Power Rankings 6A-4A Q1 Update

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We are about a quarter of the way through the season so it is time to update our preseason power rankings. We have seen a lot of the teams we thought would be good continue on that trend, but we also have a few surprises and some teams that have real caught our attention in the first quarter of the season! Season is really going to start heating up soon with region play going on! </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>These are the updated rankings as we see it, the (ranked for the preseason) are where they started before the season! </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">4A</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:list {"ordered":true} --> <ol class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>ALA QC (4)</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Ironwood Ridge (1)</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Flagstaff (2)</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Cactus (NR)</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>ALA West Foothils (7)</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Saguaro (5)</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Thunderbird (8)</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>ALA Gilbert North (3)</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Mica Mountain (NR)</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Eastmark (NR)<br><br>I am all over the place here in 4A, I hate to punish Ironwood Ridge for only having one loss to a 5A school, but ALA QC has looked super impressive in their matches this season, and I gotta reward the undefeated team. I see this as more of a 1A and 1B situation. We welcome 3 newcomers to this list in Cactus, Mica Mountain, and Eastmark. All 3 of these teams have beaten some previous ranked teams or are undefeated at the moment. Cactus especially is a dark horse to make some noise come state playoff time with some of the top end talent they have on their team. Saguaro, ALA Gilbert North, and ALA West Foothills all have impressive wins, and play in tougher regions so we should see some games where we can separate them as contenders and who has the best chance to make a run. </li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ol> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">5A</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:list {"ordered":true} --> <ol class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Notre Dame Prep (6)</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Chaparral (1)</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Horizon (3)</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Verrado (5)</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Ironwood (7)</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Salpointe (2)</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Sunrise Mountain (4)</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Canyon Del Oro (8)</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Centennial (9)</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Willow Canyon (NR)<br><br>5A has a ton of drama, every top end team has at least one loss but it is against another top end team (in 4A-6A), so we really had a good amount of detail to see what is going on. We are going to give a slight edge to Notre Dame as the number 1 team at the moment because I don't know another team that has had a harder first 6 games. The only loss was to Xavier and they took a set off them as well. Chaparral has had a great start to their season, only loss was to 6A power Corona Del Sol. I don't know what to do about 3-8, these teams all have high end talent, and all have beaten high quality teams, and all have some losses. On any given day these teams have shown they can beat the best of the best so expect a lot of shuffling with this group of teams over the next few weeks! Joining the top 10 we have a west valley team in Willow Canyon who is undefeated in power point matches and coming off an impressive win at the Estrella tournament. They have a big match against #1 Notre Dame in the coming weeks so they do have a chance to make a statement as well!</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ol> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">6A</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:list {"ordered":true} --> <ol class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Xavier Prep (1)</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Sandra Day O'Connor (2)</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Perry (3)</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Liberty (4)</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Casteel (5)</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Pinnacle (8)</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Millennium (9) </li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Highland (NR)</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Corona Del Sol (7)</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Hamilton (6)<br><br>Ok lets get this out of the way first, I am only really looking at powerpoint games here. Tournaments are nice and all, but sometimes kids are missing for SAT, or homecoming, or some coaches play everyone, the vibe is different in a tournament over playing in a weekday powerpoint game. I want to know who is winning when it actually counts in the power point rankings for playoffs... so please don't come at me with.. we beat them in this tournament.. I promise I saw the score and took a mental note, and I hope you can do it again during the regular season match too...then I can make the adjustment! <br><br>Now 6A, 1-4 stays the same as they all remain undefeated in power point rankings, and have been impressive in doing so. I do think Xavier and Sandra Day are the teams to beat but Perry and Liberty have also had their moments as well and have some top end talent for sure to dethrone them. Although.. 9/23 is going to be a big one with Xavier playing SDO, we will be at that one and get a chance to see the best play the best. Pinnacle has been very impressive so far, and could be a dark horse team as a contender as their only loss was to Xavier and they took a set off them as well. Highland joins the top 10, as they have a 4-1 start to their season and a new coach came in and has continued their momentum. They have a strong 1-2 punch that can cause fits for some teams. <br><br><br></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ol> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:separator --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" /> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The school season is just getting started, and we can't wait to continue following Arizona athletes and programs throughout the fall! Make sure your <strong>Prep Dig profile is updated</strong> with your current school, position, height, graduation year, and any other important information so our scouts have the most accurate information when evaluating and writing.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Want to stay on our radar this season? <strong>Tag us in your highlights, match schedules, big performances, milestones, and anything else you want us to see.</strong> We want to know where you're playing and how your season is going!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Be sure to follow <strong>Prep Dig Arizona and our Arizona scouts on Instagram</strong> for even more coverage:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/prepdigarizona/?utm_source=chatgpt.com">@PrepDigArizona</a><br><a href="https://www.instagram.com/coachmarissamorah/?utm_source=chatgpt.com">@CoachMarissaMorah</a><br><a href="https://www.instagram.com/prepdiganthony/?utm_source=chatgpt.com">@PrepDigAnthony</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Keep working, keep competing, and <strong>keep us updated throughout the school season.</strong> We can't wait to see who makes their mark this fall!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Want to get on our radar? Register for our upcoming Exposure tour <a href="https://events.prepdig.com/e/2499/register/prep-dig-exposure-tour-arizona">here.</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->