SBLive's California Girls Volleyball Top 20 rankings: Mira Costa shines at Nike TOC

For a second consecutive weekend, many of the top teams in California headed to the desert for a blockbuster tournament. Mira Costa-Manhattan Beach shined in the Nike TOC Southwest Tournament at Bell Bank Park in Mesa, Arizona. 

The Mustangs finished second overall, losing only in the final to 49-2 Cornerstone Christian-San Antonio TX, who was ranked slightly higher in the national charts. (Yes, they have already played 51 matches.)

Marymount-Los Angeles again illustrated they belong among the elite, losing only to Cornerstone Christian in the semifinals and then beating Mater Dei-Santa Ana 25-18, 31-29 for third place. 

The Sailors are led by USA Girls U19 National team member Torrey Stafford with 4.1 kills per set. Mater Dei racked up nice wins over neighbor Los Alamitos, and locals Sunnyslope-Phoenix AZ and Notre Dame Prep-Scottsdale AZ on their way to a fourth-place finish.

The other highlight of the week was the dramatic battle at Redondo Union-Redondo Beach when rival Mira Costa-Manhattan Beach came south to meet the Sea Hawks. Costa pulled out a 26-24 first-set win, but Redondo rebounded to take the next two sets 25-22 and 25-19. 

RU led 22-14 in the fourth set but a close-out was not in the cards. Nine straight Mustang points flipped the script as a 14-4 closing run resulted in a 28-26 set win and the battle moved on to a fifth set. Costa led 7-0 in the fifth before the shell-shocked Sea Hawks got back in gear and took the contest to bonus points. Yet they fell short, with Costa winning 16-14.

In the North Coast Section, the East Bay Athletic League mega-battle is shaking out.

Amador Valley-Pleasanton and San Ramon Valley-Danville rolled on and are tied for first with 6-1 records, while Foothill-Pleasanton upset Monte Vista-Danville and that pair are a step behind at 5-2.

SBLive California Girls Volleyball Rankings (records through Oct. 1)

1. Cathedral Catholic-San Diego (San Diego Section, 27-0 overall record, No. 1 last week)
Watch Julia Blyashov, Jenna Hanes and Ryleigh Patterson in the two-day GEICO Invitational. Dons face Ponte Vedra-Ponte Vedra Beach FL on Friday at 4:30 p.m. on ESPN+ and will play Saturday against a team from the other bracket in the final at 4:30 p.m. or third-place match at 2:00 p.m., also on ESPN+.

2. Mira Costa (Southern Section, 23-3, No. 2 LW)
Wisconsin-commit Charlie Fuerbringer, also on the USA Girls U19 National team, sets Drew Wright, Tanon Rosenthal and Chloe Hynes. Fuerbringer’s serves handcuffed Redondo time and time again in the big rally past the Sea Hawks. Princeton-bound Wright had 27 kills.

3. Sierra Canyon-Chatsworth (SS, 26-3, No. 3 LW)
Danica Rach had 12 kills in 25-19, 25-18, 25-23 win at Harvard-Westlake-Studio City.

4. Marymount (SS, 25-6, No. 4 LW)
Sailors went 6-1 in Nike TOC Tournament. Along with star hitter Stafford, Marymount features setter Lauren Brooker and libero Alexa Trapani.

5. St. Francis-Mountain View (Central Coast Section, 18-0, No. 7 LW)
Lancers stepped out of CCS action to play some powers of the southland and beat Newport Harbor 25-8, 25-15, 25-14, and San Clemente 17-25, 25-21, 25-22, 25-21.

6. Palos Verdes-Palos Verdes Estates (SS, 16-4, No. 7 LW)
Sea Kings head down PCH to meet Mira Costa this week.

7. Redondo Union (SS, 18-8, No. 9 LW)
Young Sea Hawks saw junior Victoria Henkel bash 14 kills against Costa and got contributions from freshman duo of Taylor Boice and Abby Zimmerman. Redondo will be pointing at October 13 rematch and figure Mustang students will give them a friendly welcome.

8. San Clemente (SS, 15-8, No. 6 LW)
Tritons own wins over Mater Dei and Palos Verdes and losses to Marymount and Cathedral Catholic. Upset loss to Aliso Niguel-Aliso Viejo means San Clemente will be eager for revenge on October 10.

9. Lakewood (SS, 19-5, No. 8 LW)
Lancers are 9-0 in the Moore League. Lakewood’s upcoming non-league match at Harvard-Westlake will be a good test.

10. Mater Dei-Santa Ana (SS, 24-6, No. 11 LW)
Isabel Clark, Babi Gubbins and Cymarah Gordon lead the Monarchs who play a fierce schedule. Experience will benefit them in the CIF-SS playoffs next month.

11. Huntington Beach (SS, 23-3, No. 10 LW)
Good wins over Francis Parker-San Diego and Los Alamitos.

12. Torrey Pines-San Diego (SDS, 13-5, No. 13 LW)
Great sweeps at Carlsbad and at home versus La Costa Canyon.

13. Archbishop Mitty (CCS, 19-4, No. 12 LW)
Audrey Little leads the Monarchs, who swept Sacred Heart Cathedral-San Francisco 25-17, 25-12, 25-22.

14. San Ramon Valley-Danville (North Coast Section, 16-2, No. 14 LW)
Road wins over California-San Ramon and Granada-Livermore featured double dynamite duo of Audrey Ross (14 kills and 12 kills respectively) and 6-foot sophomore Lucy Chertock with 14 and 9.

15. Amador Valley-Pleasanton (NCS, 15-1, No. 15 LW)
Junior Madison May had 14 kills and sophomore Charlotte Kelly had 12 as Dons swept Carondelet-Concord 25-13, 25-17, 25-17.

16. Oak Ridge-El Dorado Hills (San Joaquin Section, 22-3, No. 16 LW)
Defending NorCal finalist Trojans won wild road battle at Rocklin 19-25, 19-25, 25-19, 25-22, 17-15. Elle Weaver ripped 19 kills and Madison Walker, in the neon green shoes, delivered 17 kills. Leilani Yang dished for 18 assists and Avery Towne had 19 assists.

17. Liberty-Bakersfield (Central Section, 19-4, No. 18 LW)
Patriots keep rolling through the South Yosemite River League.

18. Whitney-Rocklin (SJS, 23-2, Not rated)
Kaitlyn Cochran and the Wildcats get Oak Ridge and Rocklin at home in the second turn of the schedule in the Sierra Foothill League.

19. Cypress (SS, 12-1, No. 19 LW)
Cypress swept Crean Lutheran-Irvine in Empire League showdown but all sets were close in 25-23, 25-22, 26-24 decision.

20. Bishop Alemany (SS, 15-4, No. 20 LW)
Only losses are to teams above them in these rankings, Marymount, Sierra Canyon, Mitty and Liberty.

On the bubble: Chino Hills (SS), Clovis East-Clovis (CS), Clovis North-Fresno (CS), Sacred Heart Prep-Atherton (CCS), Burlingame (CCS), La Costa Canyon-Carlsbad (SDS), Rocklin (SJS), Etiwanda (SS), Santa Cruz (CCS).

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