Arizona Preseason Power Rankings: 6A-4A

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>AIA high school volleyball starts this week! Over at PrepDig we are excited to get out and watch some games and see everyone preform for their school teams this year! We are anticipating a lot of great volleyball this fall, and should get to see a fair amount of upsets, amazing plays, and everything else involved. Obviously a lot will happen between now and the end of October when playoffs end but here we go with some preseason rankings as we head into everyone's first games this week!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Today we are going to talk about some preseason power rankings, up first is the 6A-4A conferences! </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- 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</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Sandra Day O'Connor</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Perry</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Liberty</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Casteel</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Hamilton</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Corona Del Sol</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Pinnacle</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Millennium</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Sunnyslope</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ol> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>6A is the wild wild west for sure, I could make an argument for any of the top 7 teams to be in the final 4 and in the finals but that just shows the class and depth of this conference. I think all roads got to lead through Xavier as they have a ton of talent and depth and are the defending champions plus the number 2027 in [player_tooltip player_id='774402' first='Tessa' last='Larkin'] doesn't hurt either. As for some challengers... I am going with Sandra Day as the number 2 team, they have a lot of depth and top end talent from [player_tooltip player_id='781999' first='Kristen' last='Sheehy'], [player_tooltip player_id='808453' first='Berkley' last='France'], and [player_tooltip player_id='882559' first='Sami' last='Mondino'] to name a few. They have the depth and talent to match up with a team like Xavier when it comes down to it. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Although you look at teams 3-7 and each of them have their own plethora of D1 talent and top players that are currently ranked in our top 100, I do think Corona and Hamilton will have some distinct advantages coming out of the middle that could cause some fits for a lot of teams. Having players like [player_tooltip player_id='881804' first='Addison' last='Bartnik'], [player_tooltip player_id='888746' first='Joelle' last='Wasson'], [player_tooltip player_id='883370' first='Mikaela' last='Lee-Tsosie'], and [player_tooltip player_id='827535' first='Nola' last='Wallace'] coming at you will cause a lot of teams issues as they won't have the horses to stop them. Casteel has their own advantages with having some dynamic pin hitters to counter that in [player_tooltip player_id='886814' first='Saydie' last='Vega'] and Rylie Chandler and should get a chance to make a run with those two. Liberty and Perry round out those 7 teams that all have a chance to make a finals run; as they are loaded with their own top end talent especially at the setter position with both possessing 2 of the better all around setters in Makenna Corrie and [player_tooltip player_id='885089' first='Sophia' last='Gregg'] respectfully. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Going to be a wild wild 6A division, trust me when I saw it is going to have a lot of fun action! </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Final 4 Prediction:</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://azpreps365.com/teams/volleyball-girls/3845-xavier/187376-varsity">Xavier Prep</a>, SDO. Perry, Liberty </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>State Champion Prediction:&nbsp;</strong>Xaiver</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">5A</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:list {"ordered":true} --> <ol class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Chaparral</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Salpointe </li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Horizon</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Sunrise Mountain</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Verrado</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Notre Dame Prep</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Ironwood</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Canyon Del Oro</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Centennial </li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Maricopa</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ol> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>5A has a new face in it that could make a run to the finals! Salpointe comes up from 4A this year and has two very good players in [player_tooltip player_id='888729' first='Callen' last='Hutchens'] and [player_tooltip player_id='888728' first='Reagan' last='Burgle'] both of whom are heading to D1 schools and should be the focal point of this teams season. However.. looming at the top of our rankings will be none other then our defending champions from Scottsdale in Chaparral. I do think they lost a fair share but they should be able to reload with some talented incoming freshman and some holdovers from last years state finals team. [player_tooltip player_id='913242' first='Colleen' last='Brousseau'], [player_tooltip player_id='883367' first='Sarah' last='Hodgson'], and [player_tooltip player_id='962832' first='Morgan' last='Thorne'] should do a great job filling some of the void left by what has left and could lead this team to back to back wins.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Verrado and Ironwood are two teams that I think will surprise some people. I think both programs have some talented depth that could really make things interesting if they pan out. Ironwood has [player_tooltip player_id='835620' first='Malaya' last='Gibbs'] and [player_tooltip player_id='765631' first='Isabella' last='White'] leading the way and should cause a lot of teams some fits, while over at Verrado they have their own middle and pin who will be tough to stop in [player_tooltip player_id='848347' first='Aniah' last='Brown'] and [player_tooltip player_id='706296' first='Alyssa' last='Ortiz']. These 2 teams with their own 2 stars should be able to cause some issues for most teams.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The rest of the top 10 has some talent to make some things work if they get hot at the right time, However never court out Horizon and Notre Dame Prep as they are always in the hunt and have some top end pieces that can contribute to making that deep run. Horizon has [player_tooltip player_id='768939' first='Nia' last='Tinsley'] and [player_tooltip player_id='827567' first='Olivia' last='Kauffman'] both D1 commits who can score at will and should give them a edge in tight games. Notre Dame also has some solid depth and top end talent with [player_tooltip player_id='620649' first='Vanessa' last='Gridley'], [player_tooltip player_id='835096' first='Lucy' last='Solorzano'], and [player_tooltip player_id='880117' first='Alex' last='Heritage'] who should provide plenty of issues when they play a bunch of these teams.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I think all roads lead through Scottsdale this season, Chap has a lot of talent even after losing their best two players. They have reloaded nicely but you never know in a season who is going to step up and can challenge them for the title. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Final 4 Prediction:</strong>&nbsp;Chaparral, Salpointe, Horizon, Sunrise Mountain </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>State Champion Prediction:&nbsp;</strong>Chaparral</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><a href="https://azpreps365.com/teams/volleyball-girls/880-iron-ridge/221968-varsity">I</a>ronwood Ridge</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Flagstaff</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>ALA - Gilbert North</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>ALA - QC</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Saguaro</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>St. Mary's</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>ALA West Foothills</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Thunderbird<br>9. Prescott<br>10. Estrella Foothills<br><br>4A is for a lot of talent 1-10 and it was really tough to pick a order to put teams in. I think all 10 of these teams have the talent, coaching, and chemistry to make a run into the quarterfinals or deeper depending on how hot they are come playoffs and health. I do think all roads lead to beating a team outside the valley as Flagstaff and Ironwood Ridge are both the top two teams to beat. Ironwood Ridge is especially loaded this year with two pin hitters in [player_tooltip player_id='833602' first='Kallie' last='George'] and [player_tooltip player_id='749268' first='Ashlyn' last='Quiri'] who both will be conference leaders in kills this season, and these two alone will be tough to slow down let alone the depth they have on the team. However... if one team has the arms to keep up and height in the middle to slow them down, then the team up the I17 in Flagstaff can do it. Leading the charge will be [player_tooltip player_id='590040' first='McKenlee' last='Lund'], [player_tooltip player_id='805690' first='Harleigh' last='Moseng'], and [player_tooltip player_id='826462' first='Ivy' last='Clevenger'] as they all take on expanded roles in the offense and defense this year. They should be a tough team to stop during the season.<br><br>Not to be counted out, Saguaro will also have their own two exceptional pin hitters in [player_tooltip player_id='806931' first='Nylah' last='Bibby'] and [player_tooltip player_id='888723' first='Sloan' last='Kribel'], who both are top level players in the state, but they will need some help. If Saguaro can get some help from some other positions they have two stars who can carry the load for them most games, so this is a team to see how the other players develop and maybe they get hot at the end of the season to make a run to the finals. Both ALA schools bring back top level experience and have been through some big games the last few years. Both these teams shouldn't be counted out! A lot of these teams in the top 10 will get some big time test as they are all region foes, and that will really show who is the best of the best by seasons end.<br><br>4A has a lot of good teams in it, and anyone in this ranking can make a run with the talent they have! I do think Ironwood Ridge and Flagstaff have the all around team to make it to the finals, but wouldn't count out any of those teams in the top 5.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ol> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>F<strong>inal 4 Prediction:</strong>&nbsp;Ironwood Ridge, Flagstaff, ALA QC, ALA GN</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>State Champion Prediction:&nbsp;</strong>Ironwood Ridge</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- 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&nbsp;<strong>Prep Dig profile is updated</strong>&nbsp;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?&nbsp;<strong>Tag us in your highlights, match schedules, big performances, milestones, and anything else you want us to see.</strong>&nbsp;We want to know where you're playing and how your season is going!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Be sure to follow&nbsp;<strong>Prep Dig Arizona and our Arizona scouts on Instagram</strong>&nbsp;for even more coverage:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->