SBLive Arkansas Power 25 high school volleyball rankings (Oct. 3)
NOTE: Records have been adjusted to reflect the Arkansas Activities Association’s new rule in which pool-play matches in tournament do not count toward the team’s overall record.
By Jeff Halpern | Photo by Braeden Botts
1. Fayetteville (19-2)
Previous Rank: No. 1
Last week: def. Springdale, 3-0; def. Bentonville 3-0; def. FS Northside 3-0. Blue Springs (Mo.) Tournament: def. Francis Howelll (Mo.) 2-0; lost to Liberty North (Mo.) 2-1 in semifinals.
This week: at Bentonville West Thursday.
COMMENT: Only teams that have defeated Fayetteville have been out of state.
2. Benton (19-0)
Previous Rank: No. 2
Last week: def. Hot Springs 3-0; def. El Dorado 3-0; Fort Smith Invitational; def. Mount St. Mary 25-19, 18-25; 15-2; def. Bentonville West 25-13; 25-19; def. Fort Smith Southside 25-23; 20-25; 15-10.
This week: at Lake Hamilton Tuesday; vs. No. 4 Cabot Wednesday; vs. White Hall Thursday.
COMMENT: Wins Fort Smith Invitational title and now only unbeaten team in the state.
3. Conway (15-2)
Previous rank: No. 3
Last week: def. Little Rock Southwest 3-0; def. North Little Rock 3-0.
This week: vs. No. 4 Cabot Tuesday.
COMMENT: Lady Wampus Cats undefeated in 6A-Central. Have a big rematch with No. 4 Cabot.
4. Cabot (12-4)
Previous rank: No. 4.
Last week: def. Jonesboro 3-1; def. Little Rock Southwest 3-0.
This week: at No. 3 Conway Tuesday; at No. 2 Benton Wednesday; at Little Rock Central Thursday.
COMMENT: Huge week for Lady Panthers with matches against No. 3 Conway, at No. 2 Benton and at an improving Little Rock Central squad.
5. Fort Smith Southside (14-5)
Previous rank: No. 5.
Last week: def. Bentonville West 3-2 Monday; def. Rogers 3-0; Fort Smith Invitational: def. Springdale Har-Ber; def. Little Rock Central; lost to No. 2 Benton 2-1 in the Gold Bracket final.
This week: vs. Springdale Har-Ber Tuesday; vs. Bentonville Thursday
COMMENT: Lady Mavericks finish second in own tournament.
6. Brookland (16-4)
Previous rank: No. 7.
Last week: def. Paragould 3-0; def. Jonesboro Westside 3-0; def. No. 14 Wynne 3-2.
This week: at Marion Monday; vs. Pocahontas Tuesday; vs. Highland Thursday.
COMMENT: Lady Bearcats keep winning and are in first place in 4A-Northeast after victory over Wynne.
7. Valley View (11-3–1)
Previous rank: No. 8.
Last week: def. Marion 3-0; def. Batesville 3-1.
This week: at Paragould Tuesday; at Greene County Tech Thursday.
COMMENT: Lady Blazers continue to distinguish themselves in Class 5A.
8. Little Rock Christian (14–3)
Previous rank: No. 6.
Last week: def. No. 12 Mount St. Mary 3-1; def. Sylvan Hills 3-0.
This week: vs. Little Rock Parkview Tuesday; at Maumelle Thursday.
COMMENT: Victory over Mount St. Mary kept Warriors in first place in 5A-Central.
9. Greenwood (15-2)
Previous rank: No. 10.
Last week: def. No. 19 Greenbrier 3-2 def. Russellville 3-0.
This week: vs. Van Buren Tuesday; at Harrison Thursday.
COMMENT: Myia McCoy, 40 kills and 17 digs in both matches. Rylie Holland, 25 digs in both matches.
10. Hackett (19-1)
Previous rank: No. 9.
Last week: def. Waldron 3-0; def. Charleston 3-0; def. Elkins 3-0; at Fort Smith Invitational: lost to Little Rock Central 2-1; def. Springdale Har-Ber 2-0.
This week: at No. 18 Paris Tuesday; vs. West Fork Thursday.
COMMENT: Stepped up in class against 6A competition and finally stumbled in Fort Smith Invitational. Has a big contest vs. defending champion Paris Tuesday.
11. Shiloh Christian (14-3)
Previous rank: No. 11.
Last week: def. Huntsville 3-0; def. Gravette 3-0.
This week: at Ozark Tuesday; vs. Prairie Grove Thursday.
COMMENT: Lady Saints staying on top in 4A-Northwest. Ryan Russell had 27 kills in both matches. Bella Bonanno had 32 digs in both victories.
12. Mena (14-2)
Previous rank: No. 13.
Last week: def. Magnolia 3-0.
This week: at Arkadelphia Monday; vs. Malvern Thursday.
COMMENT: Light week, but Bearcats keep winning and leading 4A-West Conference at 10-0.
13. Mansfield (14-2)
Previous rank: No. 15.
Last week: def. Founders Classical 3-0; def. Decatur 3-0; def. Ozark Catholic 3-0.
This week: vs. Farmington Monday; vs. The New School Tuesday; vs. No. 22 Lavaca Thursday.
COMMENT: Lady Tigers leading 2A-West with 13-0 conference record by 2 1/2 games over Lavaca.
14. Mount St. Mary (11-5–1)
Previous rank: No. 12.
Last week: lost to No. 8 LR Christian 3-1; def. Beebe 3-0; at Fort Smith Invitational; lost 2-1 to No. 2 Benton; def. Fort Smith Northside 2-1.
This week: vs. Vilonia Tuesday; at Jacksonville Thursday.
COMMENT: Tough sledding for Belles, who head coach Jason Lambert said had a couple players suffer ankle injuries at Fort Smith.
15. Wynne (13-4)
Previous rank: No. 14
Last week: def. Nettleton 3-1; lost to No. 6 Brookland 3-2.
This week: at West Memphis Monday; vs. No. 20 Batesville Southside Tuesday.
COMMENT: Yellowjackets had Brookland down 2-1 before losing 27-25 in fourth set and losing 15-7 in fifth.
16. Baptist Prep (15-3)
Previous rank: No. 17.
Last week: def. Jessieville 3-0; def. Episcopal Collegiate 3-1.
This week: at Central Arkansas Christian Monday; at LISA Academy North Tuesday.
COMMENT: Lady Eagles (5-0) staying unbeaten 5A-Central.
17. Episcopal Collegiate (12-3)
Previous rank: Not ranked
Last week: def. No. 16 Paris 3-2; def. Perryville 3-0; lost to No. 17 Baptist Prep 3-1.
This week: vs. Jessieville Thursday.
COMMENT: Episcopal returned one starter from last year’s 26-6 team in Riley Brady, but the Wildcats have stayed strong in 3A-Central at 6-2 and had huge non-conference victory over Paris last week.
18. Paris (12-6)
Previous rank: No. 16.
Last week: lost to Episcopal Collegiate 3-2; def. Booneville 3-0; def. West Fork 3-0.
This week: vs. No. 10 Hackett Tuesday; at Lincoln Thursday.
COMMENT: After a 5-set loss to Episcopal, Lady Eagles rebound with two victories in 3A-West. Try to settle score with Hackett after 3-0 loss on Sept. 8.
19. Hot Springs Lakeside (15-2)
Previous rank: 18.
Last week: def. El Dorado 3-0; def. Lake Hamilton 3-0.
This week: vs. White Hall Tuesday; at Sheridan Thursday.
COMMENT: Lakeside bounces back from tough week with two 5A-South victories.
20. Batesville Southside (16-3)
Previous rank: No. 20.
Last week: def. Batesville 3-1; def. Jonesboro Westside 3-1; Tri-Lakes Tournament: def. Lonoke, def. Lake Hamilton; def. Jessieville; def. Fountain Lake.
This week: at No. 15 Wynne Tuesday; at Pocahontas Thursday
COMMENT: Southerners seem to be picking up momentum as the season heads into back stretch and have big game against Wynne this week.
21. Mountain Home (10-5)
Previous rank: No. 21.
Last week: def. Alma 3-0; def. Siloam Springs 3-0.
This week: vs. Harrison Tuesday; at Van Buren Thursday.
COMMENT: Bombers rebound from rough week with two 5A-West victories.
22. Lavaca (14-2)
Previous rank: No. 22.
Last week: def. No. 23 Life Way Christian 3-1; def. Founders Classical 3-0; def Decatur 3-0.
This week: at Ozark Classic Tuesday; at Mansfield Thursday.
COMMENT: Lavaca gaining momentum in Class 2A.
23. Thaden (14-5)
Previous rank: No. 24.
Last week: def. The New School 3-0; def. Mulberry 3-0; at Fort Smith Invitational: def. Harrison 2-0; def. Sylvan Hills 2-0 to win silver bracket.
This week: at Rogers Heritage Monday; vs. Founders Classical Tuesday; at Decatur Thursday.
COMMENT: Steps up in class and distinguishes themselves in Fort Smith Invitational.
24. Life Way Christian (8-5)
Previous rank; No. 24.
Last week: lost to Lavaca 3-1.
This week: at Eureka Springs Monday; at Mulberry Tuesday; at The New School Thursday.
COMMENT: Warriors hitting a rough patch. Have three 2A-West Conference games this week.
25. Valley Springs (11-4)
Previous rank: Not ranked.
Last week: lost to Harding Academy 3-0.
This week: vs. Riverview Tuesday; at Rose Bud Thursday.
COMMENT: Fell from the top spot in 3A-Northwest.
DROPPED OUT
No. 19 Greenbrier
