September 25, 2023

With the Durango Fall Classic results in, we were assured of a rankings shake up this week. The only question was how much? We now have our answer and with it a new national No. 1 in Mater Dei CA, which topped previous No. 1 Mira Costa CA in the championship match Saturday in Las Vegas. You can read all about how it played out on Day 2 at Durango here. There were other ramifications as well, with Cathedral Catholic CA topping Prestonwood Christian TX and climbing up to No. 4. With Sierra Canyon CA and Prestonwood both defeating previous one-loss Cornerstone Christian TX, the Warriors dropped from No. 2 to No. 6. With it, Sierra Canyon jumped from No. 23 to No. 9. Besides the shake up, another storyline from the Top 50 is the number of schools still undefeated on the season. The list includes Hamilton Southeastern IN, Divine Savior Holy Angels WI, Blue Valley North KS, Wayzata MN, Seton OH, Angola IN, Skyridge UT, Lake Catholic OH, Valor Christian CO and Lewis Palmer CO. All are in this week’s Top 50. You can view the complete rankings below. vballrecruiter.com’S TOP 50 NATIONAL HS RANKINGS 1. Mater Dei CA (6 – previous ranking) 2. Mira Costa CA (1) 3. Papillion-La Vista South NE (3) 4. Cathedral Catholic CA (9) 5. Prestonwood Christian TX (7) 6. Cornerstone Christian TX (2) 7. Grand Oaks TX (8) 8. Assumption KY (5) 9. Sierra Canyon CA (23) 10. Hamilton Southeastern IN (11) *** 11. Divine Savior Holy Angels WI (12) 12. Notre Dame Academy KY (10) 13. Blue Valley North KS (13) 14. Wayzata MN (14) 15. Seton OH (15) 16. Angola IN (19) 17. Boyd TX (n/r) 18. Benet Academy IL (26) 19. Xavier Prep AZ (25) 20. Archbishop Mitty CA (4) *** 21. St. Francis/Mountain View CA (22) 22. Marist IL (30) 23. Skyridge UT (31) 24. Dripping Springs TX (18) 25. Carrollwood Day FL (17) 26. Mother McAuley IL (21) 27. Branson CA (n/r) 28. Maize South KS (n/r) 29. Oconomowoc WI (24) 30. Viera FL (27) *** 31. Bellmont IN (29) 32. Punahou HI (42) 33. Calvary Christian FL (32) 34. Lake Catholic OH (33) 35. Winter Park FL (35) 36. O’Connor AZ (37) 37. Huntington Beach CA (43) 38. Lone Peak UT (40) 39. Berkeley Prep FL (41) 40. Bishop Alemany CA (n/r) *** 41. Mercy McAuley OH (n/r) 42. Torrey Pines CA (16) 43. Valor Christian CO (44) 44. Sacred Heart Academy KY (28) 45. St. James Academy KS (38) 46. St. Thomas Aquinas KS (20) 47. Lafayette MO (36) 48. Los Alamitos CA (47) 49. Northville MI (n/r) 50. Lewis Palmer CO (n/r) ON THE CUSPBingham UTRedondo Union CACorona del Sol AZMillennium AZPace Academy GAMarymount CABishop Gorman NVKamehameha HINotre Dame Prep AZDorman SCNorth Myrtle Beach SCNixa MOPope GAAlpharetta GABob Jones ALHudsonville MIByron Nelson TXSt. Ursula Academy OHMount Notre Dame OHLiberty North MOCorner Canyon UTPleasant Grove UTFlint Hill VAPlant FLHagerty FLVenice FLWestminster Christian FLColleyville Heritage TXCypress Ranch TXHarlan TXRoncalli INYorktown INWashburn Rural KSProsper TXGlenbard West ILBrighton ILQueen Creek AZJenks OKMount St. Mary OKMiddle Creek NCLake Highland Prep FL

It was an unbelievable two days in the desert, with the Durango Fall Classic taking center stage of the high school volleyball scene in Las Vegas. It ended with Mater Dei CA winning the tournament title for the first time since 2001 and avenging a previous loss to Mira Costa CA in the championship match. While we highlighted the standouts from Day 2 with our Show Stoppers, we conclude our coverage by naming the players selected to our All Red Hat Team. This is different from the All-Tournament awarded by tournament officials. It features our favorite players from the championship qualifying rounds, as well as the gold and silver brackets. ALL RED HAT TEAM OUTSIDESIsabel Clark SR Mater Dei CAAudrey Flanagan SO Mira Costa CASimone Roslon SO Mira Coast CADanica Rach SR Sierra Canyon CAChloe Smith SR Assumption KYHalie McGinest SR Sierra Canyon CACharlotte Moriarty SR Assumption KYTessa Larkin FR Xavier Prep AZCari Spears JR Prestonwood Christian TXMikala Young SR Prestonwood Christian TXAva Burgess FR Lone Peak UTMegan Fitch JR Cornerstone Christian TXAddison Williams SO Huntington Beach CAElena Fisher JR Branson CASadie Snipes JR Branson CATaylor Williams SR St. Francis/Mountain View CAMakenna Crosson SO Archbishop Mitty CALayli Ostovar SO Mater Dei CAFinley Krystkowiak SO Torrey Pines CA MIDDLESRachel Moglia SR Mira Costa CABryn Shankle SR Mira Costa CAMadeline Way SR Sierra Canyon CABailey Blair JR Assumption KYJenna Hanes SR Cathedral Catholic CAZoey Burgess SR Lone Peak UTHavyn Rolle SR Bishop Alemany CAElla Zimmerman SR Redondo Union CAEmma Kingston FR Mater Dei CANyla Livings FR Prestonwood Christian TX RIGHT SIDESNora Williams SR Mira CostaTiana Owens SR Cathedral Catholic CAJadyn Livings SR Prestonwood Christian TXGrace Carroll SR Cornerstone Christian TXAlanah Clemente JR Bishop Alemany CACymarah Gordon SR Mater Dei CAKiara Edwards SR Torrey Pines CATaylor Clarke JR Prestonwood Christian TX SETTERSCharlie Fuerbringer SR Mira Costa CASade Ilawole SR S Sierra Canyon CAVivian Hickman SO Xavier Prep AZSam Pope JR Lone Peak UTAbby Zimmerman SO Redondo Union CAKaia Thiele JR Cornerstone Christian TXLogan Tusher SR Branson CAHannah Maguire SR St. Francis/Mountain View CAMaya Baker JR Archbishop Mitty CAJulia Kakkis SR Mater Dei CAAmanda Saeger SR Cathedral Catholic CAKale’a Lee FR Cathedral Catholic CACamille Edwards SR Prestonwood Christian TXTaylor Cook JR Prestonwood Christian TX LIBEROSTaylor Deckert JR Mira Costa CALauren Lynch JR Sierra Canyon CAKristen Simon JR Assumption KYMaya Evens JR Cathedral Catholic CAGillian Pitts JR Prestonwood Christian TXOlivia Foye JR Huntington Beach CALauren Dignan JR Branson CAWhitney Wallace SR St. Francis/Mountain View CAMalyssa Cawa SR Mater Dei CA

The Durango Fall Classic never disappoints and 2023 was definitely not going to be an exception. With Mater Dei CA topping Mira Costa CA for the championship combined with other results, it will no doubt shake up the national rankings. Beyond that, the individual play was mind-blowing, as the field featured top players from around the country showcasing their skills. Below, we highlight the standouts with our Day 2 Show Stoppers. DAY 2 SHOW STOPPERS Charlie Fuerbringer SR S Mira Costa CA: A 5-star Wisconsin commit, Fuerbringer is a dynamic player who brings so much to the lineup. She’s a high IQ setter with accurate location and the ability to turn off balls into hittable sets. She typically runs a 5-1 but with her hitting ability Costa can switch to a 6-2 at times for more offense. Taylor Deckert JR L Mira Costa CA: With Fuerbringer setting and Deckert taking the first ball, you can argue no team in the country has a better 1-2 touch than Costa. The 5-star USC commit is silky smooth and plays with tons of composure. Audrey Flanagan SO Mira Costa CA: Flanagan is yet another 5-star recruit in the Mustangs lineup. She’s a handful to try and slow down on the attack. She’s a lanky outside with a whip for an arm and the way she can extend and let loose makes her a difficult cover. Rachel Moglia SR MB Mira Costa CA: Moglia is a bit undersized in the middle but she knows how to score. She does well finding gaps and open spaces on the floor and she’s fearless on top of that. Nora Williams SR RS Mira Costa: Williams brings her strong blocking and solid arm to the front row. She comes up with timely kills and blocks to help contribute. Danica Rach SR OH Sierra Canyon CA: Rach – a 3-star Boston College commit – helps make up a solid 1-2 attack on the outside. She has a lively arm and is a threat front and back row, so teams always need to be aware of her. Halie McGinest SR OH Sierra Canyon CA: A 3-star recruit, McGinest is the other half of the outside duo the Trailblazers rely on. She has a strong arm and she too can swing from both the front and back row, so they pair puts a lot of pressure on defenses. Lauren Lynch JR L Sierra Canyon CA: Lynch – a 4-star San Diego commit – was another libero who was playing great and standing out on defense. She too plays under control and is a sharp passer and defender, as she doesn’t ever blink or get rattled. Madeline Way SR MB Sierra Canyon CA: Way – a 3-star Hawaii commit – was great in the middle. She was an offensive weapon who defenses needed to matchup with. She has a strong arm and can unload on balls on the regular. Kristen Simon JR L Assumption KY: Simon – a 5-star Wisconsin commit – was part of an outstanding libero group competing on Day 2 at Durango. She has great command of the back row and it’s difficult to get a ball down on her or past her. *** Chloe Smith SR OH Assumption KY: Smith – a 3-star Wofford commit – is part of a versatile offense that can attack from all over. She’s another who is able to extend and hit from high angles and she delivers with plenty of pace. Bailey Blair JR MB Assumption KY: A 3-star recruit, Blair brings power to the attack. She can crush balls out of the middle. She also runs an effective slide and can boom balls out there as well. Charlotte Moriarty SR OH Assumption KY: Moriarty – a 3-star Xavier commit – hits hard and passes well out of serve receive. She’s one of the glue pieces in the lineup as she brings leadership and stability. Tessa Larkin FR OH Xavier Prep AZ: Larkin – a 4-star recruit – was among a few freshmen standouts who were doing their thing. She’s a wirey hitter with a loose arm who can let it fly from corner to corner. Vivian Hickman SO S/OH Xavier Prep AZ: A 3-star recruit, Hickman is valuable because of her versatility. She’s a smooth disher who is capable of running a 5-1 but her arm is needed in the attack so hits too. Maya Evens JR L Cathedral Catholic CA: Evens – a 4-star Maryland commit – is rarely off her game and has the ability to take it to a different level as she did Saturday. She was lights-out and making amazing digs all over the court. Jenna Hanes SR MB Cathedral Catholic CA: Hanes is a featured part of the attack and changes the look of the offense when she’s front row. The 4-star Michigan commit is a scoring machine who can torch defenses even when everyone knows she’s getting the ball. Tiana Owens SR RS Cathedral Catholic CA: Owens’ ability to score on the right side is huge. She helps balance out the attack and provides valuable offense. Cari Spears JR OH Prestonwood Christian TX: A 5-star recruit, you won’t find anyone who hits harder than Spears. She has a heavy arm and can blast balls from sideline to sideline whether she’s front or back row. Jadyn Livings SR RS Prestonwood Christian TX: Livings – a 5-star USC commit – can deliver on both sides of the ball. She puts up a strong block and can fire up her team with big stuffs. She also has a powerful arm and can rip winners. *** Gillian Pitts JR L Prestonwood Christian TX: A 5-star Houston commit, Pitts is an athletic libero who moves well and passes dimes. She brings a ton of energy to the defensive side as well. Sam Pope JR S/RS Lone Peak UT: Pope is part of the reason Lone Peak put up a 10th-place finish in such a competitive field. Her ability to