Sept. 14 Volleyball Power Rankings

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Each week, OzarksSportsZone.com will release local volleyball power rankings. Like our other power rankings, these rankings will be based on dominance by Class, not head-to-head.

Recent success and strength of schedule are also factored into the rankings.

Overall record, Class and previous ranking are listed in parenthesis.

AUG. 31 VOLLEYBALL POWER RANKINGS
SEPT. 7 VOLLEYBALL POWER RANKINGS

Plenty of changes in the rankings this week, with a new team joining the Top 15 and Class 4 making its case as our deepest Class.

1. Strafford (10-1-1, C2, PR: 1) – So, Chloe Rear’s back, and posting ridiculous 19-assist, 12-kill stat lines in her first game action. The Indians whipped a good Mountain Grove team that’s won sets against the likes of Republic, Willard, Green Ridge, and also lost to Willow Springs in the finals of the Cabool Tournament last weekend. Strafford’s still yet to be challenged by non-Class 4 competition this season. Strafford’s followed up that win over Mountain Grove with easy wins over Marshfield and Pleasant Hope this week, posting a +51 point differential over those four sets.

Upcoming games: Sept. 17 Strafford Volleyfest (Tournament), Sept. 20 @ Ash Grove, Sept. 22 @ Stockton

2. Ozark (9-4, C4, PR: 2) – No letdown for Ozark, as the Tigers have cruised by a solid Class 2 team (Liberty, 25-17 & 25-18) and a solid Class 4 team (Carthage, 25-19 & 25-18) in the last week. Among the four Classes, local Class 4 may have the biggest gap between its best team (Ozark) and everyone else, considering the Tigers have already beaten Kickapoo and Carthage in comfortable fashion. Ozark will see some of Kansas City’s best Class 4 programs at the Lee’s Summit North Bronco Invitational this weekend.

Upcoming games: Sept. 15 @ Neosho, Sept. 17 @ Lee’s Summit North Bronco Invitational (Tournament), Sept. 20 vs. Carl Junction

3. Eminence (8-3, C1, PR: 4) – Tough call on where to slot Eminence-Winona this week, with both taking multiple losses at the Dig For Life Challenge in SEMO over the weekend, which featured some of the best small-school teams in the state. Eminence gets the tiebreaker on winning head-to-head recently, plus earning a home win over a good Class 2 Willow Springs team last night. The Redwings went 2-1 in their pool at the Dig for Life Challenge, losing to Class 2 Saxony Lutheran while beating Class 2 Scott City and Class 1 Meadow Heights. In bracket play, Eminence pushed a 13-win Class 4 Jackson team to an eventual three-set loss (20-25, 26-24, 22-25).

Upcoming games: Sept. 19 vs. Houston, Sept. 24 @ Carl Junction Classic (Tournament)

4. Rogersville (13-4, C3, PR: 5) – No obvious choice for the No. 4 spot here, so Rogersville moves up by default thanks to a couple of competitive three-set losses at the Fayetteville (Ark.) Challenge over the weekend. Rogersville’s losses were to the host school, Fayetteville, and Ft. Smith (Ark.) Southside. Fayetteville, which finished runner-up in the Arkansas 7A state tournament last year, is currently 12-0 and has only dropped sets to Ozark (an eventual 3-1 win) and Bishop Kelley (Okla.) so far this season. Ft. Smith Southside is 12-4 overall with one of those four losses coming to Ozark. Last weekend figures to prep the Wildcats well for the postseason and a likely playoff match with Helias Catholic. The Wildcats bounced back with a two-set win (26-24, 25-18) over a scrappy Glendale team night, behind 16 kills and nine digs from Birdie Hendrickson, 12 digs from Ashley Pitts, 12 assists by McKenna Miller and 10 assists by Hanna Hendrickson.

Upcoming games: Sept. 19 vs. Willard, Sept. 20 @ Buffalo, Sept. 22 @ Springfield Catholic

5. MV-BT/Liberty (8-2, C2, PR: 3) – The Eagles fell to Class 3 Blair Oaks (11-0 overall) in the title game of the West Plains Showdown last weekend. Liberty also dropped the first set in pool play action vs. West Plains, before recovering to win in three. By comparison, Liberty swept its way to the West Plains Tournament title last year, handing Blair Oaks one of its three losses that season. Certainly some early season adjustments to be made, but only a major upset would prevent us from seeing a Liberty-Strafford rubber match in the state playoffs. Liberty knocked off Houston 25-17, 25-9 last night behind a balanced team effort, with Brenley Stearns, Brook Conway (11 assists) and Piper Francis combining for 19 kills, while Marissa Berry issued 15 assists.

Upcoming games: Sept. 15 @ Salem, Sept. 19 @ Winona, Sept. 20 vs. Thayer, Sept. 22 @ Mountain Grove

6. Kickapoo (14-4, C4, PR: 7) – The Chiefs finally crack into this Power 6, err, Power 7 tier on the strength of winning the Springfield Classic last weekend. Kickapoo posted wins over Glendale, Rogers (Ark.), Webster Groves, Fatima, Oak Park and then Nixa (three sets) in the finals. Senior Allison Long leads the Chiefs with 98 kills through 41 sets, on a 48.3 kill percentage. Sophomore Azyah Green has bolstered the defense, averaging 1.3 blocks per set. Kickapoo’s played a very good schedule. The Chiefs are the only Missouri team to win a set against Class 3 Helias Catholic (11-1 overall) so far this season. Kickapoo has a home game tomorrow that will weigh heavily on the Ozark Conference race when it hosts Lebanon, with varsity starting at 5:30 due to the Chiefs-Falcons football game at Glendale later that night.

Upcoming games: Sept. 15 vs. Lebanon, Sept. 20 @ Nixa, Sept. 22 @ Parkview

7. Winona (11-6, C1, PR: 6) – The notable result from Winona’s 3-2 showing at the Dig for Life Challenge at SEMO was a 25-21, 25-15 loss to New Haven in pool play. That’s a matchup we’ve seen at state the past two years. New Haven is showing the signs of being a Class 1 state title contender in 2016, after finishing as runner-up a year ago. The Shamrocks (15-1 overall) have been on fire in 2016 and won the DFLC by defeating Notre Dame Cape Girardeau (13-3-3 overall) in the finals. As for Winona, the Wildcats returned from a busy weekend by escaping in three sets for a win (13-25, 25-10, 25-23) at an improved Summersville team last night.

Upcoming games: Sept. 15 @ Clearwater, Sept. 19 vs. Mountain View-Birch Tree/Liberty, September 22 vs. Dexter

8. Fair Grove (15-4, C2, PR: 9) – Despite an ugly two-set loss to Willard last Thursday, it’s been an otherwise solid week for the Eagles. Fair Grove won the Ash Grove Tournament over the weekend, besting Ash Grove in three sets in the semifinals then defeating Wheaton 25-12, 25-11 in the finals. Add in a 25-15, 25-19 home win over Springfield Catholic last night, and Fair Grove has won nine of 11 matches this month. Sophomore Alana Findley (45.3 kill percentage) continues to post phenomenal production, with 125 kills, 111 digs and 44 solo blocks, which lead Fair Grove in all three categories.

Upcoming games: Sept. 20 vs. Skyline, Sept. 22 @ Mt. Vernon

9. Nixa (9-4, C4, PR: 15) – Here we have a logjam of Class 4 COC-Large teams that could all beat one another on a given night. Nixa’s story is a phenomenal one, as the Eagles have adapted with a new-look lineup to remain one of the area’s top programs. I was a little hesitant a few weeks ago about putting the Eagles in the Top 15 considering what they graduated. Turns out, I didn’t have Nixa ranked high enough. The Eagles played Helias Catholic to a two-point set loss in a recent match, then pushed Kickapoo to three sets in the title game of the Springfield Classic last weekend. In last night’s home win over Willard, junior Taylor Gregory had a superb match with 19 assists and 19 digs.

Upcoming games: Sept. 15 @ Branson, Sept. 20 vs. Kickapoo, Sept. 22 @ Republic

10. Willard (15-2-2, C4, PR: 8) – Willard capped off a busy stretch of seven games in six days with a disappointing three-set loss at Nixa last night. Nixa’s defense was really good last night and limited Willard’s attacking; Madison Grantham and Taylor Gregory combined for 40 digs to lead Nixa’s defense. Willard’s still the favorite to make it out of Class 4, District 10, thanks to recent wins over Central, Hillcrest and Lebanon.

Upcoming games: Sept. 19 @ Rogersville, Sept. 20 vs. Neosho, Sept. 22 @ Webb City

11. Carthage (7-2, C4, PR: 10) – Like I mentioned with Nixa, we could see a lot of “cannibalization” among COC-Large teams once conference play gets into full swing over the next weeks. After Ozark, there’s not much difference between the four teams – Nixa, Carthage, Willard, Carl Junction – in that second tier, and even a Republic, Branson or Webb City may snatch a win from one of them on the right night. Carthage followed up a two-set win at East Newton on night with a 25-19, 25-18 road loss to Ozark last night.

Upcoming games: Sept. 15 vs. Carl Junction, Sept. 17 @ Pittsburg (Kan.) Invitational, Sept. 20 vs. Branson, Sept. 22 vs. McDonald County

12. Aurora (9-5, C3, PR: 12) – The Houn’ Dawgs continue to stack up wins over Class 3 competition, sweeping Mt. Vernon, Reeds Spring, Hollister and Marshfield over the past two weeks. Aurora has a +51 point differential in those eight sets. Aurora, a team that currently plays just one senior, figures to be even better in 2017, but they’re equipped to claim a third straight district title this year. Aurora’s competition level amps up this weekend.

Upcoming games: Sept. 17 @ Pittsburg (Kan.) Invitational (Tournament), Sept. 22 vs. Seneca

13. Wheaton (10-2-1, C1, PR: Unranked) – New blood in the Top 15 and the Bulldogs have earned it. Despite a three-set loss to East Newton last night, Wheaton has built a solid resume: wins over Sarcoxie, Pierce City (twice) and a split with Ash Grove. A trio of seniors are pivotal to Wheaton’s success. Emily Killion, at 5’10”, is one of the top players in local Class 1 and she leads Wheaton with 104 kills (3.71 per set). Setter Adison Goostree (286 assists, 10.21 per set) runs the offense and Karle Mason (138 digs) leads the defense.

Upcoming games: Sept. 15 @ Thomas Jefferson, Sept. 19 @ Verona, Sept. 22 vs. Southwest

14. Miller (13-3-1, C1, PR: 11) – A bit of rough week for the Cardinals, as they took losses to Marionville last Thursday, then Fair Grove and Pierce City at the Ash Grove Tournament over the weekend. Miller bounced back last night with a 31-29, 25-14 home win over Greenfield, with Dalyn Hadlock going for 25 assists and Tori Collins tallying 16 kills. Class 1, District 8 should be a fun district tournament, with Miller, Pierce City and Wheaton all in that same group. Two big conference games ahead for the Cardinals next week.

Upcoming games: Sept. 19 vs. Billings, Sept. 20 @ Pierce City, Sept. 22 vs. Sarcoxie.

15. Clever (7-4-3, C2, PR: 13) – Inconsistently continues to plague the Blue Jays, who seem to be playing up or down to their competition thus far. Clever needed three sets to beat a one-win Spokane team last week, but hammered an 8-2 Galena team on the road last night, 25-5, 25-12. It’s looking like a Clever-Marionville rematch for the District 10 title next month.

Upcoming games: Sept. 15 vs. Blue Eye, Sept. 20 @ El Dorado Springs

Knocking on the door: Carl Junction (5-6, C4), Hillcrest (10-2-1), Nevada (7-0, C3), Willow Springs (12-3-2, C2), Sarcoxie (10-4-3, C2), Marionville (C2), Pierce City (6-4-1, C1)

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