SBLive Arkansas Top 25 high school volleyball rankings: Fayetteville finishes on top with 6A state championship

The Bulldogs captured their third straight state crown Saturday

By Jeff Halpern | Photos by Tommy Land

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 (27-2) 

Previous Rank: No. 1

Last week: Class 6A state tournament: def. Bentonville West 3-0; def. No. 8 Cabot 3-0; def. No. 6 Fort Smith Southside 3-0.

COMMENT: in 2022, Fayetteville is to volleyball what Springdale was to football in the 2005 season and what North Little Rock was to boys basketball in the 2021-2022 season - the best ever.

2. Benton (28-1)

Previous Rank: No. 3.

Last week: Class 5A state tournament: def. Sylvan Hills 3-0; def. Marion 3-0; def. Van Buren 3-0; def. No. 5 Valley View 3-0.

COMMENT: One year after a state championship loss to Little Rock Christian in which all five games were decided by 15 points, the Lady Panthers take home the championship.

3. Brookland (30-4)

Previous rank: No. 4.

Last week: Class 4A state tournament: def. Joe T. Robinson 3-0; def. Farmington 3-0; def. Jonesboro Westside 3-0; def. No. 14 Shiloh Christian 3-0

COMMENT: After three consecutive runner-up finishes, the Bearcats finally take home the trophy they’ve wanted.

4. Fort Smith Southside (22-7)

Previous rank: No. 6.

This week: Class 6A state tournament: def. Little Rock Central 3-1; def. No. 2 Conway 3-0; lost to No. 1 Fayetteville 3-0.

COMMENT: With four sophomores in the rotation, future looks bright for Lady Mavericks.

5. Conway (24-3)

Previous rank: No. 2.

Last week: Class 6A state tournament: def. Bentonville 3-0; lost to No. 6 Fort Smith Southside 3-0.

COMMENT: Wampus Cats went nearly two months between losses.

6. Baptist Prep (26-4)

Previous rank: No. 15.

Last week: Class 3A state tournament: def. Manila 3-0; def. No. 18 Paris 3-0; def. Crowley’s Ridge Academy 3-0; def. No. 9 Hackett 3-0.

COMMENT: One year after losing in semifinals, Lady Eagles proved they could beat teams in all classes and take home the championship trophy.

7. Valley View (21-4–1)

Previous rank: No. 5.

Last week: Class 5A state tournament: def. Greenbrier 3-1; def. No. 19 Hot Springs Lakeside 3-1; def. No. 10 Mount St. Mary 3-1; lost to No. 3 Benton 3-0

COMMENT: Just like death and taxes, the Blazers made their way back to the state finals for the 20th straight time. Led 15-13 in third set before setter Riley Owens got hurt and Benton made a comeback.

8. Mansfield (27-3)

Previous rank: No. 13.

Last week: Class 2A state tournament: def. Magnet Cove 3-0; def. Quitman 3-0; def. Thaden 3-0; def. No. 24 Lavaca 3-0.

COMMENT: The queens of Class 2A with three consecutive state championships.

9. Cabot (18-8)

Previous rank: No. 8.

This week: Class 6A state tournament quarterfinal: def. Springdale Har-Ber 3-2; lost to No. 1 Fayetteville 3-0.

COMMENT: Lady Panthers had nice season and run to the semifinals.

10. Shiloh Christian (23-4)

Previous rank: No. 14.

Last week: Class 4A state tournament: Bauxite 3-0; def. No. 16 Batesville Southside 3-0; def. No. 12 Mena 3-1; lost to No. 4 Brookland 3-0.

COMMENT: Senior-laden team got the Saints back to the finals for the first time since 2017.

11. Hackett (28-2)

Previous rank: No. 9.

Last week: Class 3A state tournament: def. Salem 3-0; def. No. 21 Episcopal Collegiate 3-0; def. Hoxie 3-0; lost to No. 15 Baptist Prep 3-0.

COMMENT: Second consecutive year the Hornets fall short in title game.

12. Mount St. Mary (19-7–1)

Previous rank: No. 10.

Last week: Class 5A state tournament: def. Sheridan 3-0; def. No. 11 Greenwood 3-2; lost to No. 5 Valley View 3-1.

COMMENT: Belles dropped down in classification and won a share of 5A-Central and advanced to semifinals.

13. Van Buren (17-8)

Previous rank: Not ranked

Last week: Class 5A state tournament: def. Batesville 3-0; def. No. 7 Little Rock Christian 3-2; lost to No. 3 Benton 3-0.

COMMENT: After a midseason slump: Lady Pointers rebounded to reach semifinals.

14. Mena (25-3)

Previous rank: No. 12.

Last week: Class 4A state tournament: def. Pea Ridge 3-1; def. No. 17 Wynne 3-1; lost to No. 14 Shiloh Christian 3-1.

COMMENT: Brad Lyle’s team has gone 54-6 the past two years, and this year reached the semifinals.

15. Lavaca (24-6)

Previous rank: No. 24.

Last week: Class 2A state tournament: def. England 3-0; def. Marshall 3-0; def. No. 22 Conway Christian 3-0; lost to No. 13 Mansfield 3-0

COMMENT: Next up for Lavaca: beating Mansfield (0-4 vs. Lady Tigers this year); 2. Winning a state title, (0-3 in state finals appearances in the past five seasons).

16. Little Rock Christian (21–5)

Previous rank: No. 7.

Last week: Class 5A state tournament: def. White Hall 3-0; lost to Van Buren 3-2.

COMMENT: Defending 5A champions came up short in bid to repeat.

17. Greenwood (22-7)

Previous rank: No. 11.

Last week: Class 5A state tournament: Greene County Tech 3-0; lost to No. 10 Mount St. Mary 3-2.

COMMENT: Lady Bulldogs ended the season on a down note.

18. Batesville Southside (23-6)

Previous rank: No. 16.

Last week: Class 4A state tournament: def. No. 20 Pottsville 3-1; lost to No. 14 Shiloh Christian 3-0.

COMMENT: Two consecutive trips to the quarterfinals for the Southerners.

19. Wynne (17-7)

Previous rank: No. 17.

Last week: Class 4A state tournament: def. Morrilton 3-1; lost to No. 12 Mena 3-1

COMMENT: Went a step further in the state tournament this year.

20. Conway Christian (21-4)

Previous rank: No. 22

Last week: Class 2A state tournament: def. Cedar Ridge 3-0; def. No. 25 Life Way Christian 3-0; lost to No. 24 Lavaca 3-0.

COMMENT: Followed last year’s quarterfinal finish with semifinal finish.

No. 21 Crowley’s Ridge Academy (18-4)

Previous rank: Not ranked.

Last week: Class 3A sate tournament: def. Central Arkansas Christian 3-0; def. Harding Academy 3-0; lost to No. 15 Baptist Prep 3-0.

COMMENT: Tradition-rich program back in semifinals for the fourth time in five years.

No. 22 Hoxie (21-3)

Previous rank: Not ranked.

Last week: Class 3A state tournament: def. Mayflower 3-0; def. Atkins 3-0; lost to No. 9 Hackett 3-1.

COMMENT: Second consecutive year knocked out by Hackett. Also made second trip to semifinals in three years.

23. Thaden (23-10)

Previous rank: Not ranked.

Last week: Class 2A state tournament: def. Taylor 3-0; def. Conway St. Joseph 3-0; lost to No. 13 Mansfield 3-0.

COMMENT: Rebounded from last-season slump with run to semifinals.

24. Paris (19-10)

Previous rank: No. 18.

Last week: Class 3A state tournament: def. Rose Bud 3-0; lost to No. 15 Baptist Prep 3-0.

COMMENT: First time since 2019 Paris failed to make it to the state finals.

25. Hot Springs Lakeside (21-8)

Previous rank: 19.

Last week: Class 5A state tournament: def. Vilonia 3-2; lost to No. 5 Valley View 3-1.

COMMENT: Lakeside had a solid season in 5A-South.

DROPPED OUT

No. 20 Pottsville, No. 21 Episcopal Collegiate, No. 25 Life Way Christian