The Durango Fall Classic has long been the gold standard when it comes to national high school tournaments. Day 2 at Durango High School, when the top 16 teams in the field compete for the championship, delivers the best that high school volleyball has to offer and is head-and-shoulders above any other day of competition during the season. The final results play a huge role and go a long way in determining the national champion at the end of the year.

Given that, this year’s field could deliver the most epic edition yet and that’s no exaggeration. It’s impossible for the Durango results to not heavily influence this year’s national championship race as the top teams in the country are set to go at it for the prestigious title. On top of that, four major tournament champions from this season are participating in 2023, starting with top-ranked Mira Costa CA, which captured the Ann Kang Invitational in August by defeating Cornerstone Christian TX. Cornerstone finished first at the Nike TOC Southeast event at the beginning of the month, while Volleypalooza champ Mater Dei CA – as well as Volleypalooza runner-up Prestonwood Christian TX – are also in the mix. Wrapping it up is recent Louisville Invitational Volleyball Tournament winner Assumption KY. Any one of the five teams could take over the top spot in the nation – or in Mira Costa’s case retain it – should they leave Las Vegas this weekend with the coveted trophy.

Of course, given the strength of the field, there is a chance none of the five finish first and another school lays claim to the throne. Defending national and tournament champion Cathedral Catholic CA could be one of them. A school like Torrey Pines CA has five-set losses to both Mira Costa and Cathedral Catholic and shouldn’t be overlooked, while Archbishop Mitty CA started the week undefeated and is the highest-seeded team still without a loss.

Number of Teams: 64

vballrecruiter.com Nationally-Ranked Teams (16):

1. Mira Costa CA

2. Cornerstone Christian TX

4. Archbishop Mitty CA

5. Assumption KY

6. Mater Dei CA

7. Prestonwood Christian TX

9. Cathedral Catholic CA

16. Torrey Pines CA

22. St. Francis/Mountain View CA

23. Sierra Canyon CA

25. Xavier Prep AZ

34. Redondo Union CA

39. Marymount CA

40. Lone Peak UT

43. Huntington Beach CA

45. Kamehameha HI

5-Star Athletes to Know

Avery Jackson SR OH The Hockaday School (Stanford beach)
Babi Gubbins SR OH Long Beach Wilson (Stanford beach)
Zoey Burgess SR MB Lone Peak UT (Kansas)
Camille Edwards SR S Prestonwood Christian TX (Michigan)
Jadyn Livings SR OH/RS Prestonwood Christian TX (USC)
Alex Bower SR S Skyview ID (BYU)
Charlie Fuerbringer SR S Mira Costa CA (Wisconsin)
Taylor Deckert JR L Mira Costa (USC)
Kristen Simon JR L Assumption KY (Wisconsin)
Cari Spears JR OH Prestonwood Christian TX
Gillian Pitts JR L Prestonwood Christian TX (Houston)
Megan Fitch JR OH Cornerstone Christian TX (Texas AM)
Jaidyn Jager JR OH La Costa Canyon CA
Audrey Flanagan SO OH Mira Costa CA
Ayanna Watson SO OH Bishop Gorman NV
Layli Ostovar SO OH Mater Dei CA
Finley Krystkowiak SO OH Torrey Pines CA
Naomi Livings FR OH Prestonwood Christian TX
Nyla Livings FR MB Prestonwood Christian TX

4-Star Athletes to Know

Jenna Hanes SR MB Cathedral Catholic (Michigan)
Amanda Saeger SR S Cathedral Catholic (DePaul)
Grace Carroll SR RS Cornerstone Christian (Baylor)
Taylor Williams SR OH St. Francis/Mountain View CA (Duke)
Leilia Toailoa SR OH Bishop Gorman NV (Alabama)
Mikala Young SR OH Prestonwood Christian TX (TCU)
Kennedy Washington SR MB Prestonwood Christian TX
Isabel Clark SR OH Mater Dei CA (San Diego)
Cymarah Gordon SR RS Mater Dei CA (Michigan)
Blaykli Bobik SR OH Queen Creek AZ (BYU)
Elina Mortensen SR OH Corner Canyon UT (BYU)
Alanah Clemente JR RS Bishop Alemany CA
Kalyssa Blackshear JR MB Torrance CA (Louisville)
Lauren Lynch JR L Sierra Canyon CA (San Diego)
Maya Evens JR L Cathedral Catholic CA (Maryland)
Maya Baker JR S Archbishop Mitty CA (Notre Dame)
Taylor Cook JR S Prestonwood Christian TX (Kansas)
Taylor Clarke JR RS Prestonwood Christian TX
Izzy Mahaffey JR L Queen Creek AZ (Long Beach State)
Brianna Brewer JR OH Rancho Cucamonga CA
Milly McGee SO S Mira Costa CA
Abby Zimmerman SO OH Redondo Union CA
Makenna Crosson SO OH/RS Archbishop Mitty CA
Kylie Parker SO OH Flintridge Sacred Heart CA
Elle Vandeweghe SO MB Marymount CA
Bellamie Beus SO OH Skyview ID
Blake Cussen FR RS Branson CA
Ava Burgess FR OH Lone Peak UT
Cedra Talaga FR OH Long Beach Poly CA
Hanna McGinest FR OH Sierra Canyon CA
Elizabeth Bower FR OH Skyview ID
Tessa Larkin FR OH Xavier Prep AZ

Outlook: As mentioned in the intro, four schools have finished first at national tournaments already in Mira Costa, Mater Dei, Cornerstone Christian and Assumption, while a fifth in Prestonwood Christian finished runner up at Volleypalooza. Cathedral Catholic – which lost to Mater Dei in the semifinals of Volleypalooza – defeated Mater Dei earlier this month in the Dave Mohs championship match at a tournament in Southern California. Archbishop Mitty owns a victory already this season over last year’s California Open Division state runner up in St. Francis/Mountain View, which is also competing this weekend at Durango. Another storyline is Xavier Prep AZ, which entered the week 6-0 without losing a set yet. Then there is Sierra Canyon CA, which tied for third at Ann Kang in August. Two other schools who are typically among the final 16 are Redondo Union CA and Marymount CA and neither can be discounted. While ‘Iolani HI is unable to make the trip this year, another Hawaii school in Kamehameha/Kapalama is a Durango constant. The Warriors have opened the year 12-1, with their only setback to one-loss Punahou HI, which is the only school so far this season to beat Mira Costa. Punahou also owns a victory over another Durango participant in Huntington Beach CA, which defeated Sierra Canyon at Ann Kang. The storylines are plentiful at this year’s event, and yet another is a team like Branson CA, which was the California Division 1 state champion last year. They are all, as is everyone, fighting to win their Day 1 pool. With it comes a ticket to the top 16 and the fun and excitement of Day 2 at Durango High. The two-day tournament always comes with tons of anticipation and even with the hype surrounding this year’s field exceeding the norm, there is no way the 2023 version of Durango can disappoint!

Prediction: Aiming to pick the correct winner is no easy task given the number of teams which can rise up and win it all. Preseason No. 1 Prestonwood Christian has all the talent to wind up on top. Current No. 1 Mira Costa has the best ball control of any team in the field but not the same firepower. Mater Dei, Assumption and Cornerstone Christian have all shown what they are capable of, while Cathedral Catholic plays with a ton of resiliency. I don’t see a team outside of one of those six capturing the title. In the end, Assumption keeps up its strong play of late and downs Mira Costa in the championship match.