Final State Rankings Countdown: Teams 1-5

<p>As we conclude our rankings countdown a reminder of the groundwork. Rankings are never perfect and are subjective by nature. These rankings are heavily weighed based on CIF and state playoff results. Except in a rare instance, a team will not be ranked ahead of a team it lost to in CIF or state. There may be an example of a team losing to the same opponent in CIF then beating that team in state and in that instance the state victory usually takes precedent. We tried hard to follow the results chain as closely as possible but in a sport like volleyball with tournament play during the regular season, those results can create more questions than answers.</p> <p><strong>1. Marymount</strong> (35-0, Southern Section)<br /> <strong>Season Highlight(s)</strong>: CIF State Open Division 1 champion (defeated Archbishop Mitty); CIF Southern Section Division 1 champion (defeated Mater Dei); Durango Fall Classic champion; Nike TOC champion; Mission League champion<br /> <strong>Key Graduates</strong>: OH [player_tooltip player_id="159518" first="Elia" last="Rubin"]; RS [player_tooltip player_id="159519" first="Kerry" last="Keefe"]; MB [player_tooltip player_id="159521" first="Rhiann" last="Sheffie"]; S [player_tooltip player_id="159522" first="Kelly" last="Belardi"]; L/DS [player_tooltip player_id="159525" first="Megan" last="Verbiest"]<br /> <strong>Key Returners</strong> (grade this fall): OH [player_tooltip player_id="159523" first="Torrey" last="Stafford"] (Jr); MB [player_tooltip player_id="163274" first="Dior" last="Charles"] (Jr)<br /> <strong>2022 Outlook</strong>: This was certainly the year for Marymount to make it happen and the Sailors certainly did by going undefeated and taking home national champion honors from various outlets. Marymount is a program that will remain competitive but it’s hard to envision the Sailors returning to the top of the pack next fall. However, there are worst places to start than having Stafford back at outside and Charles back in the middle. Those are going to be the go-to players on offense.</p> <p><strong>2. Cathedral Catholic</strong> (36-5, San Diego)<br /> <strong>Season Highlight(s)</strong>: CIF State Open Division 1 Semifinalist (lost to Marymount); CIF San Diego Section Open Division champion (defeated La Costa Canyon); City-Western League champion<br /> <strong>Key Graduates</strong>: L/DS [player_tooltip player_id="161448" first="Anna" last="Pringle"]; S [player_tooltip player_id="160012" first="Faith" last="Tyson"]<br /> <strong>Key Returners</strong>: OH [player_tooltip player_id="161445" first="Julia" last="Blyashov"] (Jr); MB [player_tooltip player_id="161449" first="Ryleigh" last="Patterson"] (Jr); OH Kapiolani Coleman (Jr); RS [player_tooltip player_id="161450" first="Noemie" last="Glover"] (Jr); MB Mia Compas (Jr)<br /> <strong>2022 Outlook</strong>: The Dons don’t lose much, but what they do were valuable pieces in their success this season in their libero and setter. The good news is the new setter will have plenty to work with as the Dons return all their top attackers, including Blyashov and Glover. Also back are Patterson and Compas, who were among the block leaders. It should make the Dons one of the most dangerous teams in the state next year.</p> <p><strong>3. Archbishop Mitty</strong> (37-8, Central Coast)<br /> Season Highlight(s): CIF State Open Division Finalist (lost to Marymount); CIF Central Coast Section Open Division champion (defeated Menlo School); West Catholic League co-champion<br /> <strong>Key Graduates</strong>: OH [player_tooltip player_id="160018" first="Kendra" last="MacDonald"]; RS [player_tooltip player_id="160019" first="Reagan" last="Dryden"]; S [player_tooltip player_id="160015" first="Reese" last="Reed"]; L/DS [player_tooltip player_id="160020" first="Klaudia" last="Barbarossa"]<br /> <strong>Key Returners</strong>: OH [player_tooltip player_id="160017" first="Audrey" last="Liddle"] (Jr); MB Sandrea Thomas (Jr); OH Katelyn Cook (Soph)<br /> <strong>2022 Outlook</strong>: Two of the top three kill leaders are leaving in MacDonald and Dryden while Liddle returns. She led the Monarchs in kills. Cook had the next-highest kill total and could be looking at taking on a bigger role next fall. Other areas to address come at setter and libero. If Mitty can fill those voids they could be back in the mix.</p> <p><strong>4. Mater Dei</strong> (36-6, Southern)<br /> <strong>Season Highlight(s)</strong>: CIF State Open Division Quarterfinalist (lost to Cathedral Catholic); CIF Southern Section Division 1 Finalist (lost to Marymount); Trinity League champion<br /> <strong>Key Graduates</strong>: S [player_tooltip player_id="159530" first="Shanelle" last="Puetz"]; OH [player_tooltip player_id="159528" first="Jordyn" last="Schilling"]; RS [player_tooltip player_id="159529" first="Amber" last="Thompson"]<br /> <strong>Key Returners</strong>: OH [player_tooltip player_id="159534" first="Babi" last="Gubbins"] (Soph); MB [player_tooltip player_id="159533" first="Isabel" last="Clark"] (Soph); L/DS [player_tooltip player_id="159532" first="Malyssa" last="Cawa"] (Jr); MB [player_tooltip player_id="159535" first="Liv" last="Hertzog"] (Jr)<br /> <strong>2022 Outlook</strong>: The two biggest spots for the Monarchs to fill are losing setter Puetz and outside Schilling, who was second on the team in kills. As long as Mater Dei can find someone or someones to take over for Puetz, the school is returning enough to remain a big-time threat in the state. Gubbins, who led the team in kills, is a rising star and figures to only get better and better. Clark is another young star up and coming, while Hertzog was third in kills and first in blocks. On top of that, Cawa returns in the back row, so there are familiar places to keep the run going for the Monarchs.</p> <p><strong>5. Mira Costa</strong> (28-9, Southern)<br /> <strong>Season Highlight(s)</strong>: CIF State Open Division Quarterfinalist (lost to Marymount); CIF Southern Section Division 1 semifinalist (lost to Marymount); Bay League champion<br /> <strong>Key Graduates</strong>: OH [player_tooltip player_id="161468" first="Skylar" last="Gerhardt"]; RS/MB Shannon Knight; RS [player_tooltip player_id="161467" first="Isabel" last="Wilmot"]; L/DS [player_tooltip player_id="162958" first="Ellie" last="Geoghegan"]<br /> <strong>Key Returners</strong>: OH [player_tooltip player_id="161466" first="Drew" last="Wright"] (Jr); S/RS [player_tooltip player_id="162772" first="Charlie" last="Fuerbringer"] (Soph); OH Erin Inskeep; OH Ameena Campbell<br /> <strong>2022 Outlook</strong>: While the Mustangs lose some crucial parts from this year’s roster that will make it challenging to be on the same level next fall, there are young parts that the team can build around moving forward. One of those is Fuerbringer, who figures to take on a much larger role and could be a dual player hitting and setting. Inskeep and Campbell were not part of the focal point of the offense like Wright was, but those three together figure to make up the bulk of the attack next fall.</p>