SBLive Arkansas Power 25 volleyball rankings: Big games featured in final week of the season

This week's Arkansas Power 25 prep volleyball rankings

By Jeff Halpern | Photo by Braeden Botts

NOTE: Records have been adjusted to reflect the Arkansas Activities Association’s new rule in which pool-play matches in tournament play do not count toward the team’s overall record. 

1. Fayetteville (22-2)

Previous Rank: No. 1

Last week: def. Rogers 3-0; def. No. 4 Fort Smith Southside 3-0.

This week: vs. Springdale Har-Ber Tuesday; at Rogers Heritage Thursday.

COMMENT: Wrapped up 6A-West Conference title. Haven’t lost a set against in-state opponents all year.

2. Benton (24-0) 

Previous Rank: No. 2

Last week: def. Sheridan 3-0; def. No. 18 Hot Springs Lakeside 3-0.

This week: vs. Texarkana Tuesday; at No. 3 Conway Thursday.

COMMENT: Tries to sweep No. 3 Conway next week. Benton needed five game to beat the Wampus Cats on Aug. 25.

3. Conway (21-2)

Previous rank: No. 3

Last week: def. Little Rock Central 3-0; def. Jonesboro 3-0.

This week: vs. Bryant Tuesday; vs. No. 2 Benton Thursday.

COMMENT: The best in 5A meets one of the best in 6A in final match before the state tournament.

4. Brookland (23-4)

Previous rank: No. 5.

Last week: def. Trumann 3-0; def. No. 19 Batesville Southside 3-2.

This week: 4A-Northeast Tournament semifinals at Blytheville vs. TBD on Tuesday.

COMMENT:Next goal for Lady Bearcats is get No. 1 seed for Class 4A state tournament.

5. Valley View (16-4–1)

Previous rank: No. 6.

Last week: def. West Memphis 3-0

This week: at Searcy Thursday.

COMMENT: Wrapped up No. 1 seed from 5A-East. One more regular-season match before state tournament.

6. Fort Smith Southside (17-6)

Previous rank: No. 4.

Last week: def. Rogers Heritage 3-0; lost to No. 1 Fayetteville 3-0.

This week: at Springdale Tuesday; at Fort Smith Northside Thursday.

COMMENT: Outside of the two losses to Fayetteville, Southside has won 36 of 41 sets in conference play.

7. Little Rock Christian (17–4)

Previous rank: No. 8.

Last week: def. Jacksonville 3-0; def. Beebe 3-0.

This week: vs. Vilonia Tuesday; at Mount St. Mary Thursday.

COMMENT: 5A-Central title at stake Thursday at Mount St. Mary.

8. Greenwood (19-5)

Previous rank: No. 7.

Last week: def. Siloam Springs 3-0; def. Mountain Home 3-0; at Ozark, Mo. Tournament: lost to Nixa, Mo. 2-0; lost 2-0 to Park Hill South (Mo,) 2-0; lost to Eldon (Mo.) 2-1; def. Lutheran (Mo.) 2-1.

This week: vs. Alma Tuesday; at Greenbrier Thursday.

COMMENT: 5A-West Conference title wrapped up. Head coach Jennifer Golden not alarmed by 1-3 tournament finish, adding her team played competition at a higher level than what they normally see.

9. Cabot (15-7)

Previous rank: No. 9.

Last week: def. Bryant 3-0 Tuesday.

This week: at No. 14 Mount St. Mary Monday; vs. North Little Rock Tuesday.

COMMENT: Big nonconference match on Monday before entering state tournament as No. 2 seed from 6A-Central.

10. Hackett (23-1)

Previous rank: No. 10.

Last week: def. Green Forest 3-0; def. Booneville 3-0

This week: 3A-West Conference semifinals Wednesday at Charleston vs. TBD.

COMMENT: Next goal for Lady Hornets is get No. 1 seed for 3A state tournament.

11. Mena (21-2)

Previous rank: No. 11.

Last week: def. Ashdown 3-0; def. Bauxite 3-0.

This week: at Fountain Lake Tuesday; at Arkadelphia Thursday.

COMMENT: Have 4A-West title wrapped up with two matches left.

12. Shiloh Christian (18-4)

Previous rank: No. 12.

Last week: def. Farmington 3-0; def. Clarksville 3-0.

This week: 4A-Northwest Conference semifinals at Prairie Grove vs. TBD.

COMMENT: Strong regular season with 4A-Northwest Conference title, now looking for tournament title.

13. Mansfield (21-3)

Previous rank: No. 13.

Last week: def. No. 24 Thaden 3-0; def. Eureka Springs 3-0; def. Mulberry 3-0.

This week: 2A-West Conference semifinals vs. TBD at Mulberry.

COMMENT: Aiming for third consecutive state title.

14. Mount St. Mary (16-6–1)

Previous rank: No. 14.

Last week: def. Little Rock Parkview 3-0; def. Maumelle 3-0.

This week: vs. Cabot Monday; at Sylvan Hills Tuesday; vs. Little Rock Christian Thursday.

COMMENT: Starts week with big nonconference matchup against Cabot. Looking for revenge and conference title against Little Rock Christian.

15. Baptist Prep (20-4)

Previous rank: No. 16.

Last week: def. Maumelle Charter 3-0; def. Mayflower 3-0.

This week: 3A-Central Conference Tournament vs. TBD at Episcopal Collegiate.

COMMENT: Lady Eagles been consistent and have top seed entering conference tournament.

16. Wynne (17-5)

Previous rank: No. 15.

Last week: def. Jonesboro Westside 3-1; def. Forrest City 3-0.

This week: 4A-Northeast semifinals vs. TBD at Blytheville.

COMMENT: Yellowjackets would love to knock off Brookland and get No. 1 seed from 4A-Northwest.

17. Paris (17-8)

Previous rank: No. 18.

Last week: def. Charleston 3-0; def. Elkins 3-0

This week: 3A-West Conference Tournament semifinals vs. TBD on Wednesday at Charleston.

COMMENT: Outside of Hackett, Lady Eagles handled everyone else in 3A-West without any problems.

No. 18 Pottsville (16-4)

Previous rank: No. 20

Last week: def. Mills 3-0; def. Lonoke 3-1.

This week: 4A-Central Conference tournament vs. TBD at Pulaski Academy.

COMMENT: 9-0 conference record gives this Apaches No. 1 seed for conference tournament.

19. Hot Springs Lakeside (18-7)

Previous rank: 18.

Last week: def. Texarkana 3-0; lost to No. 2 Benton 3-0

This week: vs. Jonesboro Monday; at Hot Springs Tuesday.

COMMENT: Two of three 5A-South Conference losses to No. 2 Benton.

20. Batesville Southside (20-5)

Previous rank: No. 20.

Last week: lost to No. 5 Brookland 3-2; def. Trumann 3-0.

This week: 4A-Northeast quarterfinals Monday vs. TBD at Blytheville.

COMMENT: No. 3 seed in a loaded 4A-Northwest Conference tournament.

21. Episcopal Collegiate (15-4)

Previous rank: No. 21.

Last week: def. Benton Harmony Grove 3-0; lost to Little Rock Central 3-1; def. LISA Academy North.

This week: 3A-Central Conference Tournament vs. TBD at Episcopal Collegiate.

COMMENT: Battle for No. 1 seed from 3A Central could come down to Episcopal and Baptist Prep.

22. Conway St. Joseph (20-2)

Previous rank: No. 22.

Last week: def. Jacksonville 3-2; def. Cotter 3-0; def. Alpena 3-0.

This week: 2A-North Conference Tournament at Conway St. Joseph vs. TBD.

COMMENT: Seeking No. 1 seed from 2A-North going into state tournament.

23. Lavaca (19-4)

Previous rank: No. 23.

Last week: def. Eureka Springs 3-0; def. The New School 3-0; def. No. 24 Thaden 3-0.

This week: 2A-West Tournament vs. TBD at Mulberry.

COMMENT: Closed out regular season with three conference wins. No. 2 seed from 2A-West coming down to Lavaca and Thaden

24. Thaden (18-6)

Previous rank: No. 24.

Last week: lost to No. 13 Mansfield 3-0; def. Ozark Classic 3-0; lost to No. 23 Lavaca 3-2.

This week: 2A-West Tournament vs. TBD at Mulberry.

COMMENT: Battling Lavaca for No. 2 seed from 2A-West.

25. Life Way Christian (12-5)

Previous rank; No. 25.

Last week: def. Founders Classical 3-0; def. Decatur 3-0

This week: 2A-West Tournament vs. TBD at Mulberry.

COMMENT: No. 4 seed in the toughest conference in Class 2A.

DROPPED OUT

None.