The Power 25: Dominican Volleyball jumps to No. 1
Courtesy VSN
In the closest voting in the three years of the poll Dominican is the new No.1 in this week’s VSN/GeauxPreps Volleyball Power 25 presented by K Miller Gems and Jewelry Brokerage.
Following a 7-0 week that included wins over six fellow Power 25 teams, Dominican received four of the nine first-place votes from a group of statewide panelists. Their 217 overall points edged Mt Carmel by one point. MCA (three first-place votes) also went 7-0 last week and finished with 216 points.
“We have had a strong start to the season,” said Dominican coach Jessica Chatellier. “We always try to schedule as strong as we can so that we can be prepared for November. This team gets in the gym each day and really works hard and pushes to get just a little bit better each day! I think the best part about it is how much fun they have together. They truly enjoy playing this game and they work really hard for the person next to them.”
Mt Carmel coach Taylor Ricaud had similar comments about the way her team has started the season with a 22-2 record.
“We’ve really been showing growth in our game and our volleyball IQ,” said Ricaud. “I just feel they have really good chemistry and a lot of love for each other and the game. They’re just a fun group to watch mesh together.”
St Michael received one first-place votes and finished with 210 points, a mere six points behind MCA.
“Honored,” said St. Michael coach Latashia Wise-Jackson. “I just keep telling the girls let’s keep turning the page every match and keep working hard.”
After losing to both Mt Carmel and Dominican at St Joseph’s Red Hot Sticker Classic, St Thomas More drops three spots to No.4. Hannan remains at No.5.
Biggest Jumps
As predicted, Northshore and Chapelle made the biggest jumps in this week’s Power 25.
Following three wins vs Power 25 teams Northshore jumped seven spots to No.16.
Chapelle jumped eight spots and is ranked No.17 after a 7-1 week that included a five-set win over No.14 Newman.
What to do with U-High?
The other first-place vote went to 18-0 U-High. The Cubs jumped three spots and are now No.7 after a 7-0 week which included a win vs No.15 WCA (Opelousas). That win was the first time U-High has played a Power 25 team this season making it difficult to get a gauge of where to place them amongst the state’s elite.
A huge test Thursday at No.3 St. Michael should help gauge just how good this U-High team is. VSN will be there to cover that match with highlights and post-match interviews.
Super Tuesday
Speaking of great matches this week, Tuesday’s broadcast live streaming schedule is being called “Super Tuesday”
Seven of the eight teams streaming on VSN that night are ranked in the Top 14, three are in the Top 5:
No.1 Dominican at No.5 Hannan
No.4 STM at Cecilia
No.9 Country Day at No.8 Slidell
No.10 E.D. White at No.14 Newman
1. Dominican 17-1 (7-0 week)…Beat No.1 STM, No.5 EDW, No.18 TC, No.20 PBS going 5-0 at SJA Tourney…Started week by beating No.8 Slidell and No.9 Country Day…that’s 6-0 vs Top 25 this week
2. Mt Carmel 22-2 (7-0 week)…Beat No.1 STM, No.5 EDW, and No.20 PBS going 5-0 at SJA Tournament…started week by beating No.11 SJA and Mandeville
3. St Michael 16-1 (2-0 week)…Beat No.13 SSA and Episcopal. Warriors action picture by: Glenn Eymard
4. St Thomas More 18-2 (4-2 week)…beat No.11 SJA, No.20 PBS, and No.23 Northshore…lost to No.3 MCA, No.4 Dominican
5. Hannan 13-5 (1-1 week)…beat No.13 Dunham, lost to No.20 PBS
6. Haynes 12-1 (2-0 week) Beat Baton Rouge and Riverside
7. U-High 18-0 (7-0 week)…went 5-0 at Barbe Tourney…Beat No.17 WCA and Sam Houston (No.5 in D2 Power Points)… started week with wins vs Hammond and Walker…Currently No.1 in D3 Power Points…Have played one Power 25 team this season
8. Slidell 14-4 (4-1 week)….Lost to No.4 Dominican…Won the Rumble in the Jungle Tournament hosted by Woodlawn going 4-0
9. Country Day 8-4 (1-1 week)…lost to No.4 Dominican…beat Sacred Heart (NO)
10.E.D. White 15-4 (3-3 week)….went 2-3 at SJA Tourney beat No. No.11 SJA, Lost to No.3 MCA, No.4 Dominican, No.23 Northshore…started week beating PJP…
11. SSA 12-4 (1-1 week)….Beat No.16 Fontainebleau …lost 5 setter to No.2 St Michael
12. Dunham 17-4 (1-1 week)…Lost to No.5 Hannan (5 sets)…beat Live Oak
13. John Curtis 12-4 (1-1 week)….Lost to Pope John Paul…beat Kenner Discovery (15-5 No.4 in D2 Power Pts)
14. Newman 14-4 (0-1 week)….Lost to No.25 Chapelle in 5 sets
15. Westminster (Opelousas) 17-4 (6-1 week) Went 4-1 at Barbe Tourney beat LCA…lost to No.10 U-High…Started week beating CHNI and Sam Houston
16. Northshore 6-5 (4-2 week)…Went 4-1 at SJA Tourney with wins vs No.5 EDW, No.11 SJA, and No.18 TC…started week with 3-0 loss to No.8 Slidell
17. Chapelle 12-6 (7-1 week)…started the week by beating No.15 Newman in 5-setter…beat Hahnville…went 5-1 at Barbe tourney lost to Sam Houston
18.Fontainebleau 11-6 (1-2 week)….lost to No.13 SSA…went 1-1 out of state
18. Teurlings Catholic 13-8 (3-4 week) Started week with wins vs CHNI and Notre Dame…went 1-4 at SJA Tourney losing to No.4 Dominican, No.11 SJA, No.20 PBS, and No.23 Northshore
19. Dutchtown 12-5 (3-0 week).…Beat Vandebilt, St Amant and Central BR
20. Central Catholic 14-2 (2-0)….Beat Morgan City and Crescent City
21. Parkview Baptist 8-7 (2-3 week)…started week with impressive 4-set win vs No.5 Hannan…went 1-3 at SJA Tourney beating No.18 TC, losing to No.1 STM, No.3 MCA, and No.4 Dominican
22. St. Joe’s 8-9 (2-5 week)….Snapped a 7-match losing streak with wins vs No.18 TC and Vandebilt…went 2-3 at SJA Tourney
23. Northlake Christian 13-6 (3-0 week)…beat Covington, Lakeshore, and Mandeville
24. C.E. Byrd 13-3 (3-0 week) No.3 in D1 Power Pts...wins vs No.22 Nat Central (5-sets), Calvary Baptist, and Sulphur
25 (t). Teurlings Catholic 13-8 (3-4 week) Started week with wins vs CHNI and Notre Dame…went 1-4 at SJA Tourney losing to No.4 Dominican, No.11 SJA, No.20 PBS, and No.23 Northshore
25 (t). Southside 9-4 (2-0 week) wins vs CHNI and Ascension Episcopal…No.4 in D1 Power Pts
Others:
Natchitoches Central 17-2 (2-1 week)…lost to C.E. Byrd (13-3 No.3 in D1) in 5-setter…beat BTW and West Ouachita
Pope John Paul II 6-4 (2-1 week) Wins at No.12 John Curtis in 5 sets and vs Ben Franklin…lost to No.5 EDW
AOL 15-2 (2-0 week) wins over Cabrini and Riverside…No.6 in D2 Power Points
Kenner Discovery 15-5 (2-1 week) Lost to No.12 John Curtis 3-0…Beat STA and Patrick Taylor No.4 in D2 Power