Defending champ SD Mesa tops first 2024 State Top 25 women's volleyball rankings, but Big 8 trio follows

American River College is one of three Big 8 Conference teams in the top 4 of the opening State Women's Volleyball Top 25.
American River College is one of three Big 8 Conference teams in the top 4 of the opening State Women's Volleyball Top 25.
August 26, 2024

 

The 2024 opening CCCWVCA State Top 25 Rankings are the earliest released than any previous year as the ratings usually don't take place until after all the teams played their first matches. As of now, 23 colleges have yet to play their first official match.

Today's opening rankings feature many of the teams who were part of the final '23 rankings as well as a few others that have shown early promise this past weekend.

San Diego Mesa, the defending state champion, is the opening #1 team despite the graduation of state tourney MVP and CCCSIA State Women's Athlete of the Year for all sports Kailyn Jager to UC Riverside.

The Big 8 Conference continues to be the gold standard as three of its teams are in the top four and the league's top seven teams were a combined 14-2 to start the season.

The regions collide this Friday-Saturday, Aug. 30-31 in the inaugural NorCal-SoCal Showcase as six teams in this poll's top 10 are featured with #7 Fresno City the host. 

  1. SAN DIEGO MESA, Pacific Coast Athletic, 1-0: The Olympians swept Mt. San Jacinto in the season opener behind 15 kills and 10 digs from Myah Gomez. SoCal: #1; Final '23 state ranking: 1
  2. AMERICAN RIVER, Big 8, 2-0: A perennial state tourney participant, the Beavers open the year with sweeps over last year's state runner-up Feather River and De Anza to take the top North spot on the first rankings. Morgan Castaneda was one of the State Players of the Week. NorCal #1; Final '23 state ranking: 6
  3. SIERRA, Big 8, Big 8, 2-0: The Wolverines repeated last year's start by again defeating Feather River (four sets) and sweeping Butte. Returning All-NorCal Region selection Jordyn Deter was impressive with 11 kills, 74 set assists, 24 digs and five aces. Sierra also returns All-NorCal Region choice Taylor Stoltz. NorCal: #2; Final '23 state ranking: 10
  4. SAN JOAQUIN DELTA, Big 8, 2-0: The Mustangs started with a sweep over Hartnell, then were tested in a tough, 5-set triumph over Solano. In that match, Naila Ia ripped 25 kills. Delta returns All-American setter Caprisa Brock. NorCal #3; Final '23 state ranking: 5
  5. FEATHER RIVER, Golden Valley, 2-2: Don't be fooled by the Golden Eagles slow start as a few top players are expected to debut in the coming weeks. FRC lost matches to American River and Sierra, but scored sweeps over Sacramento and De Anza. A setter factory, FRC has another good one in Maya Cann, who gave out 74 assists and landed 14 aces to open the season. NorCal #4; Last Ranking: 2
  6. MT. SAN ANTONIO, South Coast North, 3-0: The Mounties swept Citrus, Bakersfield and Santa Barbara City and figure to contend with Pasadena City for the SCC North title as the conference goes back to 5-team divisions this season. Returning All-SCC First Team OH Candace Ceballos made 25 kills and 24 digs in the three victories. SoCal: #2; Final '23 state ranking: 13
  7. FRESNO CITY, Central Valley, 0-0: The Rams will open the '24 season with two matches at the Hartnell Quad on Aug. 27 before hosting the 8-team, NorCal v. SoCal Showcase. All-CVC libero Phoebe Constable returns from last year. NorCal #5; Final '23 state ranking: 7
  8. VENTURA, Western State North, 1-0: The Pirates swept Imperial Valley in its opener, but will be tested this week with matches v. Pasadena, Orange Coast and SD Mesa. Shai Daniels floored 10 kills in the win. SoCal #3; Final '23 state ranking: 8
  9. PASADENA CITY, South Coast North, 2-0: The Lancers swept both Cypress and Grossmont as they embarked on possibly the state's hardest schedule. Shaylee Ungos was a State Player of the Week. SoCal #4; Final '23 state ranking: 18
  10. GROSSMONT, Pacific Coast Athletic, 1-1 : The Griffins swept Cypress, and lost in three as well to Pasadena (75-66 in points) as they are a team that has reached each of the last four state tournaments. Andrea Torres blasted 26 kills in the two matches. SoCal #5; Final '23 state ranking: 3
  11. SAN MATEO, Coast South, 1-0: The Bulldogs are determined to come back after an off year last season and with nine sophomores they opened with a sweep over De Anza. Aniyah Hall, a 6-foot-3, All-Coast First Teamer last year leads the returners. NorCal #6; Final '23 state ranking: 25
  12. LONG BEACH CITY, South Coast South, 1-0: The Vikings won a war over Orange Coast to begin the year, outlasting the Pirates in five sets. LBCC is paced by Enaya Vaielua, who scored a triple-double v. OCC on 15 kills, 14 assists and 10 digs. SoCal #6; Final '23 state ranking: 21
  13. SOLANO, Bay Valley, 1-1: The Falcons held their own in forcing Delta to five sets in a defeat and beating Hartnell in four. Alissa "AJ" Projillo had an amazing 39 digs v. Delta and 62 in the two matches. Solano also returns All-NorCal Region performer Vanya Paopao. NorCal #7; Final '23 state ranking: 14
  14. ORANGE COAST, Orange Empire, 0-1: The Pirates nearly came back from a 2-0 deficit before falling in five to Long Beach. Nika Safavi spiked 12 kills in the opener. SoCal #7; Final '23 state ranking: 11
  15. MOORPARK, Western State North, 1-0: The Raiders defeated Irvine Valley in four sets. With 10 overall sophomores on the roster, MC returns All-WSC player Grace Hazelton. SoCal #8; Final '23 state ranking: 17
  16. BAKERSFIELD, Western State South, 1-1: The Renegades were swept by Mt. SAC and swept El Camino as Kamryn Briggs totaled 20 kills and 37 digs in the two matches. SoCal #9; Final '23 state ranking: 23
  17. TAFT, Central Valley, 4-0: It was an impressive start to the year for the Cougars, who swept Folsom Lake, Los Medanos and Cuesta while surprising West Valley in four sets. Natalie Castillo was a State Player of the Week. NorCal #8; Final '23 state ranking: Not Ranked
  18. LA MISSION, Western State North, 4-0: The Eagles won their own 8-team, Kickoff Classic tourney in sweeping Southwestern, defeating both San Bernardino Valley and Desert in four sets, then sweeping Riverside City in the championship match. Oluwatoyin Sunday was the tourney MVP as she scored 56 kills, 21 v. RCC.  SoCal #10; Final '23 state ranking: Not Ranked
  19. CYPRESS, Orange Empire, 0-2: The Chargers ran into a buzzsaw in being swept by both Pasadena and Grossmont, but they have proven to always play a tough schedule and perform well in conference play. Cypress returns 6-foot-6, All-OEC MB Zoe Ziegler. SoCal #11; Final '23 state ranking: 20
  20. SANTA MONICA, Western State South, 0-0: Last year, the Corsairs had one of their greatest seasons in program history, but most of the sophomore group has graduated with Mylah Niksa returning. SMC opens the season v. Mt. SAC on Wednesday. SoCal #12; Final '23 state ranking: 15
  21. RIVERSIDE CITY, Orange Empire, 3-1: The Tigers opened with 4-set wins over San Bernardino Valley and Southwestern, a sweep over East Los Angeles before losing in three to LA Mission in the LAM Kickoff Classic title match. Kilyn Hayes contributed 66 kills and hit .321 in the four matches. SoCal #13; Final '23 state ranking: Not Ranked
  22. WEST VALLEY, Coast South, 1-1: The Vikings lost to Taft in four after a sweep over Cuesta. All-Coast First Teamer Sophie Ehrett returns as she totaled 30 kills in the two matches. NorCal #9; Final '23 state ranking: 16
  23. SAN BERNARDINO VALLEY, Inland Empire Athletic, 2-2: The Wolverines opened with 4-set losses to Riverside and LA Mission (107-99, three sets going to extra points), then sweeps over Rio Hondo and Southwestern. They return co-IEAC MVP Manaia Mamea and her All-Conference First Team sister Loleaulelei Mamea and expect to battle again for the IEAC title. SoCal #14; Final '23 state ranking: Not Ranked
  24. MT. SAN JACINTO, Inland Empire Athletic, 0-1: The Eagles were swept by SD Mesa in the opener (75-63) and has always been a top team in the IEAC. MSJC returns All-IEAC player Megan Gajda. SoCal #15; Final '23 state ranking: Not Ranked
  25. IRVINE VALLEY, Orange Empire, 0-1: The Lasers opened with a 4-set loss to Moorpark, but don't have the firepower that led them to last year's state semifinals. The Lasers return All-OEC hitter Audrey Fowler, who had nine kills and 19 digs v. MC. Final '23 state ranking: 4

    BEST OF THE REST
    Santa Barbara City, Western State North, 1-1: The Vaqueros swept El Camino and were swept by Mt. SAC. Final '23 state ranking: 22
    Palomar, Pacific Coast Athletic, 1-0: The Comets swept Saddleback to open their year.
     Saddleback, Orange Empire, 0-1: The Bobcats were swept by Palomar in their opener. Final '23 state ranking: 19
     Hartnell, Coast North, 0-2: The Panthers were swept by Delta and fell to Solano in four sets. NorCal #10; Final '23 state ranking: 24
     Sequoias, Central Valley, 2-0: The Giants beat Lassen in four sets and swept Mendocino. NorCal #11
     Coalinga, Central Valley, 0-0: The Falcons open with West Valley and Hartnell on Aug. 27. NorCal #12
    Cerritos, South Coast South, 1-0: The Falcons begin with a 5-set win over Canyons.
    Golden West, Orange Empire, 1-0: The Rustlers opened with a sweep over LA Harbor.
    Desert, Inland Empire Athletic, 3-1: The Roadrunners swept East LA twice, Rio Hondo once and lost to LA Mission in four.
    Merced, Central Valley, 2-0: A great start for the Blue Devils with sweeps over Monterey Peninsula and Cuesta. NorCal #13
     Monterey Peninsula, Coast North, 1-1: The Lobos were swept by Merced and beat Lassen in five sets. NorCal #14
    Cosumnes River, Big 8, 2-0: The Hawks beat Porterville in four and swept Columbia. NorCal #T15
     Modesto, Big 8, 2-0: The Pirates swept Columbia and edged Porterville in five. NoCal #T15
     Cabrillo, Coast North, 2-0: The Seahawks won two v. Siskiyous (one in four, one sweep).
    Canyons, Western State South, 0-1: The Cougars fall to Cerritos in five (15-11, fifth set).
    Shasta, Golden Valley, 1-1: The Knights split two v. Santa Rosa, winning in four, losing in five.
    Santa Rosa, Big 8, 3-1: The Bear Cubs split two matches v. Shasta (lost in 4, won in 5), swept Porterville and beat Butte in four.
    Lassen, Golden Valley, 2-2: The Cougars are not going to match the amazing season they had last year after a 5-set loss to Monterey Peninsula and 4-set defeat v. Sequoias to open the year along with a 5-set wins over Cuesta and Mendocino. Final '23 state ranking: 10
     Los Medanos, Bay Valley, 1-1: The Mustangs defeated Folsom Lake in four and were swept by Taft.
     Lemoore, Central Valley, 3-0: The Golden Eagles got by Mendocino in five, swept Las Positas and beat Skyline in four.
    El Camino, South Coast South, 1-2: The Warriors swept Glendale, then were swept by both Bakersfield and Santa Barbara.
    Skyline, Coast South, 2-1: The Trojans beat Las Positas in four, swept Mendocino and lost to Lemoore in four.
    Allan Hancock, Western State North, 2-0: The Bulldogs returned to the sport after six years and picked up wins over San Francisco (sweep) and Napa Valley (in four).
    Napa Valley, Bay Valley, 2-1: The Storm swept Reedley, lost in four to Allan Hancock and beat San Francisco in four. 
    Fullerton, Orange Empire, 1-0: The Hornets sweep Compton in their opener.
    Rio Hondo, South Coast North, 0-4: The Roadrunners lost their head coach Teddi Esko to Cal State Dominguez Hills and after their historic SCC champion season last year, it will be tough year in 2024. RHC lost twice to San Diego Miramar and were swept by both Desert and San Bernardino Valley. Final '23 state ranking: 12
       

Rankings/Release by Robert Lewis, CCCWVCA SID