Which teams should you keep an eye on this fall? Each Wednesday, the ESPN FAB 50 Volleyball rankings will be released, tracking the top teams in the country.
The ESPN RISE FAB 50's No. 1 team Lakewood gets ready for the Gahr Tournament (Cerritos, Calif.).
ESPN RISE.com FAB 50 Volleyball
| Rk. | School (City, State) | Record | Prv. | Notes |
| 1 | Lakewood (Lakewood, Calif.) | 0-0-0 | 1 | The Lancers started their season on September 8th versus Mater Dei, and they will sharpen their skills at the Gahr Tournament (Cerritos, Calif.) before the much anticipated Durango Classic (Las Vegas, Nev.). |
| 2 | Plant (Tampa, Fla.) | 1-0-0 | 2 | The Panthers opened the season on September 2nd with a win over Sickles (Tampa, Fla.) and will face cross-town foes Leto and Middleton this week. |
| 3 | Archbishop Mitty (San Jose, Calif.) | 5-0-0 | 3 | The Monarchs opened the season on Sept. 6th at the Milpitas Spikefest and came out on top against 32 teams from Northern California and Nevada. The Monarchs bested Menlo (Calif.) in the final (25-10, 25-20). |
| 4 | Churchill (San Antonio, Tex.) | 13-2-0 | NR | Churchill, O'Connor and Reagan, who all hail from San Antonio, fight for supremacy in their region and state. Churchill fell to O'Connor in the semifinals of the Pearland Tournament. The Lady Chargers regrouped and defeated Reagan, which defeated O'Connor in the finals of the Pearland Tournament, one week later (25-22, 25-22, 25-17). Each of these three teams has state finalist potential, but must get through those Houston and Dallas teams. |
| 5 | Benet (Lisle, Ill.) | 4-0-0 | 5 | The Redwings won the Willowbrook Invite with close wins over Hinsdale Central in the final (25-23, 27-25) and also beat Addison Trail and Glenbard East. A true test will be against Downer's Grove North on Friday. |
| 6 | Reagan (San Antonio, Tex.) | 26-2-0 | 4 | The Rattlers made some noise at the NIKE Volleyball Classic hosted by Pearland High School. Reagan found the right route to the final and defeated fellow San Antonio O'Conner for the second time this year in the finale (25-18, 25-27, 25-19). San Antonio Churchill played the spoiler soon after for the Rattlers in a 25-22, 25-22, 25-17 loss to split the series 1-1. |
| 7 | Mira Costa (Manhattan Beach, Calif.) | 8-0-0 | 7 | After an undefeated first place finish at the Ann Kang Invitational, the Mustangs are ready for their regular season that begins this week. Costa will open with Marymount, which lost three starters from the '07 squad. |
| 8 | La Costa Canyon (Carlsbad, Calif.) | 0-0-0 | 8 | After a series of scrimmages at the Rally Classic over Labor Day Weekend, the Mavericks now begin their pursuit of another San Diego Section title with Cathedral Catholic (San Diego, Calif.) on September 10th. |
| 9 | Mercy (Louisville, Ky.) | 8-0-0 | 9 | Mercy begins the year with a perfect record including wins over Sacred Heart and St. Ursula (Ohio). The Jags will face cross-town rival Assumption this week to test their depth. |
| 10 | Naperville Central (Naperville, Ill.) | 1-0-0 | 10 | The Red Hawks had a tough season-opening win over Downers Grove North in three. This week's match up is against Wheaton Warrenville South. |
| 11 | Ursuline (Cincinnati, Ohio) | 5-0-0 | 11 | The Lions started on the right foot with notable wins over Lakota East, Notre Dames (in Ohio and Kentucky) and Mother of Mercy (Cincinnati, Ohio). Their next match up this week is against St. Ursula Academy. |
| 12 | O'Connor (San Antonio, Tex.) | 20-3-0 | 6 | The Panthers set their goals high as the undersized team continued to surprise their opponents. O'Connor defeated Austin Westlake (28-26, 25-21) and SA Churchill (25-21, 25-13) in the Pearland Tournament. The squad's luck ran out against Reagan in the final (25-22, 25-22, 25-17). |
| 13 | Muncie Central (Muncie, Ind.) | 8-0-0 | 12 | The Bearcats beat Kentucky's heralded Assumption in four games at the Burris Invitational. Delta will be their next big challenge on September 23. |
| 14 | Assumption (Louisville, Ky.) | 8-1-0 | 13 | The Rockets were tested at the Burris Invitational after being beaten by Muncie Central, but bounced back to beat Muncie Burris in the final to win the tournament (25-18, 22-25, 25-17). |
| 15 | Papillion La Vista (Papillion, Neb.) | 6-0-0 | 15 | The Monarchs started off their season without dropping a set in the Bellevue Invitational. They kept stride and beat Omaha Marian in the final (25-22, 25-20). |
| 16 | Cardinal Gibbons (Raleigh, N.C.) | 7-0-0 | 16 | The Crusaders defeated the field at the Great Eight Tournament and repeated as tournament champions. The squad began their league season with two Hillsborough, N.C. teams, Cedar Ridge and Orange, and defeated the pair in three straight. They took down Ravenscroft (Raleigh, N.C.), Northwood (Pittsboro, N.C.) and Triton (Erwin, N.C.) in the same fashion. North Carolina School of Science and Math (Durham, N.C.) was the only team to take a game off the powerhouse so far, but the Unicorns met the same fate as the others as the Crusaders remained unbeaten. |
| 17 | Clear Creek (Houston, Tex.) | 20-4-0 | 14 | The Wildcats' preseason rollercoaster continued with a win over the previously No. 4 ranked Amarillo followed by losses to SA Churchill and SA Reagan. |
| 18 | Long Beach Wilson (Long Beach, Calif.) | 8-2-0 | 18 | The Bruins sustained two losses to the same team, Mira Costa (Manhattan Beach, Calif.), at the Ann Kang Invitational Tournament in Honolulu, Hawaii. |
| 19 | Downers Grove South (Downers Grove, Ill.) | 2-0-0 | 19 | The Mustangs had a strong start to their season with wins over Wheaton Warrenville South and Mother McAuley. This week they face Proviso East (Maywood, Ill.) and cross-town rival Downers Grove North. |
| 20 | Eagle (Idaho) | 3-0-0 | 20 | The Mustangs defeated Meridian and two Idaho schools, Mountain View and Rocky Mountain, for a quick 2-0 start in league play. Coach Paul Schwager's squad traveled to Boise and defeated Timberline in three straight. |
| 21 | Amarillo (Amarillo, Tex.) | 25-3-0 | 17 | Yes, you are seeing straight, the Sandies are 25-3 and began their season on August 11th. Coach Jan Barker's squad battled in the Pearland, Duncanville and Allen tournaments and gained much needed experience. Amarillo is 2-0 in district play. |
| 22 | Mead (Spokane, Wash.) | 0-0-0 | 22 | The Panthers open their season with a rematch of last year's state championship match versus Lewis and Clark (Spokane, Wash.) this Thursday in a non-league match. Coach Judy Kight's squad will utilize its ball control along with recent USC commit, 6-foot-5 Alexis Olgard, at the net to knock out opponents. Mead enters the 2008 season ranked first in Washington by the Everett Herald. |
| 23 | Mother McAuley (Chicago, Ill.) | 1-1-0 | 21 | The Mighty Macs started off the season with a win over Lockhart and a loss to Downers Grove South. This week they have their plate full with three matches against Sandburg (Orland Park, Ill.), Mt. Assisi (Lemont, Ill.) and Oak Lawn. |
| 24 | Newport Harbor (Newport Beach, Calif.) | 4-4-0 | 24 | The Sailors took stock at the Ann Kang as they finished third behind Wilson and Mira Costa. The squad now prepares for the league season that begins mid-September. |
| 25 | Grandview (Aurora, Calif.) | 2-0-0 | 25 | The Wolves began their season with wins over Ponderosa (Parker, Colo.) and Doherty (Colorado Springs, Colo.). Chaparral (Parker, Colo.) and Pine Creek (Colorado Springs, Colo.) are next for Coach Patty Childress' squad. |
| 26 | Washburn Rural (Topeka, Kan.) | 0-0-0 | 26 | The Blues started their season with wins over Notre Dame de Sion, Gardner Edgerton, and Bishop Miege. They face Emporia later this week. |
| 27 | Muncie Burris (Muncie, Ind.) | 11-2-0 | 28 | At the Burris Invitational the Owls bested Marion, South Bend St. Joseph's and Fort Wayne Snider before falling to Kentucky's Assumption in the final. |
| 28 | Lee's Summit West (Lee's Summit, Mo.) | 1-0-0 | 30 | Lee's Summit West (1-0) beat Blue Valley North and sits atop the MHSVCA Class 4 poll. Its next challenge will be the LSW Missouri/Kansas Invite this weekend where No. 36 Bishop Miege and No. 42 St. Thomas Aquinas will also compete. |
| 29 | Chaska (Chaska, Minn.) | 4-0-0 | NR | The Hawks confirmed their No. 1 ranking in the Class 3A poll as they defeated No. 2 Lakeville North (Lakeville, Minn.). |
| 30 | Corona del Mar (Newport Beach, Calif.) | 4-3-0 | 31 | The Sea Kings are ready to go after evaluating their squad at the Ann Kang, where they placed fourth to fellow CIF Southern Section rivals Mira Costa, Wilson and Newport Harbor. Coach Darryk Gan's squad will begin the season with Long Beach Poly and Huntington Beach. |
| 31 | Los Alamitos (Los Alamitos, Calif.) | 5-2-0 | 32 | The Griffins battled at the Ann Kang with a fifth place finish right behind Corona del Mar. Coach Dave Huber's squad will face Long Beach Poly before they enter the Gahr Tournament where they may face No. 1 Lakewood. |
| 32 | Lake Highlands (Dallas, Tex.) | 25-3-0 | 23 | The Wildcats took down perennial powerhouse Amarillo at Duncanville and gave one right back at Allen. The Cats are in the hunt as they continue to sharpen their skills as district play begins on September 16th. |
| 33 | Northview (John's Creek, Ga.) | 7-1-0 | 27 | The Titans participated in a round robin at Marist (Atlanta, Ga.) where they defeated Class 3A Stars Mill (Fayetteville), Class 5A Lovett (Atlanta), Class 2A Columbus, Class 5A Kennesaw Mountain. Coach Jeff White's squad dropped one to a Tennessee team, Brentwood Academy (Brentwood), (25-23, 23-25, 7-15), but bounced back over Class 6A Chattahoochee (Johns Creek), Class 4A Greater Atlanta Christian (Norcross), and Class 8A Central Gwinnett (Lawrenceville). |
| 34 | Mount Notre Dame Academy (Cincinnati, Ohio) | 8-0-0 | 41 | Mount Notre Dame's recent wins over St. Ursula and Butler kept its winning streak rolling. Though the Cougars' true test will be Ursuline on September 18th. |
| 35 | Mother of Mercy (Cincinnati, Ohio) | 4-1-0 | 35 | The Bobcats lost to Ursuline in four (23-25, 25-20, 25-17, 25-19) and will face No. 34 Mount Notre Dame on September 16th. |
| 36 | Bishop Miege (Shawnee Mission, Kan.) | 2-1-0 | 33 | The Jayhawks defeated Notre Dame de Sion and Gardner Edgerton but lost to Washburn Rural. The Hawks face Blue Valley North this week. |
| 37 | Sacred Heart Academy (Louisville, Ky.) | 4-2-0 | 37 | The Valkyries lost to two Louisville powerhouses, Assumption and Mercy. The squad looks to bounce back against an Indiana team, Floyd Central (Floyd Knobs), this week. |
| 38 | Sacred Heart Cathedral Prep (San Francisco, Calif.) | 3-0-0 | 45 | Coach Margi Beima's squad defeated Burlingame, Amador Valley and Sacred Heart Prep (Atherton), which defeated previously ranked No. 29 St. Francis (Mountain View). |
| 39 | Delta (Muncie, Ind.) | 11-2-0 | 34 | The Eagles lost in the semi-finals to Assumption at the Burris Invitational, and will face Burris this week. |
| 40 | Iolani (Honolulu, Hawaii) | 8-3-0 | 38 | The Raiders were the only Hawaii team to make the gold bracket of their own Ann Kang Invitational. |
| 41 | Cor Jesu Academy (St. Louis, Mo.) | 1-0-0 | 40 | The Chargers began their season with a win over Presentation. |
| 42 | Kamehameha (Honolulu, Hawaii) | 5-0-0 | 42 | Three Honolulu teams, Iolani, Punahou and Kamehameha, compete for the top spot in Hawaii. So far, each school remains undefeated. Iolani and Kamehameha will travel to Las Vegas, Nev. for the Durango Classic to test their skills among the nation's best. |
| 43 | St. Thomas Aquinas (Overland Park, Kan.) | 3-0-0 | 49 | Aquinas defeated Blue Springs, 2-0. The Saints will compete at the LSW Missouri/Kansas Invite this weekend where No. 28 Lee's Summit West and No. 36 Bishop Miege will also compete. |
| 44 | Marian (Omaha, Neb.) | 6-1-0 | 43 | The Crusaders lost in the final of the Bellevue Invite to No. 15 Papillion-La Vista. Coach Rochelle Rohlfs' squad will face Northstar (Lincoln, Neb.) and cross-town school Omaha Westside. |
| 45 | Redondo (Redondo Beach, Calif.) | 5-2-0 | 44 | The Seahawks tied for fifth at the Ann Kang. Before league play begins, Coach Tommy Chaffin's squad will scrimmage Marymount (Los Angeles) and participate in the Gahr Tournament where No. 1 Lakewood and No. 31 Los Alamitos will be as well. |
| 46 | St. Francis (Mountain View, Calif.) | 3-1-0 | 29 | The Lancers faced off against Carlmont (Belmont, Calif.), Gunn (Palo Alto, Calif.) and Oak Grove (San Jose, Calif.), and began the season 3-0. Sacred Heart Prep (Atherton, Calif.) stopped the Lancers streak with a 2-1 win. Coach Kim Oden looks to get her squad back on track as it faces Aptos and Mountain View next. |
| 47 | Elkhart Memorial (Elkhart, Ind.) | 6-1-0 | 47 | Elkhart Memorial defeated Westview, Marian, Crown Point, and Washington and await the next test of its skills. The Chargers lost to Elkhart Central, but beat St. Joseph (Mich.). |
| 48 | Harvard Westlake (North Hollywood, Calif.) | 3-3-0 | 48 | The Wolverines placed in a tie for seventh with an entirely new starting lineup at the Ann Kang. Santa Barbara and Dos Pueblos are next up for second year coach Adam Black. |
| 49 | Marymount (Los Angeles, Calif.) | 0-0-0 | NR | The Sailors start the year with a tough schedule where they challenge No. 7 Mira Costa right away in a non-league match. Under Coach Cari Klein's guidance, Marymount has four CIF State titles. This year the squad must replace much of the lineup, most notably Sami Selsky (Santa Clara) who commanded the offense for the Sailors. |
| 50 | Westlake (Austin, Tex.) | 18-5-0 | 39 | The Chaps have fallen to big-time teams like Reagan (San Antonio), O'Connor (San Antonio), Lake Highlands (Dallas) and Round Rock, but still have a chance to get to the promised land, as district play begins on September 12th for the Chaps. |
