Final State Rankings Countdown: Teams 26-30

<p>As we get into our rankings countdown let’s go over 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>26. San Marcos</strong> (33-5, San Diego Section)<br /> <strong>Season Highlight(s)</strong>: Palomar League champion; CIF San Diego Section Open Division Semifinalist (lost to Cathedral Catholic); CIF State Division 1 Round 1 (lost to Palos Verdes)<br /> <strong>Key Graduates</strong>: OH/S [player_tooltip player_id="161759" first="Ensley" last="Alden"]; OH [player_tooltip player_id="161760" first="Olivia" last="Narancich"]; MB Chloe Narancich<br /> <strong>Key Returners</strong> (grade this fall): S Brianne Zevely (Jr); L/DS [player_tooltip player_id="161761" first="Janell" last="Spires"] (Jr); MB Olivia Durr (Fr); OH [player_tooltip player_id="161758" first="Charlee" last="Ellena"]; MB Lauren Feller (Fr)<br /> <strong>2022 Outlook</strong>: If the Knights want to get back to the same level or better there is work to be done. Alden was a huge part of what the team did and they kill leader is gone. As is the Narancich sisters, as Olivia was second in kills behind Alden. The bright spots include the return of Ellena, who finished third in kills and figures to be one of the centerpieces on offense next season. Also watch for an expanded role from this year’s rookies in Durr and Feller.</p> <p><strong>27. Torrey Pines</strong> (23-11, San Diego)<br /> <strong>Season Highlight(s)</strong>: CIF San Diego Section Quarterfinalist (lost to San Marcos); CIF State Division 1 Round 2 (lost to Harvard-Westlake)<br /> <strong>Key Graduates</strong>: MB [player_tooltip player_id="161485" first="Claire" last="Deller"]; S [player_tooltip player_id="160021" first="Brooklyn" last="Burns"]; OH [player_tooltip player_id="161486" first="Hannah" last="Flannery"]<br /> <strong>Key Returners</strong>: L/DS [player_tooltip player_id="160948" first="Katerina" last="Lutz"] (Jr); MB Grace Flanagan (Jr); OH Alex McGillvray (Jr); S [player_tooltip player_id="163290" first="Nikki" last="Quinn"] (Jr); OH [player_tooltip player_id="161012" first="Layla" last="Williams"] (Soph)<br /> <strong>2022 Outlook</strong>: Lutz at libero highlights the returning players for the Falcons, so that part of the game is taken care of for next season. It’s really about filling in the openings created by the departure of Deller and Flannery on offense and Burns, who set them up. Flanagan is another piece to build around that is back, as she led Torrey Pines in blocks. Watch for Williams to take on a larger role in the offense during her junior season.</p> <p><strong>28. Oak Ridge</strong> (34-6, Sac-Joaquin)<br /> <strong>Season Highlight(s)</strong>: CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Division 1 champion (defeat Cosumnes Oaks); CIF State Division 1 Semifinalist (lost to Hillsdale); Sierra Foothill League champion<br /> <strong>Key Graduates</strong>: OH/MB Abigail Reynolds; S [player_tooltip player_id="161490" first="Molly" last="Azevedo"]; L/DS Olivia Medina; MB Reyna Hoppe<br /> <strong>Key Returners</strong>: S Leilani Yang (Jr); MB Abby Hoybjerg (Soph); S/RS Mackenzie Dauden (Jr); OH [player_tooltip player_id="160314" first="Madison" last="Walker"] (Jr); RS Emily Child (Jr)<br /> <strong>2022 Outlook</strong>: Replacing Reynolds’ production is among the top priorities as she was second in both kills and blocks. The Trojans do return their kill leader in Walker and block leader in Hoybjerg. Other areas to watch for include losing half of the setting duo in Azevedo and the dig leader in Medina. There are young pieces on the roster that should keep Oak Ridge in contention for the sectional title and another state appearance.</p> <p><strong>29. Huntington Beach</strong> (28-7, Southern)<br /> <strong>Season Highlight(s)</strong>: CIF State Division 1 Round 1 (lost to Torrey Pines); CIF Southern Section Division 2 Finalist (lost to Aliso Niguel); Surf League champion<br /> <strong>Key Graduates</strong>: RS Kate O’Steen; OH Lillian Perkins; MB Sydney Murrey<br /> <strong>Key Returners</strong>: S Dani Sparks (Soph); OH [player_tooltip player_id="161767" first="Haylee" last="Lafontaine"] (Soph); OH Taylor Ponchak (Fr); MB Kylie Leopard (Soph)<br /> <strong>2022 Outlook</strong>: The young pieces returning are plenty to build around and should have the Oilers back in the mix for a sectional title. Sparks returns at setter and has three key pieces back to dish to on the attack. Lafontaine, Ponchak and Leopard all played big roles as underclassmen and figure to be improved next season.</p> <p><strong>30. Los Gatos</strong> (25-9, Central Coast)<br /> <strong>Season Highlight(s)</strong>: Santa Clara Valley-De Anza League champion; CIF Central Coast Quarterfinalist (lost to St. Ignatius); CIF State Division 1 Quarterfinalist (lost to Oak Ridge)<br /> <strong>Key Graduates</strong>: OH Eileen Chen; OH Natalie Anthony; L/DS Emily Gouldrup<br /> <strong>Key Returners</strong>: S/RS [player_tooltip player_id="162763" first="Hannah" last="Slover"] (Jr); MB Allison Black (Soph); OH Nicole Steiner (Fr)<br /> <strong>2022 Outlook</strong>: It’ll take something to replace the senior duo of Chen and Anthony as the pair played their part in the offense. However, the Wildcats have a key piece back to build around the future in Steiner, who should be the focal point of the attack next fall.</p>