October 12, 2023

Since the beginning of September we’ve been releasing our weekly Top 50 National HS Rankings. It’s tough to crack the Top 50 without playing in at least one major tournament. However, that doesn’t mean there are not schools having spectacular seasons nonetheless. Below, we check in on seven programs making big splashes so far this fall. Mount St. Mary OK: The Rockets have been a team under consideration for the Top 50. To date, they are 37-3 with a few solid victories under their belts. It includes beating a trio of Texas schools in Harlan (twice), Barbers Hill and Reagan. Mount St. Mary also owns a victory over Oklahoma 6A power Jenks, which has also handed the Rockets two of their three losses. The other is to nationally-ranked Dripping Springs TX. Mount St. Mary is the two-time defending 5A state champ and is coming of a season in which they went 41-1 in 2022. The Rockets have since moved up to 6A. They are led by 3-star Iowa commit and junior outside Gia McGrew. Senior outside Ally Fees, junior middle Georgia Ahlert and sophomore outside Ella Hale are also big contributors on offense as well. The attack is directed by junior setter Livia Ward while the defense is anchored by junior libero Mackenzi Bass. Bingham UT: After going 18-13 a year ago, the Miners are showing they are one of the best 6A teams in the state of Utah this fall and is another program on the cusp on the Top 50. They have pushed their mark to 21-2 to date. Their two setbacks have come to Lone Peak and Pleasant Grove, a school the Miners also own a victory over. Helping lead the charge is 4-star Utah commit and senior outside Levani Key-Powell. Senior middle Hazel Marchant and junior outside Paige Ballif are the next two highest kill leaders. Junior setter Maddie Evans guides the offense and is averaging 9.3 assists per set. Defensively, the Miners are led by senior libero Jessica Troung. North Myrtle Beach SC: The Chiefs finished runner up in last year’s Class 4A state final and are once again looking like a squad capable of winning it all. They are currently 31-1, with their only loss coming to Musselman WV, and are riding a 26-match winning streak. Junior outside Olivia Borgamn (3.9 kills per set) and sophomore outside Clara Coninger (3.6 k/s) have been instrumental to the success. Also making key contributions is junior setter Bella Loeswick and senior libero Kendal Scanlin. Bob Jones AL: It’s been a tremendous season so far for the Patriots, who sit at 43-1. Mountain Brook – a team Bob Jones has defeated twice – is the only opponent to breakthrough. The schools won’t see each other in the playoffs however, as Bob Jones competes in 7A and Mountain Brook in 6A. Bob Jones wraps up the regular season this week. Leading the way has been junior outside Kennedy Vaughn, junior setter Riley Lovell and senior libero Meg Jarrett. Middle Creek NC: The Mustangs – who are 19-1 – were one victory away from reaching last season’s 4A state final four and are eager for another opportunity. Middle Creek and Green Hope split a pair of contests and could run into each other in the state playoffs. Sally Perez, a 6-3 senior outside, has been clutch for the Mustangs. She’s averaging 5.4 kills per set. She’s been helped by senior setter Avery Scoggins, who is committed to Arizona. Middle Creek has received a boost defensively from freshman libero Graceyn Shepard. Jesuit OR: The Crusaders could be poised to regain the 6A throne, a spot they last held in 2019 and have finished runner up the past two seasons. At 25-1 to date, they lost early on and are now riding a 21-match winning streak. Seniors Lilly Lansing and Emma Williams and sophomore Sadie Ross bring a balanced attack. Each is averaging 3.0 kills per set. Junior libero Addy Azavedo is averaging 3.2 digs per set. Punahou HI: Punahou is the only team featured that is currently in the Top 50, but a pair of recent losses could change that in next week’s update. After beginning the year 26-1, the Buff N Blue have lost consecutive matches to Kamehameha. Punahou defeated Kamehameha in their first meeting but lost the matchup last week and then again this week. The two schools are the favorite for the Division 1 state title. Seniors Haumea Marumoto and Lulu Uluave have been huge on the outside. Rella Binney – a 3-star Texas commit – has excelled at setter.