May 15, 2023

New Jersey high school volleyball programs continue to have a strong presence outside of the state according to the USA Today/AVCA National Rankings this week. Three NJ high school programs received top 10 rankings in the Northeast Region as follows:

Northeast Region:

1. Shaler High School (Pa.)

Record: 13-1

2. Old Bridge (N.J.)

Record: 20-0

3. Dock Mennonite Academy (Pa.)

Record: 19-0

4. Northeastern High School (Pa.)

Record: 23-6-2

5. Scotch Plains-Fanwood (N.J.)

Record: 20-1

6. Darien High School (Conn.)

Record: 15-0

7. Parkland High School (Pa.)

Record: 23-3-1

8. Southern Regional High School (N.J.)

Record: 17-1

9. Needham High School (Mass.)

Record: 13-0

10. North Allegheny High School (Pa.)

Record: 7-2

These teams follow the NJP Top three with Old Bridge at #1, SPF #2, and Southern #3. Old Bridge remains the only undefeated team in NJ but will have a rough schedule in County tournament play as well as their Group 4 state playoff run. It may be the toughest test yet for the team that has dominated the high school volleyball landscape with 4 straight state titles entering this season. SPF and Southern boast just one loss with both teams losing to Old Bridge this season. SPF will have a much easier ride in their county and state sectional and are heavily favored to win a group state championship.

Old Bridge has also pierced the Top 15 in the overall National ranking. Here is the latest from USA Today/AVCA:

1. Newport Harbor High School (Calif.)

Region: West | Record: 33-2 | PR: 2

2. Clovis East High School (Calif.)

Region: West | Record: 36-3 | PR: 3

3. Moanalua High School (Hawaii)

Region: West | Record: 33-3 | PR: 4

4. Loyola High School (Calif.)

Region: West | Record: 24-2 | PR: 1

5. Glenbard West High School (Ill.)

Region: Midwest | Record: 30-1 | PR: 5

6. Marist High School (Ill.)

Region: Midwest | Record: 30-1 | PR: 7

7. Shaler High School (Pa.)

Region: Northeast | Record: 13-1 | PR: 10

8. Roncalli High School (Ind.)

Region: Midwest | Record: 27-5 | PR: 13

9. Corona Del Mar High School (Calif.)

Region: West | Record: 21-8 | PR: NR

10. Mira Costa High School (Calif.)

Region: West | Record: 30-6 | PR: 9

11. Old Bridge High School (N.J)

Region: Northeast | Record: 20-0 | PR: 12

12. Glenbrook South High School (Ill.)

Region: Midwest | Record: 25-1 | PR: 14

13. St. Xavier High School (Ohio.)

Region: Midwest | Record: 19-1 | PR: 16

14. Dock Mennonite Academy (Pa.)

Region: Northeast | Record: 19-0 | PR: 17

15. Cathedral Catholic High School (Calif.)

Region: West | Record: 20-3 | PR: NR

16. Beckman High School (Calif.)

Region: West | Record: 27-7 | PR: 6

17. Perry High School (Ariz.)

Region: West | Record: 35-6-2 | PR: 18

18. Sandra Day O’Connor High School (Ariz.)

Region: West | Record: 35-7-1 | PR: 19

19. De Smet Jesuit High School (Mo.)

Region: Midwest | Record: 27-1 | PR: 20

20. Highland High School (Ariz.)

Region: West | Record: 35-4-2 | PR: 21

21. Southwest Miami (Miami, Fla.)

Region: South | Record: 20-2 | PR: 22

22. Winter Park High School (Winter Park, Fla.)

Region: South | Record: 21-3 | PR: 23

23. Lincoln-Way East High School (Frankfort, Ill.)

Region: Midwest | Record: 26-5 | PR: 25

24. Coronado High School (Calif.)

Region: West | Record: 33-4 | PR: NR

25. Olympus High School (Utah.)

Region: West | Record: 14-1 | PR: 8

Noting that there are only 2 undefeated teams in the USA Today top 25, and Old Bridge is one of them. Both undefeated teams are from the Northeast.

Here are the links to the USA Top 25 National and Region Rankings for the future:

Boys high school volleyball rankings: USA TODAY/AVCA Super 25, Week 9 (usatodayhss.com)

Boys volleyball regional rankings: 2023 USA TODAY Sports/AVCA, Week 9 (usatodayhss.com)