Are we in for a repeat of sorts when it comes to the 2023 high school season and the national championship race? The first-ever vballrecruiter.com high school rankings last year saw Cathedral Catholic CA open the year in the No. 1 spot before going undefeated – dropping just one set – and ending the season on top as the undisputed national champion. The wire-to-wire performance was an impressive feat. It takes an effort on that level to beat out all the other teams in the country to earn the label as national champion.

It’s not always so simple as having a team like Cathedral Catholic dominate so handily where the choice becomes such an obvious and clear one. However, we could be in for another majestic season when it comes to this year’s fall campaign. All eyes begin on Prestonwood Christian TX, which is stacked with Division 1 athletes. Among them are 5-star junior outside and last season’s HS Sophomore of the Year Cari Spears, 5-star senior right side Jadyn Livings (USC), 5-star senior setter Camille Edwards (Michigan), 4-star senior middle Kennedy Washington, 5-star junior libero Gillian Pitts (Houston), 4-star senior outside Mikala Young (TCU) and newcomer in 4-star junior right side Taylor Clarke.

On top of that, Prestonwood is challenging itself with a beefed-up schedule that includes traveling to the prestigious Durango Fall Classic in Las Vegas in September. Prestonwood is also competing in Volleypalooza in Austin in August. That tournament features California powers Mater Dei and Cathedral Catholic making the trek.

Playing a national schedule is an important element when it comes to winning a national championship. Not only are we looking for teams to make it through the year undefeated, but doing so playing against other top teams in the nation is one of the best measurements of a team’s strength. There’s no doubt that if Prestonwood Christian runs the table like Cathedral Catholic accomplished a season ago the school is going to finish No. 1 in the nation.

The biggest question would be what if Prestonwood losses and/or no other team is able to go undefeated playing against a national schedule? There are certainly programs worthy of winning the national championship that will go undefeated without playing a national schedule. In that case, anointing a national champion becomes much more subjective, as we use our knowledge from the club season about individual players to select which team we think is most deserving. All we have to do now is wait and see which scenario plays out.

We’ll release our next Top 50 rankings update at the beginning of September, as teams will have time to get their seasons underway and the Top 50 can start to be formed based off results rather than speculation. By then, a few major tournaments will have taken place, as well as lots of local ones. Among the biggest tournaments scheduled for August include the Ann Kang Invitational in Honolulu as well as the previously-mentioned Volleypalooza, both of which vballrecruiter.com will be on hand covering. Looking ahead to September, the calendar is packed with more national events with the Nike TOC Southeast (Sept. 1-2) and Southwest (29-30) events, the Louisville Invitational Volleyball Tournament (Sept. 8-9), and of course Durango (Sept. 22-23). All these events will heavily influence the Top 50. Until then, you can find our initial Top 50 National Rankings below.

vballrecruiter.com TOP 50 NATIONAL HS RANKINGS

1. Prestonwood Christian TX

2. Mater Dei CA

3. Mother McAuley IL

4. Mira Costa CA

5. Notre Dame Academy KY

6. St. James Academy KS

7. Cathedral Catholic CA

8. Cornerstone Christian TX

9. Papillion-La Vista South NE

10. Prosper TX

***

11. Hamilton Southeastern IN

12. St. Francis Mountain View CA

13. Divine Savior Holy Angels WI

14. St. Thomas Aquinas KS

15. Benet Academy IL

16. Assumption KY

17. Sierra Canyon CA

18. Marymount CA

19. Dripping Springs TX

20. Wayzata MN

***

21. Marian MI

22. Millbrook NC

23. Washburn Rural KS

24. Yorktown IN

25. Lovejoy TX

26. Torrey Pines CA

27. Oconomowoc WI

28. Westminster Christian FL

29. Colleyville Heritage TX

30. Corona del Sol AZ

***

31. Bishop Gorman NV

32. Liberty North MO

33. Ursuline Academy OH

34. Lafayette MO

35. McCutcheon IN

36. Keller TX

37. Marist IL

38. Horizon AZ

39. Byron Nelson TX

40. Palos Verdes CA

***

41. Flint Hill VA

42. Clearwater Central Catholic FL

43. Mount Notre Dame OH

44. Cleveland TN

45. Millennium AZ

46. Magnificat OH

47. Liberty MO

48. St. Ursula Academy OH

49. Iolani HI

50. Lake Highland Prep FL

***

ON THE CUSP

Valor Christian CO

Santa Fe FL

Northville MI

Timpview UT

Redondo Union CA

Archbishop Mitty CA

Ridge Point TX

Lambert GA

Pace Academy GA

North Gwinnett GA

Boca Raton FL

Hagerty FL

Ankeny IA

Bridgeland TX

Cinco Ranch TX

Southlake Carroll TX

Mountain View UT

Middle Creek NC

Cardinal Gibbons NC

Barrington IL

Branson CA

Lakewood CA

Eureka MO

Walton GA

Brebeuf Jesuit IN

Dike-New Hartford IA

North Raleigh Christian Academy NC

Tompkins TX

Venice FL

The Woodlands TX

Lake Travis TX

Boswell TX

Rouse TX

Wakeland TX

Appleton North WI

Buford GA

Punahou HI