As we inch closer to the postseason, we’re seeing more movement in the area power rankings than we have all year. Mahomet-Seymour held the top spot, but every position seems up for grabs a few days before the playoffs. Here’s preps coordinator Zach Piatt’s latest:
1. Mahomet-Seymour
➜ Record: 27-3
➜ Previous ranking: No. 1
It’s difficult to get to the top spot in the area rankings, and it’s even harder to stay there, but the Bulldogs have made it look easy since taking over a few weeks ago. They had one hiccup against Effingham last Thursday, but they went 5-0 at their ensuing weekend tournament and clinched an outright Apollo Conference title on Tuesday thanks to five kills, five digs and six aces from Ellie Barker in a sweep of Charleston.
2. Westville
➜ Record: 31-2
➜ Previous ranking: No. 3
The Tigers have exorcised their Blue Devil demons. Westville lost three times to Bismarck-Henning/Rossville-Alvin last year, the first coming in the Vermilion County Tournament championship. This time, the Tigers won the title, and Lainey Wichtowski surpassed the 2,000-assist mark for her career in the final. Now at 31 wins, this is the winningest season in Westville history.
3. St. Thomas More
➜ Record: 30-4
➜ Previous ranking: No. 4
The Sabers lost their chance at an outright Illini Prairie Conference championship with their loss to Bloomington Central Catholic last Thursday, but they bounced back with a 5-0 showing at their 12th annual Morgan Lee Buerkett Invite. Shannon Monahan‘s 49 kills and 31 digs and Addie Kerr‘s 97 assists earned them co-Most Valuable Player honors for the tournament.
4. Cissna Park
➜ Record: 29-3
➜ Previous ranking: No. 2
It’s tough to fall at all, let alone two spots, when you go 7-1 in a week’s span. That one loss, however, was to St. Thomas More. The Timberwolves finished third in the Morgan Lee Buerkett Invite, led by All-Tournament performances by Addison Lucht (46 kills) and Josie Neukomm (35 kills, 12 aces). They’ve bounced back nicely with sweeps over Clifton Central and Watseka.
5. Champaign Central
➜ Record: 22-12
➜ Previous ranking: No. 5
The Maroons have locked down the No. 5 position for what’s felt like all season. Just one match in the last week, a sweep of Peoria, but there was plenty to cheer for, as Bridget Cassady became Central’s all-time leader in digs. The Maroons will undoubtedly give M-S trouble, with both teams in the same regional.
6. Watseka
➜ Record: 24-7
➜ Previous ranking: No. 6
The only teams the Warriors have lost to are really good. With their loss to Cissna Park on Tuesday, though, they showed once again that they’re just a small step behind the best teams in the area. Even so, Watseka continues to get solid perfomances each night from Ella Smith, Megan Martin and Lauren Tegtmeyer.
7. BHRA
➜ Record: 20-6
➜ Previous ranking: Unranked
With their runner-up finish at the Vermilion County Tournament, the Blue Devils are right back where they know they belong. Sure, they weren’t able to defend their title, falling to Westville in two sets, but they’re going to be in more conversations now. BHRA will travel to Westville for a rematch on Thursday, and a win would really shake things up.
8. Monticello
➜ Record: 20-13
➜ Previous ranking: Unranked
The last month of play didn’t start as smoothly as the Sages would have liked, losing four in a row, which turned into seven of 10, but they’ve responded well by winning six of their last seven matches. The Morgan Lee Buerkett Invite was what really got Monticello back on track, as it went 4-1, thanks to Sierrah Downey (39 kills), Mady Melton (42 digs) and Addison Finet (56 assists).
9. Arthur Christian
➜ Record: 31-7-2
➜ Previous ranking: No. 8
Not quite as exciting as winning eight matches in a two-day span like last week, but the Conquering Riders are still one of the hottest teams in the area as one of only three to have reached 30 wins on the season. Brileigh Mast and Addi Erwin continue to lead the way both offensively and defensively for a team that’s been on fire since the start of October.
10. LeRoy
➜ Record: 19-13
➜ Previous ranking: No. 7
The Panthers have been a completely different team since the last week of September. Before then, they were fighting for the top spot in these rankings at 15-2. Since, they’ve gone 4-11 and are currently eighth in the Heart of Illinois Conference standings. Laila Carr made the Morgan Lee Buerkett All-Tournament Team to provide a bright spot, but LeRoy is in desperate need of a pick me up.