High school girls volleyball is back in the Bay Area, and an intriguing season lies ahead.
Fresh off a NorCal Open Division championship, Archbishop Mitty begins the new year as the presumptive top team in the Bay under new coach Jake Spain.
Spain, the former coach at powerhouse Marin Catholic, will get the opportunity to coach senior hitter Makenna Crosson, who was ranked as the No. 8 Class of 2026 player in the country when she committed to Minnesota last summer.
“After graduating eight seniors last year, how do we look this year?” Spain told the Bay Area News Group. “Makenna’s going to the No. 14 team in the country. Chayce Courtney returns after being the only freshman selected first-team all-league.”
The Monarchs will have to replace departed senior hitter Izzy Romero, who is now at UC Irvine. But the cupboard is never bare for the two-time defending NorCal Open champs.
Who could rise up to challenge Mitty? St. Francis had a good run last season, swiping the Central Coast Section Open Division championship when St. Ignatius rallied from two sets down to stun the Monarchs in the semifinals.
SI should be a contender again despite losing impact senior hitter Carol Manu.
On the east side of the Bay, could a team like James Logan or Foothill surprise?
With the competition already started and getting into full swing this week, the answers might be coming soon.
Here’s how the top teams in the Bay Area News Group’s coverage area stack up:
Bay Area News Group girls volleyball Top 15
(Mercury News & East Bay Times)
No. 1 ARCHBISHOP MITTY (1-0)
Final 2024 ranking: 1
Team overview: Despite losing near-double digit seniors, Mitty is stacked with talent once again. Crosson will step into a new role as a senior captain, while hitter Courtney will look to take another step after a stellar freshman year. Senior right side Ellie Diehl Palmer and middle Katelyn Sentous will also be impact players for the Monarchs.
Up next: Saturday vs. Marin Catholic, 8 a.m.
No. 2 ST. FRANCIS (1-0)
Final 2024 ranking: 2
Team overview: St. Francis gave Mitty a pretty good run for its money last year, but the Lancers were hit hard by graduation. Seniors Jaemysen Martin, Grace Gowdy and Cassidy Pietsch were key cogs and will have to be replaced by new senior captains Ella Fulton (hitter), Noe Vanacht (libero/defensive specialist) and Riley Barulich (setter). The Lancers will have to make do without senior Syriana Messy, who transferred to elite Southern California program Mater Dei-Santa Ana. It wasn’t a problem in the season opener, as St. Francis swept Los Gatos.
Up next: Wednesday at Redwood, 7 p.m.
No. 3 JAMES LOGAN (2-0)
Final 2024 ranking: 5
Team overview: Logan, a singular force in the Mission Valley Athletic League, is already off to a strong start as the Colts swept Foothill and North Bay power Redwood in nonleague play. Seniors McKenzie Anderson (OH/L), Leann Jung (S) and Emma Tran (L/OH) will try to prolong Logan’s two-year MVAL win streak while positioning the Colts to make a run at section and regional titles.
Up next: Thursday at San Ramon Valley, 6 p.m.
No. 4 ST. IGNATIUS (0-1)
Final 2024 ranking: 3
Team overview: It’s hard to call SI a sleeper team. The Wildcats reached the CCS Open title game and NorCal Open semis a year ago. But there are indications this year’s team could be even better. After seizing the setting role in the playoffs and leading the comeback against Mitty, sophomore Gia McManigal will try to spread the ball around and ensure SI takes the next step. The Cats will be led by three captains – seniors Lauren Nip (L) and Boyd Killion (OH) and junior MB Eileen Pfeffer. SI started off its season with a four-set loss to Marin Catholic.
Up next: Sept. 9 vs. Redwood, 6:30 p.m.
No. 5 FOOTHILL (0-2)
Final 2024 ranking: 4
Team overview: Foothill took a few losses to strong competition (Logan and Branson) to start the season. But the Falcons, who won the NorCal Division I title last season, should be formidable once again. Foothill will lean on seniors Olivia So (L/DS), Brooke Stedman (S/RS/MB) and Paige Nelson (S/OPP) to find success this season.
Up next: Wednesday at Campolindo, 6:30 p.m.
No. 6 CAMPOLINDO (4-2)
Final 2024 ranking: 6
Team overview: Campo had a strong and somewhat surprising run to the NorCal Division I semifinals as a 10th seed and will try to build upon that thrilling stretch. The Cougars are led by five seniors – Sierra Worster, Evey Uziel, Mia Walloch, Ava Rogers and Cassidy Woo.
Up next: Wednesday vs. Foothill, 6:30 p.m.
No. 7 SAN RAMON VALLEY (1-0)
Final 2024 ranking: 7
Team overview: SRV comes off a CIF Division II state championship win over Centennial-Bakersfield and should be one of the best teams in the East Bay once again. The Wolves graduated nine seniors but return “plenty of experience,” coach Brian Fujinaga told BANG. Senior MH Jenna Hunt is a Fordham commit and fourth-year varsity player. Senior OH Hope Diekmann is expected to play all six rotations after playing mostly as a defensive specialist last season. Junior MH Rachel Richardson is a Montana State commit who is developing into a well-rounded offensive threat. Junior S Anuu Purev-Thompson, freshman OH Fia So’oto and sophomore OH Colbie Albright are players to watch.
Up next: Wednesday at Marin Catholic, 6:30 p.m.
No. 8 MENLO-ATHERTON (1-1)
Final 2024 ranking: 11
Team overview: M-A was one of the better teams on the Peninsula last season, losing in the NorCal Division I Round of 16 to Clovis in four sets. The Bears are led by six seniors – DS Tamara Rubinsky, L Kylie Winters, OPP Ruby Stone, OH Jocelyn Chang, MB Lily Jacobi and MB Kayla Greenbaum.
Up next: Tuesday vs. Menlo School, 6:30 p.m.
No. 9 MERCY (1-0)
Final 2024 ranking: 10
Team overview: Mercy was similarly competitive on the Peninsula as the best team in the West Bay Athletic League’s Foothill Division, losing in the NorCal Division I Round of 16 to Folsom in five sets. The Bears have an early sweep over Hillsdale this year.
Up next: Tuesday at Brave Christian, 6:30 p.m.
No. 10 PALO ALTO (0-1)
Final 2024 ranking: 8
Team overview: Perennially strong Palo Alto, which hosts the CCS championships, advanced to the NorCal Division I quarterfinals last season, where the Vikings were swept by Folsom. This year, the Vikings started off with a five-set loss to M-A. Paly will look to seniors Sophia McGrath, Reese Japic, Marley Shumaker, Sophia Hill, Cecilia De Feo and Emily Mulkey to lead the way this year.
Up next: Tuesday vs. Gunn, 6:45 p.m.
No. 11 CARONDELET (1-1)
Final 2024 ranking: 12
Team overview: Carondelet, which found success in the East Bay Athletic League last season, was swept out of the NorCal Division I Round of 16 by Campolindo. The Cougars went 11-2 in league play, finishing in a three-way tie with San Ramon Valley and Foothill. Senior MB Kyra Silvestri is a team leader, captain and “powerhouse on the court,” Carondelet coach Stephanie Cline said. Junior six-rotation OH Ava Peteghem has a fast arm and “relentless desire to be better every day,” Cline said. The Cougars did lose junior MB Olivia Britton, who transferred to Campolindo, and senior Meena Kasirajan, who is not playing volleyball this season. Carondelet was swept by Marin Catholic in its season opener but rebounded to sweep Las Lomas.
Up next: Tuesday at Tamalpais, 6:30 p.m.
No. 12 VALLEY CHRISTIAN (1-0)
Final 2024 ranking: 14
Team overview: Like many teams, Valley Christian had a good year but struggled against the West Catholic Athletic League Big Three, going a combined 0–7 against Mitty, St. Francis and SI. The Warriors still made it to the NorCal Division II Round of 16, where they lost to Oak Ridge-El Dorado Hills in five sets. VC started off the year with a sweep of Carlmont (25-19, 27-25, 25-19).
Up next: Thursday at Monterey, 6 p.m.
No. 13 SACRED HEART PREP (0-0)
Final 2024 ranking: 13
Team overview: SHP had a good run in the NorCal Division II bracket last season before getting swept by San Ramon Valley in the semifinals. The Gators are led by seniors Peyton Fu-Sarosa, Anabelle Yujuico, Elie Sabo and Poema Ueligitone.
Up next: Tuesday vs. Burlingame, 6:30 p.m.
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No. 14 BURLINGAME (1-0)
Final 2024 ranking: 15
Team overview: Burlingame’s strong season ended in last year’s NorCal Division II quarterfinals, where the Panthers fell to Oak Ridge-El Dorado Hills in four sets. “We are returning a big core of our passing and defending positions, so we are excited to build on that momentum from last season,” third-year coach Hannah Korslund said. Junior OH Jordan Toomey is a three-year varsity player who is a consistent attacker on the outside and improving on serve receive and defense. Senior L Sam Hollrah returns to anchor the defense. Sophomore OH Ilsa Carlson will step into a bigger role as an outside after getting her feet wet on varsity last year. Senior MB Ava Scatena is a fourth-year varsity middle and consistent leading hitter. “Looking forward to what she can accomplish both hitting and blocking,” Korslund said. Sophomore Lanie Newman will fill the vacant setter position and had 37 assists in Burlingame’s season-opening win over Mills.
Up next: Tuesday at Sacred Heart Prep, 6:30 p.m.
No. 15 ARCHBISHOP RIORDAN (1-0)
Final 2024 ranking: Not ranked
Team overview: Riordan was noted as a team to watch by one Bay Area volleyball coach, and the Crusaders are off to a good start this year with a dominant sweep of Terra Nova (25-2, 25-4, 25-19). Riordan will have its work cut out in the rugged WCAL, where the Crusaders finished 3-9 last year.
Up next: Tuesday at College Prep, 6 p.m.
Editor’s note: Teams eligible for the Bay Area News Group rankings come from leagues based predominantly in Alameda, Contra Costa, San Mateo and Santa Clara counties. The news organization’s high school staff chooses the teams.