As we reach the midpoint of the high school volleyball regular season, seven Greater Cincinnati teams (six in Ohio, one in Kentucky) are undefeated.
Some of those streaks will end as those teams play each other, and continue to face top competition. Still, it's fun to see this many teams performing at such a high level.
After another week full of stellar action, here are Greater Cincinnati's top teams, halfway through September.
Next in line: Mount Notre Dame, Mason, Springboro, Ross, Harrison, Ryle, Goshen, Taylor, Bishop Brossart, Wyoming
10. Notre Dame Pandas (10-7)
Last week: N/R
A four-set win over Ursuline helped the Pandas break out of a slump where they lost four out of five matches. They also went 3-2 at the Louisville Invitational Tournament. Notre Dame's matches against
Sacred Heart and North Oldham will also help them determine where they stand among the state's and the Ninth Region's top teams.
Upcoming schedule: vs. Sacred Heart (Sept. 16), vs. Holy Cross (Sept. 17), at North Oldham (Sept. 22)
9. St. Henry Crusaders (15-5)
Last week: 10
The Crusaders built a five-game winning streak before falling to Divine Savior and Mercy at the Louisville Invitational Tournament. They'll face Mercy for a third time later this season, hoping to salvage a match against the Jaguars. A trip to Assumption on Sept. 28 kicks off a tough final two weeks of the season that could also have Ninth Region implications.
Upcoming schedule: vs. Simon Kenton (Sept. 16), at Highlands (Sept. 21), at Ryle (Sept. 22)
8. Kings Knights (9-3)
Last week: 9
There appear to be four Cincinnati teams in the race to make the Division II regional tournament. Kings has been one of the steadiest squads since its best-of-three loss to Mount Notre Dame. The Knights have one of the most powerful net rotations in Southwest Ohio with Laura Raines and Sammi Wehrman on the pins and Anaiah Taylor and Mia Sannella in the middle.
Upcoming schedule: vs. Walnut Hills (Sept. 22)
7. St. Ursula Bulldogs (8-6)
Last week: 8
The Bulldogs put together a five-game winning streak last week, thanks in part to the return of Parker Terrill after she missed two matches. You can't fault SUA for losses to the best team in Kentucky (Assumption), one of the top teams in Wisconsin (Divine Savior), and Seton, which hasn't lost in nearly two years. The schedule doesn't let up for the rest of the regular season, either.
Upcoming schedule: at Ursuline (Sept. 17), vs. McNicholas (Sept. 21)
6. CHCA Eagles (11-0)
Last week: 7
The Eagles debuted at No. 2 in the Division III Ohio High School Volleyball Coaches Association's statewide poll, and a five-set win at Mount Notre Dame only reinforced that. Jillian Turvey broke the program's career blocks record, part of a defensive effort that held MND to a .111 hitting percentage. CHCA has its best record since at least 2006. Will they keep a zero in the loss column as the schedule gets significantly tougher?
Upcoming schedule: at Roger Bacon (Sept. 17), at McNicholas (Sept. 19)
5. Ursuline Lions (6-3)
Last week: 4
Ursuline endured a three-game losing streak from Sept. 5 to Sept. 10. The Lions were without Annamarie Rajavarma and Willow Smith but should return to form as their roster returns to health. Much like St. Ursula got a boost from last week's schedule, Ursuline has a chance to do the same in the next seven days, even with rematches against the Bulldogs and Mount Notre Dame.
Upcoming schedule: vs. St. Ursula (Sept. 17), at Badin (Sept. 19), at Mount Notre Dame (Sept. 22)
4. Beechwood Tigers (11-1)
Last week: 5
The Tigers may have built up a little rust as an eight-day layoff resulted in a five-set win over Holy Cross where they were down 2-1. Anyway, Beechwood has a winnable match at Scott before it heads to Owensboro to defend its All "A" state title. The Tigers begin the tournament against a formidable Sayre (11-2) team.
Upcoming schedule: at Scott (Sept. 17), at Kentucky All "A" state tournament (Sept. 18 and 19)
3. McNicholas Rockets (9-1)
Last week: 3
The Rockets had a fairly easy past seven days, beating the bottom three teams in the Greater Catholic League-Coed. The schedule over the next week is a gauntlet as they face three teams also ranked in this week's top 10. By season's end, McNicholas could face nine teams that appeared in the power rankings during the season.
Upcoming schedule: vs. Fenwick (Sept. 17), vs. CHCA (Sept. 19), at St. Ursula (Sept. 21)
2. Fenwick Falcons (11-0)
Last week: 2
In a bit of a head-scratcher, the Falcons debuted at No. 4 in DIV of the OHSVCA poll. Three of the top four teams in that poll are undefeated, but Fenwick is the only school with multiple wins over teams that are also ranked. While their "Volley under the Lights" event was moved indoors, the Falcons showed up for a packed house, beating Mason in four sets. Three players had 10 or more kills, three players had double-digit digs, and Stella Epperson, Sam Long and Andrea Ptaszkiewicz combined for 10 blocks.
Upcoming schedule: at McNicholas (Sept. 17), at Belmont, IN (Sept. 19), vs. Badin (Sept. 22)
1. Seton Saints (11-0)
Last week: 1
We're running out of ways to describe the Saints' dominance. Their depth and defense were especially on display in a sweep of Ursuline. They still haven't dropped a single set and have allowed more than 20 points in a set on just two occasions. They're also hitting .355 as a team and lead the GGCL with 107 team blocks.
Upcoming schedule: at Harrison (Sept. 17), at Roger Bacon (Sept. 21), vs. Mercy McAuley (Sept. 22)
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: CHCA continues rise in Cincinnati volleyball power rankings
