Washburn Rural, Bishop Miege, St. James, Collegiate, Valley Heights and Centralia claim top spots.
6A
Defending 6A champion Washburn Rural tops the 2010 preseason volleyball rankings, followed by Blue Valley West in the No. 2 spot. The Junior Blues defeated Blue Valley West to take last year’s title. Olathe Northwest, Blue Valley and Blue Valley North round out the top five teams. Other teams getting votes include Manhattan, Olathe East, Shawnee Mission East, Wichita Heights and Wichita Northwest.
1. Washburn Rural
2. Blue Valley West
3. Olathe Northwest
4. Blue Valley
5. Blue Valley North
Others: Manhattan, Olathe East, Shawnee Mission East, Wichita Heights, Wichita Northwest
5A
The Bishop Miege Stags sit atop the 5A preseason volleyball rankings, followed by St. Thomas Aquinas. Aquinas fell to the Stags in last year’s state championship matchup. Rounding out the top five are Lansing, Seaman and Gardner-Edgerton. Keep a close eye on Bishop Carroll, Kapaun Mt. Carmel, Newton and Shawnee Heights.
1. Bishop Miege
2. St. Thomas Aquinas
3. Lansing
4. Seaman
5. Gardner-Edgerton
Others: Bishop Carroll, Kapaun Mt. Carmel, Newton, Shawnee Heights
4A
The St. James Academy Thunder top the 4A list. The Thunder defeated second-ranked Topeka Hayden to win the championship last year. Abilene takes the No. 3 spot, followed by Clay Center and Cheney. Valley Center, Ft. Scott and Rose Hill didn’t make the top five but could be tough competitors this season.
1. St. James Academy
2. Hayden
3. Abilene
4. Clay Center
5. Cheney
Others: Valley Center, Ft. Scott, Rose Hill
3A
The defending champion Collegiate Spartans rank first on the 3A preseason top-five list. Collegiate defeated the second-ranked Phillipsburg Panthers last year to take the title. Southwestern Heights, Central Heights and Atchison County Community join Collegiate and Phillipsburg in the top five. Other teams to watch include Hillsboro and Eureka.
1. Wichita Collegiate
2. Phillipsburg
3. Southwestern Heights
4. Central Heights
5. Atchison County Community
Others: Hillsboro, Eureka
2A
Valley Heights emerges as the top team in preseason rankings for class 2A, leaving the 2009 state champion Moundridge Wildcats out of the top five. Decatur Community ranks second, followed by Oskaloosa, Uniontown and Lebo. Lebo fell to the Wildcats in last year’s state championship matchup. Hill City, Moundridge and Spearville also received votes.
1. Valley Heights
2. Decatur Community
3. Oskaloosa
4. Pratt-Skyline
5. St. Johns-Beloit
Others: Hill City, Moundridge, Spearville
1A
Last year’s state runner-up Centralia is ranked first in the preseason polls. The rest of the top five includes: St. John Hudson, Hutch-Central Christian, Pratt-Skyline and St. John’s-Beloit. The defending champion Frankfort Wildcats fell short of the top five, but will once again bring a strong game.
1. Centralia
2. St. John Hudson
3. Hutch-Central Christian
4. Pratt-Skyline
5. St. Johns-Beloit
Others: Frankfort
