SBLive's California girls volleyball Top 20: Cathedral Catholic vaults to No. 1 after Durango title

Neither most of the best competition in the Western United States or 8 a.m. Saturday matches could deter Cathedral Catholic's girls volleyball team. 

The Dons of San Diego breezed to the championship of the 64-team Durango Fall Classic Friday and Saturday to remain unbeaten on the season, led by tournament MVP middle blocker Jenna Hanes. 

Cathedral Catholic won seven straight matches, all by sweep, to not only capture the prestigious tournament but move to No. 1 in the SBLive California Top 20 rankings. 

On Friday the Dons allowed no more than 16 points in any game and then followed up with four more sweeps on Saturday. 

Marymount-Los Angeles won six straight to reach the final, an amazing accomplishment for the Sailors who four major D1 players to graduation from last year's national-title team. 

But they were no match in the finals for Cathedral Catholic, which prevailed 25-20, 25-17.

Hanes was joined on the All-Tournament team by teammates Julia Blyashov, Milan Bayless and Mia Compas. Others on the squad were Marymount’s Kate Martin and libero Lexi Traponi.

Sierra Canyon-Chatsworth and Torrey Pines-San Diego had fantastic weekends. Both won their four-team Friday pool and the Saturday morning qualifier to reach the Elite Eight. 

The Trailblazers finished fifth, and the Falcons tied for seventh. Other placers were Mater Dei-Santa Ana (ninth), Lakewood-Long Beach (11th), Redondo Union-Redondo Beach (13th) and Archbishop Mitty-San Jose (14th). 

SBLive's California Top 20 (records through Sept. 17)

1. Cathedral Catholic (San Diego Section, 24-0 overall record, No. 2 last week)
Seven sweeps in the Durango tournament. Dons looking like last year’s national champ Marymount in terms of winning without dropping sets.

2. Mira Costa (Southern Section, 13-2, No. 1 LW)
Tanon Rosenthal had 24 kills and Drew Wright added 20 in thrilling five-set win at Palos Verdes, 25-14, 22-25, 25-22, 26-28, 19-17.

3. Sierra Canyon (SS, 22-3, No. 3 LW)
Olivia Babcock, named to the All Tournament Team at Durango, leads the Trailblazers with 4.3 kills per set and 44 aces and is second on the team with 44 blocks. Only Durango defeat was a three-setter at deuce versus Iolani. The Trailblazers rebounded to beat Punahou and Assumption.

4. Marymount (SS, 13-5, No. 5 LW)
Look who’s back. The 2021 national champion Sailors swept their Friday pool and sparkled on Saturday with a win over Vista Murrieta and superb sweeps of Assumption and Fayetteville. Only loss was to Cathedral Catholic.

5. San Clemente (SS, 15-6, No. 6 LW)
The Tritons, with recent wins over three of the top 11, looking to run the table in the South Coast League, with Aliso Niguel likely the toughest opponent.

6. Redondo Union-Redondo Beach (SS, 16-6, No. 4 LW)
Three sweeps on Friday in Vegas but Saturday started with losses to Fayetteville and Mountain View of Utah. Sea Hawks rebounded by taking out Vista Murrieta and Mitty.

7. Saint Francis-Mountain View (Central Coast Section, 12-0, No. 7 LW)
The Lancers roll on, looking forward to visits from San Francisco’s Sacred Heart Cathedral and St. Ignatius, and then rival Mitty, all in West Catholic Athletic League play.

8. Mater Dei-Santa Ana (SS, 16-4, No. 8 LW)
Welcomed Assumption of Louisville to California in a pre-Durango match with 25-16, 25-14, 25-13 victory. Monarchs won three in Durango pool play but fell to Punahou 29-27, 21-25, 25-13 to start Saturday, then followed by winning their last three. Freshman Layli Ostovar received all-tourney honors. 

9. Lakewood (SS, 15-5, No. 9 LW)
Won Friday pool in Vegas, then dropped Saturday opener to Assumption. Lancers got back on track by defeating Vista Murrieta 25-19, 25-18, then lost to Mountain View of Utah and closed by sweeping Timpview.

10. Huntington Beach (SS, 16-1, No. 10 LW)
Oilers captured La Jolla Coastal Classic, sweeping Francis Parker 25-19, 25-18 in the final. 

11. Palos Verdes (SS, 12-4, No. 11 LW)
Excellent showing by Sea Kings, who lost tough five-set for fierce battle against Mira Costa, even though they fell in five sets and it was 19-17 in the fifth.

12. Archbishop Mitty (CCS, 15-4, No. 12 LW)
Three Friday wins in Vegas and then lost to Cathedral Catholic by respectable 25-22, 25-18 score. Monarchs then lost to Mater Dei, beat Skyview and lost to Redondo.

13. Monte Vista-Danville (North Coast Section, 8-1, No. 16 LW)
Mustangs showed major horsepower in road smashing of Amador Valley 25-19, 25-16, 25-16.

14. Torrey Pines (SDS, 6-2, No. 15 LW)
Won Friday pool and beat Mountain View of Utah 25-15, 28-26 to reach Elite Eight in Vegas. Then dropped two contests.

15. Bishop Alemany-Mission Hills (SS, 14-2, No. 14 LW)
Challenged themselves at Durango tourney. Won two of three on Friday, then beat Branson-Ross to move up to the Bronze Division, where they won two of three.

16. Cypress (SS, 8-1, No. 18 LW)
Crean Lutheran may be toughest opponent they will see for a while.

17. Oak Ridge-El Dorado Hills (San Joaquin Section, 13-2, No. 13 LW)
Madison Walker leads the Trojans who took a tough tourney finale loss in the chin with 29-27, 25-12 defeat to St. Mary’s of Stockton.

18. Whitney-Rocklin (SJS, 17-1, No. 17 LW)
Evelyn Hendrix is a force in the middle for the Wildcats but their unbeaten record was spoiled in tight tourney defeat to Christian Brothers 25-23, 26-24.

19. Liberty-Bakersfield (Central Section, 15-4, not ranked)
Patriots could be the best in the SJS. Performed admirably at Durango tourney, finishing 20th.

20. Del Norte-San Diego (SDS, 11-2, NR)
On the rise with wins over La Costa Canyon and Torrey Pines.

On the bubble: Foothill-Pleasanton (NCS), Chino Hills (SS), San Marcos (SDS), Vista Murrieta (SDS), Harvard-Westlake (SS), Clovis East (CS), Buchanan-Clovis (CS), San Ramon Valley-Danville (NCS)

Comments, questions or opinions? Email gordon.kass@gmail.com.