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June 16, 2008

Christine Jinbo & Kirstin Olsen
Rivals High

FINAL UPDATE of StudentSportsVolleyball.com
FAB 50 National High School Boys Volleyball Rankings
(Updates after games as of June 11th previous rank in parenthesis.)

Click here for Final 2008 Rankings

1. (1)Valencia (Calif.): 36-2
The Vikings finished the season as the No. 1 ranked boys high school team in the nation, the same spot they began in the preseason. Valencia won the Foothill League title for the eighth consecutive season, and has not lost a league match in that span. This season, the Vikings were in the championship match of three prestigious tournaments, the Best of the West (second place), Karch Kiraly Tournament of Champions (second place), and the Redondo Varsity Classic (first place) where they suffered their only losses of the year. The Vikings recorded marquee wins over Mira Costa, Newport Harbor, Santa Barbara, Santa Margarita, Corona del Mar, Los Alamitos, San Clemente, Long Beach Wilson, and Dos Pueblos. They had a 94-11 game record and outscored opponents 2,476 to 1,678 throughout the season. Jamey Ker was named CIF SS Div. II Player of the Year and led the Vikings with 309 kills. Jon Griffith added 249 kills throughout the season. Jim Baughman recorded 202 kills, and Skyler Seymour notched 160 kills. Jake Piva had 140 kills and Derrick Trent rounded up the offense with his 119 kills. The outside hitters combined for a .402 hitting percentage, the middle blockers put together an incredible .546 hitting percentage and the right sides hit .373. The team hitting percentage throughout the season was .429. Defensively, Eric Miyamoto led the team with 279 digs. With seven of Valencia's starting line-up off to top Division I programs next year Ker (UCLA), Piva (UCSB), Griffith (University of Hawaii), Trent (LBSU), Seymour (BYU), Baughman (LBSU), Miyamoto (University of Hawaii) there is no doubt why they are the No. 1 team in the US.


2. (3)Mira Costa (Manhattan Beach, Calif.): 32-5
Tough early season games taught Costa some humility and forced the team to get back to basics. The Mustangs had key regular season wins over Long Beach Wilson and Loyola of Los Angeles, but suffered key losses to Santa Barbara, Valencia, Newport Harbor, and Corona del Mar. They turned it on at the end of the season, and fell in close contest to Valencia at the Redondo Classic, 25-16, 21-25, 18-16. The Mustangs charged through the CIF SS Div. I playoffs and ousted Crespi of Encino, Orange Lutheran, and Loyola. In the CIF SS Div. I Final, Coach Mike Cook's squad came back from a two game deficit to beat Newport Harbor 18-25, 27-29, 25-20, 25-19, 15-9, and earned Costa's sixth CIF SS title, the first for the school since 2002. Seniors Steven Mochalski (USC) and Dylan Kordic (Stanford) were named CIF SS Div. I Co-Players of the Year. Will Thomas (UCI ) and junior Ian Satterfield were also named to the All CIF SS First Team. Named to the All CIF SS Second Team were Brendan Ray (USC) and junior Evan Licht. Satterfield, Licht and sophomore Eric Mochalski will be counted on to lead the Mustangs next year.


3. (4) Iolani (Honolulu, Hawaii): 23-2
Iolani opened the season as the No. 1 team in Hawaii, but suffered two regular season losses to arch rival Punahou and fell in the polls. The season looked bleak as Stanford bound Brad Lawson nursed some nagging injuries, but Nick Christman, Skylar Tajima and the rest of the Raiders would not let the season end. The team battled to get to the finals of the Hawaii High School Athletic Assiciation Div. I State Championship Tournament, and twice beaten by the Buffanblu this season, faced the three time defending champions for the third time in the final. When opposite hitter Nick Christman went down with an ankle injury in the third game, it looked as if Punahou was headed towards its fourth title. Coach Mike Among watched as the team leader, Lawson, hitched the wagons and carried the team to a 25-22, 22-25, 25-20 victory. Lawson collected 14 of his 25 kills in the final game and committed only four errors in 50 attempts. The Raiders have great talent in junior Taylor Donovan and State Championships All Tournament freshman setter Logan Nowack. Coach Among will lose a huge part of his team in Hawaii State Player of the Year Lawson and All Tournament Team selection Tajima.

4. (2) Elder (Cincinnati, Ohio): 29-0
It was quite a year for the Panthers, their undefeated season, in any state, is no easy task. But, without the strength of schedule from out of state competition, the Panthers fell in the finals rankings two spots. The Ohio High School Athletic Association does not recognize boys volleyball as an official sanctioned sport, but hosts a state tournament, where the Panthers bested the 41 other Division I teams that competed in the Ohio State Boys Volleyball Div. I State Championship. In the semifinals, Elder took care of Hilliard Darby 25-23, 23-25, 25-9, 25-19, and earned a spot in the finals. The Panthers then went on to beat St. Xavier 25-23, 25-16, 29-27, for the fifth and final time this season in the state championships. Craig Wessels, Andrew Wessels and Alex Bretke were all voted to the All-State Boys' Volleyball Team for 2008.

5. (5) Newport Harbor (Newport Beach, Calif.): 32-4
The Sailors had arguably one of the toughest regular season schedules and were pushed to five games only twice. Teams like La Costa Canyon of San Diego, Woodbridge of Irvine, Tesoro Rancho Santa Margarita, Mira Costa, Los Alamitos, Fountain Valley, Valencia, Bullard of Fresno, Corona del Mar, San Clemente and Santa Margarita all fell to Newport in four games or less. The team's key losses came only in tournaments and at the hands of two teams, Valencia and Mira Costa. The Sailors lack of five-game experience may have led to their season ending loss in the finals of the CIF SS Div. I playoffs to Mira Costa,18-25, 27-29, 25-20, 25-29, 15-9. Newport's stellar line up included All CIF SS First Team selections such as setter 6-foot-8 Kyle Caldwell (UCLA), and Tucker Peleuses (USC) as well as All CIF SS Second Team selections,Mark Lieberman (UCSB) and Max Volz. The Sailors lose eight seniors this year but had a great run at the No. 1 spot for four weeks after some great wins over Mira Costa, Valencia and Corona del Mar during the regular season.

6. (17) Wheaton Warrenville South (Wheaton, Ill.): 31-7
The Tigers, ranked among the top teams in Illinois throughout the preseason, suffered an early season loss to Glenbrook North, but quickly avenged the loss in the finals of the Tiger Classic. As the team battled injuries, it struggled through the mid-season and dropped matches to Glenbard East of Lombard and Naperville Central. WWS continued to drop in the rankings when it failed to defeat the same teams for the second time this season. Coach Bill Schreier's squad dug deep for the Illinois High School Association Div. I playoffs and benefited from the program's winning tradition as it downed the state's top ranked team, Providence of Chicago, to advance to the finals. The Tigers quickly dispatched Buffalo Grove in the final match, 25-15, 25-20. First Team All-State senior outside Erik Hardek won three state titles with the Tigers. This dynasty collected four state titles over five years, and graduates only two seniors this year. Coach Schreier will depend on juniors, 6-foot-9 Rob Samp, 6-foot-10 Neill Nystrom and 6-foot-7 Neil Whittington, to lead the Tigers to their next state title.

7. (7) Bullard, (Fresno, Calif.): 36-3
The Knights steadily rose in the rankings and completed their Cinderella season with a CIF Central Section Div. I Championship over Buchanan of Clovis, 25-15, 26-24, 27-25. The Central Section Champs made school history and broke the single season win record with 36, brought home the school's 24th league title in 25 years and achieved legendary status with a seventh CIF CS Div. I Championship. The team was led by four-year varsity players and Co-Captains Jordan Burriss, Campbell Fourchy and Libero Brendan Mills. With eight seniors graduating, the Knights have their work cut out for them in 2009.

8. (8) Santa Barbara (Calif.): 27-4
The Dons capped a stellar season with their third consecutive trip to the CIF SS Div. II finals. With a huge preseason win over Valencia at the Best of the West tournament, Coach Chad Arneson expected great things from this team. Santa Barbara was crowned Channel League champs and had key wins over Mira Costa, Oaks Christian, and Corona Del Mar. The Dons suffered key losses to Bullard, Loyola and Valencia, but used the experience and stormed through the playoffs. Led by Will Montgomery (UCI), Santa Barbara overcame a one game deficit and ousted CdM in the semifinals after being down in the second game 18-24. Coach Arneson's squad came back to win game two, 26-24 and the match, 16-25, 26-24, 22-25, 25-17, 19-17. The Dons then met up with rival Valencia in the final for the third time in the past four years, where the Vikings ousted the Dons, 25-16, 32-30, 25-22. The Dons were led by seniors Andy Abayan, Danny Miller (UCI), Will Montgomery (UCI), Craig McGowan, Peter Aronchick. With five starters graduating, the Dons will look to rebuild with juniors Taylor Fauntleroy, and Chris Pratt.

9. (24) Buffalo Grove (Buffalo Grove, Ill.): 29-5
Coach Matt Aiello led the Bison to the finals of the IHSA State playoffs, and an impressive overall season record. Senior captains Tom Angerame, Joe Ascher and Matt Bronson, covered the court at the setter, opposite and libero positions. Bronson, a All State First Team Selection, compiled 561 digs for the season with a single match high of 34. Ascher earned All State Second Team honors and totaled 356 kills for the season. Ascher delivered the ball for the Bison and earned special mention honors with 830 assists this season. The Bison came up short to the Wheaton Warrenville Tigers twice this year, once at the Tiger Classic and most recently in the finals of the state playoffs, 25-15, 25-20. The Bison graduate eight seniors and their entire starting lineup for 2008. Coach Aiello begins the rebuilding process with Chris Falknor at the outside and Dan Wichman at the setter position.


10. (11) Loyola (Los Angeles, Calif.): 25-4
The Cubs began the season with a third place finish at the Best of the West Tournament in Poway, Calif. where they defeated Corona del Mar and Los Alamitos and fell to the eventual tournament champion, Santa Barbara. In an intense rivalry match, the Cubs lost a thrilling five gamer to Mira Costa of Manhattan Beach, before a crowd of nearly 5,000. Undaunted, the team traveled to face then, No. 2 Santa Barbara and bested the Dons on their home turf in five. With a finish atop the Mission League without a loss, Loyola went into the CIF SS Div. I playoffs as the No. 3 seed. In the quarterfinals, the Cubs came up against Los Alamitos for the third time this season. Previously, the teams had split matches at the Best of the West. In the playoff match up, the Cubs snatched victory from the jaws of defeat, and bested the Griffins in five, led by All CIF SS First Team selection, 6-foot-5 senior opposite Brian Scilacci. In the next round, Loyola was stopped in their tracks by a Mira Costa team that had caught fire, and went on to win the Div. I crown. The Cubs will miss the leadership of starters, Scilacci and middle Mark Portman. Coach Mike Boehle will build with five returning starters including All CIF SS Div. I second team selection setter, Matt Mirick and third team selection, Michael Dye.


11. (10) Corona del Mar (Calif.): 26-7
The Sea Kings dominated their Pacific League opponents and were crowned champions with a 7-0 record. They won the OC Championships, placed third at the Santa Barbara Karch Kiraly Tournament of Champions, and were CIF SS Div. II Semifinalists. Coach Conti's squad had key wins over Foothill, Laguna Beach, Newport Harbor, Mira Costa, Bullard, Buchanan, and Huntington Beach and big losses to Newport Harbor, Mira Costa, Valencia, Santa Barbara, Foothill, and Laguna Beach. CdM boasts Div. I recruits: seniors Gus Ells (Stanford) and Jeff Carlson (USC). Sophomore Weston Nielsen and junior Dylan Davis were also key contributors and will be a force next year.


12. (12) Punahou (Honolulu, Hawaii): 21-3
Hawaii schools changed their boys volleyball season from the fall to the spring last year, and enabled Punahou to travel to California to compete at the Best of the West Tournament in Poway, Calif. The BuffanBlu performed well at the tournament, but were plagued by injuries and sickness throughout the weekend. Coach Rick Tune's squad proved mid-season rankings wrong and defeated cross-town rivals Iolani twice during the season. Punahou headed into the HHSAA Div. I State Championship Tournament as the No. 1 seed and reached the final match versus Iolani. The three-time defending champion Buffanblu, with 27 state titles to their name, failed to defeat the Raiders after they twice defeated them in ILH League play, 25-22, 22-25, 25-20. Although the BuffanBlu graduate Stanford bound All State setter Erik Shoji, the young team has plenty of fire-power in junior Maddison McKibbin and sophomore Henry Cassiday.


13. (18) Cumberland Valley (Mechanicsberg, Penn.): 26-2
The Eagles had a great year as they moved up in the Pennsylvania Volleyball Coaches Association poll from their No. 3 preseason ranking to the No. 1 spot in the final ranking. Cumberland Valley finished its season with a great win over Hempfield in the District 3 AAA Championships and then over Central York in the PIAA Class AAA title match 17-25, 25-20, 25-27, 25-21, 15-9. Senior Andrew Dentler led the Eagles with over 1,000 career kills. Setter Drew Kalbach finished with over 1,000 assists this season. Dentler, Kalbach, Ricky Pfisterer and Mike Curl were all nominated for league and district honors, as well as, State All-Tournament selections.



14. (14) La Costa Canyon (Carlsbad, Calif.): 26-4
The Mavericks played a tough non-league and tournament schedule this season and sustained their only losses to ranked teams. The Mavs competed in the Best of the West and finished in ninth place in the gold division with losses to Mira Costa and Newport Harbor. The Mavs defeated Santa Margarita at the tournament, but lost to the Eagles three days later in straight sets. La Costa regrouped and went undefeated in the Palomar League and took third place at the Redondo/Mira Costa Tournament where they lost to Mira Costa for the second time. After the tournament, the Mavericks completed league play with a 10-0 record and received a first round bye in the CIF San Diego Section Div. I playoffs. La Costa Canyon proved to be the best team in the section, as it cruised to the finals and defeated Carlsbad, 22-25, 25-14, 25-11, 25-13, for the championship. The dynamic duo of UCLA bound Jack Mergenthaler and Pepperdine bound Beau Vandeweghe led the team all season and Coach Mark Brubaker will have his work cut out for him in replacing those two.


15. (15) Santa Margarita (Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif.): 32-5*
The Eagles went through a tumultuous season with an administrative set back that caused the team to forfeit victories due to an ineligible player. Although the victories were overturned on paper, Santa Margarita defeated top-notch teams all season with a tough schedule that included a tournament championship. The Eagles defeated Dana Hills, Thousand Oaks and Woodbridge of Irvine to advance to the semifinals of the CIF SS Div. I playoffs. The Trinity League champs met Newport Harbor in the semifinals and fell in straight sets, 23-25, 20-25,16-25. All CIF SS Div. I first team selection Steven Shandrick, second team selection Tanner Jansen and third team selection Andrew Pavlovich graduate this year and leave big holes to fill for Coach Jeff Uhrig.

16. (16) St. Xavier (Ohio): 28-6
The Bombers had a successful year making it to their third consecutive regional final where they defeated Moeller fro the Division I South Region II Championship. Their key wins this year were over La Salle, Centerville and Moeller. Five of the Bombers losses were to Division I State Champions Elder who they met in the Ohio High School Boys' Volleyball Association State Championships and lost, 23-25, 16-25, 27-29. St. X had several standout players, Ryan Doll, Ryan Engdahl, Ryan Noonan and Steve Walsh. Doll was named first-team All-State while Chaz Jennings was given honorable mention honors.

17. (6) Providence Catholic (New Lenox, Ill.): 34-2
The Celtics powered through the early season without a loss, but were untested against a ranked team. Coach Cindy Olczyk's squad successfully faced its first test of the season in Brother Rice of Chicago in mid-April and subsequently rose in the FAB 50 rankings. Providence advanced to the IHSA State Tournament for the second time in school history. Until this year, the Celtics had not placed in the top four of the state tournament. The Celtics moved on to the semifinals and faced a school with the most tournament experience in state history, the Wheaton Warrenville South. The Celtics fell in a hard fought three game match, 20-25, 25-19, 25-23, and had nothing left for the third place match, where they lost to Neuqua Valley of Naperville, 27-25, 25-23. Coach Olczyk will lose the bulk of her roster with eleven seniors graduating, but will look to returning starters 6-foot-5 sophomore Denny Falls and junior outside hitter Brian Urchell to lead the team next year.

18. (21) Central York (York, Penn.): 51-9
The Panthers were 10-0 in league this season and third in the District 3 Regionals where they lost to powerhouse Cumberland Valley. They went on to the PIAA Class AAA Championship Finals where they again lost to Cumberland Valley in another five game championship barnburner. Central had a good run at tournaments as well as North Allegheny Champions, Koeller Classic Champions, Fox Chapel (second place), State College (tie for third). The Panthers' significant wins this year included victories over Cumberland Valley, North Allegheny, Hempfield, Bethel Park and Penn Hills. Ryan Wolf (Penn State), John Almquist (Juniata) and Matt Hamilton made the all tournament team at the state tournament.


19. (20) Buchanan (Clovis, Calif.): 29-8
The Bears battled all year and pulled into a tie for first place in the Tri-River Athletic Conference with a 31-29, 28-26, 25-20 sweep of defending Central Section champion Clovis West on the Golden Eagles' home court. Coach John Jay's squad looked to take down the No. 7 Bullard in the finals of the CIF Central Section Div. I playoffs, but could not overtake the single-minded team.


20. (13) North Allegheny (Wexford, Penn.): 20-2
The Tigers were sectional champs and won the WPIAL Championship with a 10-0 record. They were then defeated by Cumberland Valley, 3-2, in the PIAA Tournament Class AAA semifinals, and finished third overall. North Allegheny had key wins this year over Hempfield, Penn Trafford, Penn Hills, Bethel Park, and Pennsbury and two losses against Pennsbury and eventual PIAA Champion Cumberland Valley. Seniors John Skarupa and JJ Leroux, along with Kevin Dyer, Steve Stemler, Matt Miller and John Wappler were significant contributors this year.


21. (Next 25) Bellarmine Prep (San Jose, Calif.) 22-4
The Bells stormed to their third CIF Central Coast Section Div. I title in four years. Bellermine dominated the competition in the West Catholic Athletic League (WCAL) and dropped only one non-tournament match all season to WCAL rival St. Francis of Mountain View. First year coach Scott Petersen's squad avenged its loss in a rematch during post-season play and defeated the Lancers in straight sets and advanced to the finals where they downed Los Gatos, 25-14, 19-25, 25-17, 25-16. Senior Ricky Bose racked up 20 kills in the final match as setter Nick McConnell gathered 53 assists. The Bells have a record eight CCS Titles with three in the last four years.

22. (22) San Clemente (Calif.): 24-7
The Tritons finished their league 9-1 and were crowned South Coast League Champs for the seventh time. San Clemente claimed key wins over Woodbridge of Irvine, Foothill, Fountain Valley, Tesoro of Rancho Santa Margarita, and Long Beach Wilson. The Tritons finished fifth at the OC Championships and third at the Redondo Varsity Classic. Coach Ken Goldstone's squad bested West Torrance and Long Beach Wilson before Newport Harbor ousted them in the quarterfinals of CIF SS Div. I play. Key contributors this season were juniors Ian Castenella, Arik Metzger, Grayson Overman and senior Caden Mulligan. The Tritons will be a force next year as they lost only four seniors.


23. (23) Woodbridge (Irvine, Calif.): 18-8
As Sea View League champions, the Warriors entered the CIF SS Div. I playoffs as the fifth seed and fell to No. 4 seed Santa Margarita, 25-23, 25-21, 20-25, 25-15. Coach Donnie Rafter's squad was expected to make a splash this season and was ranked in the FAB 50 throughout the season. This senior loaded team was led by Princeton bound setter Scott Liljestrom and UCSD bound opposite Blake Mills. Liljestrom totaled 437 assists for the season, received first team All-CIF SS Div. I honors and was named the Sea View League's co-MVP while Mills was named to the All-CIF SS Div. I Third Team. Next year's young Warriors will have a lot to live up to.


24. (NR) Neuqua Valley (Naperville, Ill.): 36- 3
The Wildcats avenged an early season loss to Glenbard East, when they defeated the Rams in the quarterfinals of the IHSA Div. I State Tournament, 25-21, 19-25, 25-20, where they eventually placed third. Coach Michael Popp's squad fell to Buffalo Grove in the semi's, 25-23, 20-25, 25-22, but did not get discouraged and finished strong in the third place match with a win over Providence Catholic, 27-25, 25-23. The Wildcats graduate six seniors, but have nine juniors with good playoff experience ready to go next year.


25. (25) Orange Lutheran (Orange, Calif.) 11-5
The Lancers lost in the quarterfinals of the CIF SS Div. I playoffs, but gave Mira Costa a run for its money as they took the Mustangs to five games, 25-23, 21-25, 25-18, 23-25,15-12. Led by 6-foot-7 junior Maurice Torres, the third place Trinity League team surprised some CIF SS contenders before they fell to Mira Costa. The team will rebuild around Torres, and will graduate four seniors including, 6-foot-8 Ryan Austin. The good news for the Coach Marc Laulhere is nine returning juniors from the varsity squad.


The Next 25 Teams (In Order of Rank):

26. Hemet West Valley (Hemet, Calif.) 18-2

27. Dos Pueblos (Goleta, Calif.): 24-10

28. Los Alamitos (Los Alamitos, Calif.) 16-4

29. Hilliard Darby (Hilliard, Ohio): 18-11

30. St. Francis (Mountain View, Calif.): 40-5

31. St. Louis University High School (St. Louis, Mo.): 29-2

32. St. Francis (Wheaton, Ill.) 35-4

33. (Next 25) Archbishop Hoban (Akron, Ohio): 24-4

34. Laguna Hills (Laguna Hills, Calif.) 12-8

35. Crespi (Encino, Calif.) 20-11

36. Mountain Point (Phoenix, Ariz.) 29-3

37. Clovis West (Clovis, Calif.) 25-9

38. Oaks Christian (Westlake Village, Calif.) 18-4

39. Wilson (Long Beach, Calif.) 20-10

40. Hempfield (Landisville, Penn.): 18-6

41. Nevada Union (Grass Valley, Calif.) 38-6

42. DeSmet (St. Louis. Mo.): 18-7

43. Huntington Beach (Calif.): 13-7

44. Glenbard East (Lombard, Ill.) 36-4

45. Laguna Beach (Laguna Beach, Calif.) 20-9

46. Glenbrook North (Northbrook, Ill.) 36-3:

47. Tesoro (Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif.): 19-8

48. Archbishop Moeller (Cincinnati, Ohio): 17-5

49. Boulder Creek (Phoenix, Ariz.) 24-6<.b>

50. Pennsbury (Fairless Hills, Penn.): 25-2

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