Polls: Mater Dei, Redondo Union tied for No. 1 in volleyball

Gearing up for their head-to-head match this week, Mater Dei and Redondo Union are tied for first among Divisions 1 & 2 teams in the Sept. 3 CIF-Southern Section girls’ volleyball rankings.

The first actual rankings of the season (as opposed to the “Teams to Watch” lists issued last month) also show Marymount in third and Santa Margarita 13th among D-1 & 2 schools, which will be separated at playoff time in late October.

Catholic schools are also highly ranked in other divisions. La Salle is second in Division 3; St. Anthony, third in D-4; La Reina, ninth in D-5; Sacred Heart, eighth in D-7; Ramona Convent, third in D-8; and Santa Clara, eighth in D-9.

Listed among “others” (just outside the rankings) are St. Joseph if Lakewood (D-1 & 2), St. Bonaventure and Mary Star (D-6), and St. Monica Academy of Montrose (D-8).

Nationally, Redondo Union is ranked first (up from fifth) in Maxpreps’ Top 25, with Mater Dei still second and Marymount seventh (up from 11th). 

Mater Dei (3-0) plays at Redondo Union (9-0) on Sept. 5 in a possible D-1 title match preview, although Marymount (4-0), last year’s runner-up to Mater Dei, will have much to say as the season progresses. The Sailors will host Redondo Union on Sept. 24 in Westwood.

Cross Country

There was little movement among Catholic school teams in the CIF-Southern Section cross country divisional polls released Sept. 3.

In boys’ cross country, Cathedral continues to be ranked No. 1 in Division 4 with J.Serra still ninth. Loyola remained second in Division 2; St. John Bosco dropped from fourth to eighth in D-3; and St. Paul climbed into tenth in D-5. 

There was no change among girls’ team rankings: Santa Margarita is still eighth in D-3, Mayfield seventh in D-4, and La Reina fourth in Division 5.

Mike Nelson is the former editor of The Tidings (predecessor of Angelus News).

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