September 13, 2023

Last week we brought you our first Top 50 HS Team Spotlights featuring teams off to strong starts and highlighting their success. With our second regular-season Top 50 National HS Rankings dropping earlier this week on Monday, we offer another edition. In line with last week’s spotlights, we once more highlight teams off to tremendous starts. In fact, the seven teams spotlighted below entered the week with a combined record of 84-3! *** ARCHBISHOP MITTY CA – The Monarchs are off to a strong start, beginning the week 9-0 and with a handful of matches before traveling to the Durango Fall Classic in Las Vegas in two weekends. It’s possible Archbishop Mitty could arrive at the 64-team tournament still unbeaten. One big bright spot so far this season has been the play of standout sophomore OH/RS McKenna Crosson, a 4-star recruit. The Monarchs have had a ton of contributors on offense, including seniors Katelyn Cook and Amiya Kuchibhotla and juniors Isabella Romero and Jasmine Shum. Directing the attack is 4-star Notre Dame commit and junior setter Maya Baker. Among Mitty’s impressive victories to date features beating St. Francis/Mountain View, last season’s California Open Division state runner up. DIVINE SAVIOR HOLY ANGELS WI – The defending Wisconsin Division 1 state champion is off to a flying start. The DHSA opened the week 13-0, including beating state runner-up Oconomowoc in tournament play. DHSA moved up a couple of spots from No. 14 to No. 12 in this week’s update. Featured on the talented roster is 5-star Wisconsin commit and junior outside Madison Quest and 4-star Michigan State commit and junior libero Olivia Durst. Other players who have shined brightly is senior outside Sophia Wendlick and junior setter Jordan Czajkowski (Belmont). A major upcoming test is the Asics Challenge hosted by Mother McAuley IL at the end of the month. LAFAYETTE MO – The Lancers captured last year’s Missouri Class 5A state championship and are another school that is off to a hot start. The Lancers have opened the year 10-0, including beating St. James Academy KS in tournament play over the weekend. With the majority of the lineup back from a season ago, Lafayette’s start is not unexpected. Still powering the attack are 4-star Vanderbilt commit and junior outside Maya Witherspoon and 3-star Northern Kentucky commit and senior outside Allison Risley. A new addition in 5-star freshman pin Shaye Witherspoon has also been instrumental. With 3-star Villanova commit and senior setter Alyssa Nelson guiding the offense, the Lancers are in great hands. Defensively, senior Amelia Moser has been holding it down at libero. Lafayette was one of the big movers in this week’s Top 50, climbing 17 places to No. 16. SETON OH – The Saints have been one of the early-season surprises. They have jumped out to a 10-0 mark. Among the key victories have been handing St. Ursula Academy its first loss as well as defeating Ursuline Academy earlier this week. After its big victory over St. Ursula, the Saints debuted in this week’s Top 50 at No. 17. Seton faces Mercy McAuley in another test later this week. Seniors Alli Kirch and Madison Lambers are leading the team in kills so far. Junior Millie Cluxton and sophomore Callie Combs have also contributed to the attack. Senior Taylor Grubbs and junior Reagan Miller have split the setting duties while 3-star UCLA commit and junior Sakura Codling has suited up and led the team defensively at libero. CARROLLWOOD DAY FL – As for early-season surprise, the Patriots are arguably leading the way in that category. They sit at 13-1 overall as of this writing, finishing runner up to Cornerstone Christian TX at the Nike TOC Southeast tournament and recently winning the FL Gem HS tournament this past weekend. The Patriots avoided a letdown in beating Berkeley Prep in four sets earlier this week and have shown they are the top team in the state of Florida so far. The lineup has been elevated by the presence of freshman right side Lydia Chinchar, a 4-star recruit who played up on No Name 16 this past club season. Two more key offensive pieces have been junior middle Sarah Dibbs-Frantz and sophomore outside Elena Dibbs-Frantz. Senior setter Naomi Chinchar has done well quarterbacking the offense and can even step in and hit on the outside in a pinch. Recent Purdue commit, Mattea Casale, a 3-star recruit, has been solid at libero and adds a strong defensive presence. Based on other results and teams moving up in the rankings, the Patriots actually moved down three positions to No. 19 but remain in the Top 20. BLUE VALLEY NORTH KS – The Mustangs are another school making its Top 50 debut this week. They check in at No. 21 based on their 11-0 start. They play Wednesday evening against Blue Valley Southwest. Blue Valley North has a couple of big matches on the horizon, facing both St. Thomas Aquinas and St. James Academy next week. At the helm is 4-star Cincinnati commit and senior setter Janelle Green. She’s also third on the team in kills. Another making key contributions is 5-star recruit and junior S/RS Logan Parks, who is second in assists and leds the squad in kills. Juniors Jenna McClure, Natalie Harrington and Aubrey Shaw, as well as freshman Reese Maslowski have been part of the attack too. Senior Felicia Wu leads the team in digs. LOS ALAMITOS CA – The Griffins tied with Sierra Canyon for third place at the Ann Kang Invitational last month in Hawaii, including handing Punahou HI its only loss of the season to date. Los Al entered the week 18-2 and lands at No. 41 in the Top 50. Senior setter/OH Kaia Herweg – a 3-star Grand Canyon commit – and 3-star junior outside Ashley Repetti have provided a lift and played a big role in Los Al’s success so far.