California's Courts Ablaze: Unpacking the Latest Girls Volleyball State Rankings

Wow, what a whirlwind September it's been for California high school girls' volleyball! The courts have been absolutely buzzing with incredible plays, nail-biting finishes, and, let's be honest, some truly surprising upsets that have everyone talking. As we hit the tail end of the month, with rankings updated as of September 29, 2026, it's a perfect time to take stock of who's dominating the nets and who's making a compelling case for climbing even higher.

Leading the pack, as many might have guessed, is Mater Dei-Santa Ana (No. 1). Seriously, what can you say about a team that's 24-0? It's simply phenomenal. Their recent victory over Orange Lutheran, even dropping a set, showed their resilience, and it’s truly exciting to see freshman Jimin Seung stepping up with 14 kills. Westley Matavao and Katherine Nowak, each adding 11 kills, are just further proof of this team’s incredible depth. They’re a force, plain and simple.

Hot on their heels, at No. 2, are the Sierra Canyon-Chatsworth Trailblazers. With a stellar 25-1 record, they’re not just winning; they’re often dominating. Sweeping Chaminade and Notre Dame-Sherman Oaks isn’t easy, and Hanna McGinest, with her 17 kills against Chaminade, is clearly a powerhouse. And talk about talent – this team is absolutely loaded with Division I commits, from Lucky Fasavalu heading to Missouri to Kendall Omoruyi to Nebraska, and even USC-bound McKenna McIntosh. It’s a roster that dreams are made of!

Rounding out the top five, we see Torrey Pines-San Diego at No. 3 (11-3), Archbishop Mitty-San Jose at No. 4 (13-2), and Mira Costa-Manhattan Beach at No. 5 (11-4). Each of these teams has shown remarkable consistency and flashes of brilliance. Archbishop Mitty, for instance, battled through a tough four-setter against St. Ignatius-San Francisco, showcasing their grit. Chayse Courtney's incredible 5.2 kills per set and a .532 hitting percentage? That’s just next-level play!

Now, let's talk about some real drama! The upset that truly sent ripples through the volleyball community has to be Harvard-Westlake (No. 11) finally, finally, breaking their 21-match losing streak against Marymount-Los Angeles (No. 10). For years, Marymount had their number, with the last Harvard-Westlake win dating all the way back to 2015. But on September 25th, they pulled off an epic five-set victory – 25-18, 21-25, 18-25, 25-23, 15-13. Brooke Cotter, Kahala Faucher, and Ruby Sampson each tallying 12 kills, along with Grace Ge's 31 assists and Ashley Sakonju's 15 digs, painted a picture of a team that simply refused to lose. What a moment for them!

Down in the Sierra Foothill League, there’s an intense battle brewing between St. Francis-Sacramento (No. 18) and Rocklin (No. 12). St. Francis recently defeated Folsom on the road and then, just eight days later, managed to beat Rocklin at home in a hard-fought match. Against Folsom, Palmeri and Sutton were stellar with 12 kills each. Then, Sutton added 13 kills against Rocklin. Rocklin, to their credit, saw Kaleigh Morasci and Sidney Jones each rack up 15 kills in that match, showing they certainly didn't go down without a fight. Right now, these two fantastic teams are tied at the top of their league with identical 5-1 records. You just know their next matchup is going to be absolutely electric!

Other notable teams making waves include Newport Harbor-Newport Beach (No. 6) with an impressive 25-5 record, Santa Margarita-Rancho Santa Margarita (No. 7) showcasing their resilience against Orange Lutheran, and Los Alamitos (No. 8) sweeping through Huntington Beach and Fountain Valley. Cathedral Catholic-San Diego (No. 9) is also making a strong statement, with sophomore outside hitter Baylee Wilson leading their charge with nearly 5 kills per set – quite the talent to watch!

Further down the list, but certainly not to be overlooked, we have Crean Lutheran-Irvine (No. 13) with a fantastic 20-4 record, already looking forward to a crucial rematch against Sunny Hills. Orange Lutheran-Orange (No. 14), despite tough losses to Mater Dei and Santa Margarita, showed real fight, with Korynn Mayo and Addison Underwood consistently delivering. Monte Vista-Danville (No. 15) remains undefeated in their East Bay Athletic League, powered by Kennedy Whyte's stellar offensive output. And keep an eye on Redondo Union-Redondo Beach (No. 16) and their upcoming rematch with Mira Costa – that one promises to be a thriller!

Rounding out this exciting top 20, we find San Ramon Valley-Danville (No. 17), Buchanan-Clovis (No. 19), and Foothill-Pleasanton (No. 20). Each of these teams has earned their spot through dedication and strong performances. From unbroken streaks to thrilling comebacks and the constant push for league supremacy, the California high school girls' volleyball season is proving to be nothing short of captivating. There’s so much talent on display, and we can't wait to see how these rankings shift in the weeks to come!