Are we in for a repeat of sorts when it comes to the 2023 high school season and the national championship race? The first-ever vballrecruiter.com high school rankings last year saw Cathedral Catholic CA open the year in the No. 1 spot before going undefeated – dropping just one set – and ending the season on top as the undisputed national champion. The wire-to-wire performance was an impressive feat. It takes an effort on that level to beat out all the other teams in the country to earn the label as national champion.
It’s not always so simple as having a team like Cathedral Catholic dominate so handily where the choice becomes such an obvious and clear one. However, we could be in for another majestic season when it comes to this year’s fall campaign. All eyes begin on Prestonwood Christian TX, which is stacked with Division 1 athletes. Among them are 5-star junior outside and last season’s HS Sophomore of the Year Cari Spears, 5-star senior right side Jadyn Livings (USC), 5-star senior setter Camille Edwards (Michigan), 4-star senior middle Kennedy Washington, 5-star junior libero Gillian Pitts (Houston), 4-star senior outside Mikala Young (TCU) and newcomer in 4-star junior right side Taylor Clarke.
On top of that, Prestonwood is challenging itself with a beefed-up schedule that includes traveling to the prestigious Durango Fall Classic in Las Vegas in September. Prestonwood is also competing in Volleypalooza in Austin in August. That tournament features California powers Mater Dei and Cathedral Catholic making the trek.
Playing a national schedule is an important element when it comes to winning a national championship. Not only are we looking for teams to make it through the year undefeated, but doing so playing against other top teams in the nation is one of the best measurements of a team’s strength. There’s no doubt that if Prestonwood Christian runs the table like Cathedral Catholic accomplished a season ago the school is going to finish No. 1 in the nation.
The biggest question would be what if Prestonwood losses and/or no other team is able to go undefeated playing against a national schedule? There are certainly programs worthy of winning the national championship that will go undefeated without playing a national schedule. In that case, anointing a national champion becomes much more subjective, as we use our knowledge from the club season about individual players to select which team we think is most deserving. All we have to do now is wait and see which scenario plays out.
We’ll release our next Top 50 rankings update at the beginning of September, as teams will have time to get their seasons underway and the Top 50 can start to be formed based off results rather than speculation. By then, a few major tournaments will have taken place, as well as lots of local ones. Among the biggest tournaments scheduled for August include the Ann Kang Invitational in Honolulu as well as the previously-mentioned Volleypalooza, both of which vballrecruiter.com will be on hand covering. Looking ahead to September, the calendar is packed with more national events with the Nike TOC Southeast (Sept. 1-2) and Southwest (29-30) events, the Louisville Invitational Volleyball Tournament (Sept. 8-9), and of course Durango (Sept. 22-23). All these events will heavily influence the Top 50. Until then, you can find our initial Top 50 National Rankings below.
vballrecruiter.com TOP 50 NATIONAL HS RANKINGS
1. Prestonwood Christian TX
2. Mater Dei CA
3. Mother McAuley IL
4. Mira Costa CA
5. Notre Dame Academy KY
6. St. James Academy KS
7. Cathedral Catholic CA
8. Cornerstone Christian TX
9. Papillion-La Vista South NE
10. Prosper TX
***
11. Hamilton Southeastern IN
12. St. Francis Mountain View CA
13. Divine Savior Holy Angels WI
14. St. Thomas Aquinas KS
15. Benet Academy IL
16. Assumption KY
17. Sierra Canyon CA
18. Marymount CA
19. Dripping Springs TX
20. Wayzata MN
***
21. Marian MI
22. Millbrook NC
23. Washburn Rural KS
24. Yorktown IN
25. Lovejoy TX
26. Torrey Pines CA
27. Oconomowoc WI
28. Westminster Christian FL
29. Colleyville Heritage TX
30. Corona del Sol AZ
***
31. Bishop Gorman NV
32. Liberty North MO
33. Ursuline Academy OH
34. Lafayette MO
35. McCutcheon IN
36. Keller TX
37. Marist IL
38. Horizon AZ
39. Byron Nelson TX
40. Palos Verdes CA
***
41. Flint Hill VA
42. Clearwater Central Catholic FL
43. Mount Notre Dame OH
44. Cleveland TN
45. Millennium AZ
46. Magnificat OH
47. Liberty MO
48. St. Ursula Academy OH
49. Iolani HI
50. Lake Highland Prep FL
***
ON THE CUSP
Valor Christian CO
Santa Fe FL
Northville MI
Timpview UT
Redondo Union CA
Archbishop Mitty CA
Ridge Point TX
Lambert GA
Pace Academy GA
North Gwinnett GA
Boca Raton FL
Hagerty FL
Ankeny IA
Bridgeland TX
Cinco Ranch TX
Southlake Carroll TX
Mountain View UT
Middle Creek NC
Cardinal Gibbons NC
Barrington IL
Branson CA
Lakewood CA
Eureka MO
Walton GA
Brebeuf Jesuit IN
Dike-New Hartford IA
North Raleigh Christian Academy NC
Tompkins TX
Venice FL
The Woodlands TX
Lake Travis TX
Boswell TX
Rouse TX
Wakeland TX
Appleton North WI
Buford GA
Punahou HI
