Each week, OzarksSportsZone.com will release local volleyball power rankings. Like our other power rankings, these rankings will be based on dominance by Class, not head-to-head.
Recent success and strength of schedule are also factored into the rankings.
Overall record and Class are listed in parenthesis.
The more things change, the more they stay the same. You’ll find some familiar names at the top in our first volleyball power rankings for the 2016 season. Class 4 leads the way among the overall Top 15.
It was pretty easy to pick the top five teams, but the order in which they should be ranked was another matter. There’s an argument for Winona, Rogersville, Ozark, Strafford and Mountain View-Birch Tree/Liberty all to be No. 1.
1. Winona (5-3, C1) – Considering their recent track record, you can’t go wrong with the Wildcats at No. 1. Winona returns nearly everyone from a team that placed fourth in Class 1 last year. A pair of all-state hitters are back to lead the offense in Kyndal Thomason and Bridgette Rutledge, and junior Delaney Hicks (9.5 digs per match) has led a back line that’s having to replace libero Tesla McGee. The three losses don’t concern me considering they were against Class 3 (Rogersville, Aurora) and Class 4 (Willard) teams that are favored to repeat as district champions. Winona hosts Cabool on Thursday, a team that played the Wildcats to a three-set loss in Cabool last season. The Wildcats then travel to nearby rival and potential district finals opponent Eminence on Tuesday, Sept. 6 for what may be their toughest Class 1 opponent pre-state this year.
2. Strafford (6-1-1, C2) – Strafford already has six wins, played Class 4 Lebanon to a three-set loss and was the only team to win a set against eventual champion, Class 4 Blue Springs South, at the Branson Tournament over the weekend. Strafford has also yet to see Missouri State commit Chloe Rear (injury) take the floor this season. That’s a scary thought and shows what this team may be capable of when it’s at full strength. Assuming Rear’s back for the postseason, Strafford will once again be a juggernaut in Class 2. They’ve shown they’re still really good without her. Returning all-state hitter Rilie Vote has been on a tear thus far, leading the Indians with 88 kills, a 46% hitting percentage and a 60.3 kill percentage. She had 13 kills in a two-set win at El Dorado Springs last night. Gracie Morton has thrived as the team’s full-time setter in Rear’s absence, going for 34 helpers in the three-set loss to Lebanon. Strafford hosts Osceola on Thursday then Mountain Grove next Thursday, Sept. 8.
3. Rogersville (8-1, C3) – Rogersville is a cut above everyone else in a Class 3 group that, locally, is thin this year with former strongholds like Mt. Vernon and Buffalo going through rebuilding phases. The Wildcats claimed the Lori Endicott Tournament title over the weekend, not dropping a single set against the likes of Aurora, Fair Grove, Winona and Willard. The only blemish on the record so far is a three-set loss on the road to Class 4 Kickapoo. Rogersville has also thumped Mountain Grove and Camdenton at home in the last week, setting up a Sept. 6 showdown with Ozark in what may be a matchup of the two best overall teams in our area this year. Before that, though, Rogersville faces a good test on Thursday when it travels to Fair Grove.
4. Ozark (5-4, C4) – There are many new names leading the way this year, but the Tigers are still equipped to make it eight straight trips to state. Ozark’s only played two local teams so far – Glendale and Kickapoo – and came away with two-set wins at home in both. Ozark went 3-3 at the Bentonville Early Bird Tournament over the weekend. By comparison, the Tigers only dropped one set on their way to the tournament title in that same event last year. With several juniors and sophomores playing significant varsity time, there will be some bumps in the road in the early season but this figures to be a team that’s much better in a month and a half than it is now. Ozark hosts Jeff City on Thursday then travels to Rogersville on Tuesday, Sept. 6.
5. Mountain View-Birch Tree/Liberty (2-0, C2) – The Eagles graduated a lot of talent from their district championship team, but they return a favorable amount, too, and will have some new names in more prominent roles this year. Like Strafford, they’re also dealing with an injury to a star player. When healthy, the Eagles will boast a terrific offensive threesome between Brenley Stearns, Brook Conway and Piper Francis. The Berry twins, Madison and Marissa, will key Liberty’s passing and back row. After starting the season with wins over Doniphan and West Plains, Liberty hosts Eminence tomorrow night then faces a home showdown with Ozark on Thursday, Sept. 8.
6. Eminence (3-0, C1) – This is where the power rankings get interesting and up for debate. I’d expect a lot of turnover and fluctuation in these 6-through-15 spots throughout the season. The Redwings played Winona to a pair of three-set losses last year. They return their top four hitters – three of which (Madison Keeling, Wendy Smith, Mariah Smith,) had over 130 kills last year – and top defensive player in libero Kimberly Rolen. Sophomore Sydney Williams is the team’s new setter after the graduation of Hayli Smith. We’ll know a lot more about the Redwings by this time next week. Eminence’s next two opponents: MV-BT/Liberty (Sept. 1) and Winona (Sept. 6).
7. Kickapoo (3-2, C4) – A three-set win at home over Rogersville looks really good on the resume at this point of the season. The 3-2 record is incomplete as I was unable to obtain full results on how the Chiefs fared at the Early Bird Tournament in Bentonville over the weekend. The Chiefs did take a set against a Greenwood (Ark.) team that later beat Ozark 2-0. Kickapoo’s schedule remains tough. After falling 2-0 at Ozark last night, Kickapoo travels to Jefferson City this Saturday for a doubleheader against Rock Bridge and Helias Catholic.
8. Willard (7-1-1, C4) – Still no player taller than 5’10” on the roster, but the Tigers continue to find ways pile up victories. Willard beat the likes of Winona and Aurora at the Lori Endicott Tournament over the weekend before losing to Rogersville in the finals. Willard also has victories over district opponents Central and an improved Hillcrest team. Freshman Emily Terry has made a quick impact and added another weapon to Willard’s offense; she has a team-high 29 kills over 10 sets. Willard hosts Bolivar on Thursday then travels to Glendale on Tuesday, Sept. 6.
9. Fair Grove (6-2, C2) – Reload, not rebuild. Despite graduating program stalwarts Jorden Stacey and Haley Stallings, it’s business as usual for coach Tonya Peck’s Eagles. Fair Grove already has a win against a Class 2 team (Clever) it may run into again in the postseason. The Eagles had losses to a pair of strong Class 3 teams (Rogersville, Aurora) at the Lori Endicott Tournament over the weekend, but rebounded with a two-set victory at Marshfield on Tuesday. Fair Grove gets a rematch with Rogersville – at home – tomorrow and hosts Buffalo on Monday, Sept. 5.
10. Carthage (5-2, C4) – We have a logjam of Class 4 teams in the 6-through-15 spots. Class 4 is our deepest Class in the area this year. With two (Kiley Tiller, Savannah Downing) of its top three hitters and starting setter (Marley Hensley) back from last year, Carthage will again be in line for 20+ wins and a return to the district title match. The Blue and White Tigers had an impressive two-set win over Aurora last night (25-19, 25-17) and return to action next week with home games against Joplin (Sept. 6) and Reeds Spring (Sept. 8).
11. Aurora (5-5, C3) – Like I said in Rogersville’s bio, Class 3 is really thin locally this year. I have only two Class 3 teams in this week’s Top 15. Aurora, even without a key piece in outside hitter Emily Parker (injury), has held the fort amid a tough early season schedule and a first-year coach in Skye Wade. The Houn’ Dawgs have wins over district opponent Catholic and Class 2 Fair Grove. Four of the five losses came to teams in these rankings: Willard, Rogersville, Carthage and Carl Junction. Aurora will look to rebound from Tuesday night’s loss at Carthage when it hosts rival Mt. Vernon tomorrow night.
12. Clever (3-1, C2) – Everyone’s back from a team that won 17 games and fell to Crane in the district title match. Clever has three girls in the 5’10”-5’11” range they can rotate in around the net with the Menzies sisters (Abi, Taylor) and senior Emily Mendenhall, along with an athletic OH in sophomore Harper Little. Taylor Menzies had 7 blocks (4 solo) in a Tuesday-night win over Reeds Spring, with Mendenhall and Little combing for 11 kills. Clever has the talent to win the SWCL and its second district title in three years. Clever travels to Springfield Catholic on Tuesday, Sept.6.
13. Miller (9-0-1, C1) – The Cardinals are off and rolling in their district title defense. Miller has picked up wins over New Covenant and College Heights Christian this week after winning the Verona Invitational over the weekend. Setter Dalyn Hadlock is averaging around 10 assists per set, while sophomore MH Bethany Gulick has helped ease the loss of 2015 All-SRVC First Team selection Jessica Estes. Miller faces nearby rival Lockwood on Tuesday, Sept. 6. then a rematch on Sept. 8 with a Marionville team that took the Cardinals to three sets in the title game of the Verona Invitational.
14. Carl Junction (2-2, C4) – As if the COC-Large wasn’t good enough already, former Big 8 ruler Carl Junction joins the league this year. Seriously, this might be the deepest league in any team sport we have. The conference slate is going to be a buzzsaw. CJ has wins over Aurora and Joplin, but dropped a pair of games to Arkansas schools (Springdale Harbor, Rogers) earlier this week. A good test comes next Tuesday, Sept. 6 when the Bulldogs visit Lebanon, a team that’s pushing for a spot in these rankings.
15. Nixa (2-1, C4) – No team lost more through graduation than Nixa, but early results are encouraging as the Eagles beat Glendale in three sets and trounced Joplin at home last night. The lone loss was to 2015 final four qualifier St. Joseph’s Academy. The Eagles only have one senior, Alissa Flint, so like Ozark they’ll hope to play their best ball come mid-October. Nixa travels to Rock Bridge tomorrow then back up Highway 54 next week for a game at Helias Catholic on Thursday, Sept. 8.
Knocking on the door: Osceola (2-1, C1), Pierce City (3-1, C1), Marionville (5-2, C2) Nevada (2-0, C3), Lebanon (6-1, C4)
