Hot off of the press - these were just released this afternoon (finally! I've been looking for this for the past two weeks) - the 2010 high school volleyball state rankings list the Jaguars volleyball team at #12 in Class A. Just ahead of them at #11 is Nevis, the team who defeated them in the 2009 Section 5A championship match.
2010 Class A pre-season coaches poll:
1. Minneota (4) 49
2. Bethlehem Academy (1) 43
3. Canby 41
4. Mayer Lutheran 32
5. Wabasha-Kellogg 25
6. Windom 23
7. Martin County West 16
8. Mabel-Canton 12
9. Northern Freeze 9
Win-E-Mac 9
Others receiving votes: Nevis (8), B-B-E (4), Heritage Christian (1), MACCRAY (1)
Other interesting notes in the first state rankings of the season for volleyball...
The team that presumably will be the Jaguars' toughest competition in the Central Minnesota Conference has found themselves in the Class AA state rankings. Pierz, who went 21-8 overall and 4-3 in the CMC (tie with HL-W-W for fourth place) in 2009, is ranked #15. Just ahead of them a few places is one of the Jaguars' perennial non-conference rivals, Sauk Centre, who is ranked #11.
Sauk Centre hosts the Jaguars in the 2010 season opener this Friday night, August 27, with a 7:30pm match. (More on the Mainstreeters will be posted here on Thursday)
Another fun fact...this is the sixth straight year that the Jaguars have been state-ranked entering the season. They have been in every coaches' association poll since August of 2005.
Marshall, a team that has no business being in Class AA, is the top-ranked team in that class. They won the Class AA title in 2009 after winning all three state matches via 3-0 sweeps.
Class AA pre-season volleyball poll:
1. Marshall (2) 32
2. Hutchinson (1) 24
3. Jackson County Central (1) 23
4. Wadena-Deer Creek 17
5. Stewartville 16
6. Jordan 14
Hibbing 14
8 Belle Plaine 11
Delano 11
10 Byron 10
Others receiving votes: Sauk Centre (9), Le Sueur-Henderson (9), Concordia Academy (8), Kasson-Mantorville (7), Pierz (6), Visitation (4), Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton (2), Watertown-Mayer (1).
The rankings are conducted by the Minnesota Volleyball Coaches Association. Coach Weller was quick to remind me that all teams enter the regular season undefeated. What happens the rest of the way is earned.
Here's a quick rundown of how the Jaguars fared at the recent first annual Minnesota Elite Preseason Tournament on August 7. In pool play, the Jaguars went 1-2, losing to Class AA Waconia and Class AAA Lakeville North (the eventual overall champion of the 32-team field).
In the Bronze Division final, B-B-E edged Nevis in two straight, 25-19, 25-13. The Jaguars defeated Win-E-Mac and Chaska to reach the final match, while Nevis beat Andover and Belle Plaine.
Quarterfinals
B-B-E over Win-E-Mac, 25-22, 25-18
Chaska over Apple Valley, 25-22, 22-25, 16-14
Belle Plaine over Centennial, 19-25, 25-16, 15-12
Nevis over Andover, 25-19, 25-23
Semifinals
B-B-E over Chaska, 25-13, 18-25, 15-10
Nevis over Belle Plaine, 25-21, 26-24
Bronze Division Championship:
B-B-E over Nevis, 25-19, 25-23
In the Silver Division Finals, Jackson County Central defeated Hutchinson in a single set by a 25-14 score.
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