Hot off the press - second round of A.P. volleyball poll

Noteworthy: Maple Lake has found itself receiving votes in the Class AA poll, sitting at #16. They are going to be tough this season, and an outstanding performance by the Jaguars will be required if they are to keep their winning streak over the Irish intact. The last Maple Lake win in volleyball over B-B-E came on September 5, 2005. That year the Irish finished 7-0 in the Central Minnesota Conference and won the title outright. The Jaguars have four straight conference titles under their belt. Taking number five begins on Thursday night this week, when the Jaguars host Holdingford in the CMC opener.

CLASS A
1. Minneota (5) 188
2. Bethlehem Academy (6) 182
3. Wabasha-Kellogg 159
4. Canby 147
5. Mayer Lutheran 125
6. Martin County West 115
7. Mabel-Canton 101
8. Nevis 93
9. Windom 65
10. Win-E-Mac 60

Others: Northern Freeze (57), B-B-E (30), Tracy-Milroy (20), GFW (7), Heritage Christian (6)

CLASS AA
1. Hutchinson (3) 87
2. Marshall (2) 79
Jackson County Central 79
4. Wadena-Deer Creek (1) 75
5. Hibbing 57
6. Delano 51
7. Belle Plaine 47
8. Jordan 45
9. Stewartville 37
10. Lesuer-Henderson 22

Others: Byron (20), Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton (7), Caledonia (6), Minnehaha Academy (6), Kasson-Mantorville (6), Maple Lake (5)

**Throwing in a little fun fact regarding football...In 2009, if the Jaguars football team had reversed the outcomes of their two closes losses - Week 1 vs. West Central Area (20-7) and Week 2 vs. Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted (12-6 in 2OT), they would have finished with 25 points in the Section 4A standings and earned a first-round bye with the number one seed!

Last year, in its final year as a school in Minnesota, St.Bernard's earned 24 section points with a 5-3 record to be the top seed. However, due to strength of schedule, a 4-4 record for B-B-E would have edged the 5-3 record by St.Bernard's.

This season, St.Bernard's is no longer there, but two teams still in Section 4A will challenge the Jaguars for the top seed - Lester Prairie/Holy Trinity and Atwater-Cosmos-Grove City.