Final State Rankings Countdown: Teams 41-45

<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>41. Redwood</strong> (30-6, North Coast section)<br /> <strong>Season Highlight(s)</strong>: CIF North Coast Division 2 runner up (lost to Marin Catholic); CIF State Division 2 champion (defeated Carlsbad)<br /> <strong>Key Graduates</strong>: OH Brooke Leslie; L/DS Sophia Shaw<br /> <strong>Key Returners</strong> (grade this fall): OH Emma McDermott (Jr); S [player_tooltip player_id="162754" first="Kaley" last="Mathews"] (Jr); RS Jaden Hendrickson (Soph); MB Katelyn McKnew (Jr)<br /> <strong>2022 Outlook</strong>: The biggest item is replacing the loss of Shaw defensively. After that, the Giants are set up well for another stellar season. Mathews runs the offense well and will have two top hitters back in McDermott and Hendrickson so watch for the Giants to be right back in the fold. </p> <p><strong>42. Carlsbad</strong> (24-12, San Diego)<br /> <strong>Season Highlight(s)</strong>: CIF State Division 2 runner up (lost to Redwood); CIF San Diego Section Division 1 champion (defeated Rancho Bernardo)<br /> <strong>Key Graduates</strong>: OH [player_tooltip player_id="159951" first="Rylee" last="Schulz"]; S Jordan Stevens; L/DS Kendall Karnig; MB Riley Knudsen; OH Megan Corona<br /> <strong>Key Returners</strong>: RS [player_tooltip player_id="160346" first="Auburn" last="Tomkinson"] (Jr); MB [player_tooltip player_id="162805" first="Cayla" last="Payne"] (Jr)<br /> <strong>2022 Outlook</strong>: With five starters gone after this season, the Lancers will take on a new look. Finding consistent production at the outsides, a new libero and connecting with a new setter will be top priorities as Carlsbad builds around the two returning starters in Tomkinson and Payne. That duo, with their length and ability to put up a big right side block, will give opponents fits next season.</p> <p><strong>43. Newport Harbor</strong> (29-9, Southern)<br /> <strong>Season Highlight(s)</strong>: CIF Southern Section Division 3 Quarterfinalist (lost to Mission Viejo); CIF State Division 2 Semifinalist (lost to Carlsbad); Wave League champion<br /> <strong>Key Graduates</strong>: OH Emma Fults<br /> <strong>Key Returners</strong>: OH Quinn Perry (Jr); OH [player_tooltip player_id="161769" first="Anabel" last="Kotzakov"] (Jr); MB [player_tooltip player_id="161768" first="Malia" last="Thorne"] (Jr); OH Laine Briggs (Jr)<br /> <strong>2022 Outlook</strong>: After a heart-breaking loss to Mission Viejo in the sectional playoffs, Newport Harbor received an unexpected bid to state and nearly reached the Div. 3 final. The Sailors should be right back in the mix in both set of playoffs next year.</p> <p><strong>44. JSerra</strong> (24-8, Southern)<br /> <strong>Season Highlight(s)</strong>: CIF Southern Section Division 3 Finalist*<br /> <strong>Key Graduates</strong>: OH Hayley Hahn; L/DS [player_tooltip player_id="160138" first="Hannah" last="Glick"]; OH Skyler Ohlmeyer<br /> <strong>Key Returners</strong>: S/RS [player_tooltip player_id="160998" first="Julia" last="Kakkis"] (Soph); MB [player_tooltip player_id="161005" first="Tatum" last="Johnson"] (Soph); S/RS [player_tooltip player_id="161007" first="Jessica" last="Bates"] (Soph); MB Lauren Coady (Fr)<br /> <strong>2022 Outlook</strong>: The Lions should be motivated by a rough ending to a stellar season. The team reached the CIF-SS Div. 3 final but had to forfeit its playoff results due to playing an ineligible player. With a young returning group that contributed to the success, the biggest challenge for the Lions is replacing the production from their senior outsides. Bates could help fill that void by taking on a bigger role in the offense. </p> <p><strong>45. Upland</strong> (24-4, Southern)<br /> <strong>Season Highlight(s)</strong>: Baseline League champ; CIF Southern Section Division 3 Quarterfinalist <br /> <strong>Key Graduates</strong>: RS Erin McNeill; OH [player_tooltip player_id="159973" first="Riley" last="Contreras"]; OH [player_tooltip player_id="159960" first="Brooke" last="McKee"]; S [player_tooltip player_id="159995" first="Madison" last="Robertson"]<br /> <strong>Key Returners</strong>: L/DS/OH Addison Contreras (Fr); L/DS Chloe Robertson (Fr)<br /> <strong>2022 Outlook</strong>: Upland loses all its main offensive weapons, so retooling the attack is going to be crucial to maintain the same competitive level. However, the defense is going to be in good hands as the duo of Contreras and Robertson return.  </p>