’s final pool play match, saying her fever had damaged, and talked her approach onto the court docket. Hendrickson had 38 kills over the following three matches, hitting .400.
Main libero Ella Moran, described by coach Loren Anderson because the “glue of the crew,” suffered a nasty ankle sprain in Sport 2 of the semifinal versus Amador Valley. She subbed out, “walked it off” and was again on the court docket for Sport 3 and ended up being a pivotal a part of the three-set win, in addition to the finals sweep.
• Final yr, Tippecanoe gained its convention and compiled a 23-2 document. The Crimson Devils, nevertheless, had been senior heavy, with seven within the nine-player rotation. Coach Howard Garcia felt sure that his crew, from Tipp Metropolis, Ohio, can be rebuilding in 2023, however the crew has began the season 15-0 with a roster that features two freshman, three sophomores and solely three with any varsity expertise previous to this season.
“Many say we’re younger, however in our program that’s simply an age factor, not a psychological and bodily trait,” the coach stated.
Tippecanoe is prospering as a result of freshman libero Religion Siefring has taken full management in serve obtain, freshman center Lexi Lugenbuhl and sophomore center Courtney Publish are producing a variety of warmth and outsides Savannah Clawson (Soph.) and Emily Aselage (Jr.) are excelling as terminators and again row gamers.
“You could ask why are we stunning many?” Garcia stated. “No secret sauce, simply the willingness to play for one another, work exhausting at each second, accepting the challenges the teaching workers and matches throw at them and the power to study on easy methods to reset after each play whereas having fun with the journey.”
• Bonneville of Idaho is 21-1 up to now in 2023. The Bees misplaced their first match of the yr however have dropped simply three units since. On Saturday, Chantal McMurtrey’s crew gained the 31st Annual Bonneville Traditional. Kaylie Kofe, a Utah State recruit; had 10 aces in a two-set match within the event and completed the week with 204 assists, 45 digs, 45 kills, 25 aces and 12 blocks.
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Westborough (MA) performed perennial powerhouse Barnstable on Sept. 14, profitable a five-set thriller behind a career-high 39 kills from reigning Gatorade POY Quinn Anderson. Anderson additionally had 14 digs, seven aces, two blocks and hit .449. The Rangers are 4-0 to begin the season.
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Plainfield North (IL) setter Ella Strausberger, a Northern Illinois recruit, has gone over 2,000 profession assists.
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Jordan Czajkowski, a junior setter at 21-0 Divine Savior Holy Angels of Milwaukee, eclipsed 1,000 profession assists on Sept. 15. She has dedicated to Belmont. DHSA is ranked No. 1 in Division 1 in Wisconsin.
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A faculty bus carrying members and coaches of the Hatton-Northwood volleyball crew was concerned in a lethal crash south of Petersburg, North Dakota on Thursday. The accident claimed the lifetime of a 68-year-old man in a pickup truck. A crew coach was amongst these injured on the bus. A number of gamers additionally had been damage, none severely in accordance with reviews.
Our ideas are with all of them.
Till subsequent time …