Another Wednesday means another edition of the Greater Cincinnati girls volleyball power rankings.
Beechwood and McNicholas made statements over the last week, the Girls Greater Catholic League is getting chaotic as the league schedule unfolds, and Notre Dame and St. Henry are hitting their stride at the most important part of the season.
The most important question, though: which teams will shine and rise to the top as the final few weeks of the season bring some of the best matchups of the year?
Here's the latest look at the top teams in Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky.
Next in line: Mount Notre Dame, Mason, Ross, Springboro, Harrison, Ryle, Goshen, Taylor, Bishop Brossart, Wyoming
10. St. Henry Crusaders (17-5)
Last week: 9
St. Henry is on a roll, having beaten four
straight in-state opponents. The Crusaders have lost to two out-of-state teams this season and won't face another until they host Ursuline and Fenwick at the end of the season. They also locked up the top seed for the 34th District tournament for the sixth straight year.
Upcoming schedule: vs. Holy Cross (Sept. 23), at Assumption (Sept. 28)
9. Notre Dame Pandas (13-6)
Last week: 10
Winners of eight of their last 10, including two wins over North Oldham and one against Sacred Heart, the Pandas have found their groove. Their defense, especially at the net, has been superb. Kaia Tilden has really stepped up on the back line (she currently leads the team in digs) and is one of five players with 10 or more aces.
Upcoming schedule: at Ryle (Sept. 24)
8. Kings Knights (10-3)
Last week: 8
Kings has lost just five sets in the last four weeks; four came in best-of-three losses and the other came against Anderson, the only set the Knights have lost to a league opponent. The upcoming week shouldn't present much of a challenge before Kings hosts Milford in a match that could decide the Eastern Cincinnati Conference champion.
Upcoming schedule: at Turpin (Sept. 24), vs. Winton Woods (Sept. 29)
7. Ursuline Lions (8-4)
Last week: 5
Ursuline has won three of its last four matches after a three-match losing streak. After injuries to two key players, the Lions can get back on track in the coming weeks. But like many teams in Greater Cincinnati, their schedule is back-loaded with some of the best teams in the region, including Louisville Sacred Heart.
Upcoming schedule: at Mercy McAuley (Sept. 24), vs. Centerville (Sept. 26), vs. Seton (Sept. 29)
6. Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy Eagles (12-1)
Last week: 6
After their best win of the season, the Eagles showed a bit of fatigue with a five-set win at Roger Bacon, then suffered a four-set loss at McNicholas, where they scored 57 total points. Lilly Thornberry led CHCA with 11 kills in that match but the hitters as a whole ran into trouble trying to hit into or around the Rockets' blocking scheme. After taking their first loss of the season, the Eagles face two more teams in the next week that also took their first loss.
Upcoming schedule: vs. Summit Country Day (Sept. 23), at Cincinnati Christian (Sept. 24), at Harrison (Sept. 26), at Fenwick (Sept. 29)
5. St. Ursula Bulldogs (9-7)
Last week: 7
The key for St. Ursula in the home stretch of the season will be to establish some consistency. The Bulldogs started 3-3, then won five straight, but have now lost four of their last five matches with a home duel with Seton up next. They have a chance to enter the postseason on a winning streak but will face CHCA and Centerville to close the regular season.
Upcoming schedule: vs. Seton (Sept. 24), vs. Mount Notre Dame (Sept. 29)
4. Beechwood Tigers (18-1)
Last week: 4
The Tigers doubled their winning streak over the last week, six of those wins coming as they won back-to-back All "A" state championships. They've already faced five teams ranked in the current Kentucky Volleyball Coaches Association top 25; three more await in the remainder of the season. Beechwood will also travel to face two of Ohio's top teams.
Upcoming schedule: at Conner (Sept. 23), at Cooper (Sept. 24), at Seton (Sept. 26), vs. Bishop Brossart (Sept. 29)
3. Fenwick Falcons (13-1)
Last week: 2
While Fenwick went blow-for-blow at McNicholas, it couldn't quite pull off the reverse sweep like it did on Sept. 1. Still, there are three state championship-caliber teams in Southwest Ohio. The Falcons should pick up two more easy wins this week before getting into the crucible that is the final three weeks of their schedule.
Upcoming schedule: at Carroll (Sept. 24), at Mercy McAuley (Sept. 26), vs. CHCA (Sept. 29)
2. McNicholas Rockets (13-1)
Last week: 3
The Rockets answered the bell and then some over the last week. They dropped one set apiece to Fenwick and CHCA, but otherwise looked dominant in those matches and in a win over St. Ursula. Annabel Comer, Cara Radtke and Lilly Tierney set up a brick wall against Fenwick. Tierney, Savanna Stacey (who recently surpassed 1,000 career kills) and Kennedy Haucke all had attacking percentages of .310 or better against CHCA. The defense allowed SUA to hit at just a .095 clip and serve one ace. McNicholas is truly firing on all cylinders.
Upcoming schedule: at Alter (Sept. 24)
1. Seton Saints (14-0)
Last week: 1
The beat rolls on for the Saints as they handed Harrison its first loss of the season Saturday and picked up an easy road win at Roger Bacon on Sept. 21. Charley Moeddel remains among the top five in the league in kills, blocks and aces. The last time a player finished that high in those three statistical categories was St. Ursula's Mary Shaffer in 2018.
Upcoming schedule: at St. Ursula (Sept. 24), vs. Beechwood (Sept. 26), at Ursuline (Sept. 29)
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: GGCL shakeup highlights latest girls volleyball power rankings
