When the Florida High School Athletic Association dropped its first set of power rankings last week, I didn't like what I saw.
At that point, I still had hope forMaxPreps' inaugural list of the state's top girls volleyball teamsthat dropped on Monday.
I even gave the FHSAA the chance to redeem themselves when they released rankingsTuesday afternoon.
Here's how that went:I'm writing this article– and you're reading it.
This week's volleyball matchups have already kicked off and we're getting into the thick of schedules as district tournament seeding ends in two weeks. The regular season as a whole concludes on October 15.
LastWeek in Volleyball:How McKayla Theleus, Zoe Zudans are recharging Suncoast volleyball
Get Filled in on Football:Football power rankings –Did Week 4 shake up the Top 10 in Palm Beach County?
More Preps:Benjamin running back Chauncey Bowens commits to Florida Gators
That being said, neither of us have time to wait forteams to submit their stats and scoresand for the datatowork itself out.
Instead, here are our power rankings Palm Beach County's top volleyball programs:
1. Boca Raton (9-0)
How one of Florida's few teams still touting an undefeated record could get sort-of shafted in both rankings services rightfully raises eyebrows.
Yet, Boca's greatest weakness seems to be its strength of schedule, rated 6.48 compared to Jupiter's 15.11 and a similar, but stronger 7.56-strength for Lake Worth Christian.
Considering the Bobcats picked up back-to-back wins over local powerhouses Lake Worth Christian andJupiter last week, the top spot goes to Boca,whether a software algorithm likes their docket of opponents or not.
2. Jupiter (8-3)
Despite losing a chunk of its 2021 team that went undefeated with 25 victories before last year's Class 7A Final Four loss to Windermere, Jupiter remains a state title contenderwith a host of young talent and just two seniors.
Junior Sarah Brodner bringsheight and hitson the outside and sophom*ore Ava Webster in the middle in lieu of Vivian Miller's graduation to Ole Miss. Meanwhile,freshman Macy Mcamis ishaving a breakout season stepping up for formerliberos Savanna Woods and Ally Bauer.
Jupiter's attack showed it had the athleticism to get the win at Boca Raton, forcing amajor defensive outing from Mija Bendziute and company. The cutthroat atmosphere that comes with facing a state contender helped prepare Jupiter for a four-set win over Lake Worth Christian this week.
3. Lake Worth Christian (8-3)
With head coach Terri Kaiser's five state championships, I knew there was a method to the madness in letting the Defenders go 7-0 before a state championship rematch with last year's 2A winners,Seacrest Country Day.
Seacrest took down Lake Worth Christian with a three-set sweep in the first week of September. Boca Raton got the brooms out for the Defenders again last Monday.
Lake Worth Christian's first Week 5 matchup– a 3-0 rout of Spanish River–returned the squad to its winning ways. Those quickly stopped with Jupiter, but not without a dominant late rally from the Defenders that nearly pushed the two's meeting to a fifth set.Tuesday's trip to Jupiter proved that both teams, offeringnotably young rosters compared to previous seasons, still have some growing to do.
4. King's Academy(5-6)
The Lions sit at No. 4 not just because they nabbed a four-set win over Boca Raton Christian, but because the Lions are taking advantage of the early season and using it as an opportunity to "rest" outside hitter Kelly Kinney.The sophom*ore sat out against the Blazers, giving King's the chance to learn how to win without the lifeblood of the team.
King's has designed one of the county'stoughest schedules and will certainly be better for the decisions it's made and the losses taken come a Sept. 27 meeting with Jupiter.
5. Boca Raton Christian (14-3)
The Blazers were 10-0 prior to meeting Boca Raton and King's Academy earlier this month.
Boca Raton Christian's third loss of the season came by way of4A state championship contender Calvary Christian on Monday.
Boca Raton Christian opened the season with impressive wins over top local programs in West Boca Raton, St. Andrew's and Palm Beach Gardens. Yet, when matched with postseasonelites, the Blazers have faltered
If standout sophom*ore Tekoa Barnes, the Post's first Athlete of the Week for the 2022 school year, can execute a second-straight regular season shocker against Lake Worth Christian on Monday, we can get a better idea of where the 2A foes stand before playoff time comes.
6. Saint Andrew's (6-3)
A shift down to No. 6 isn't intended as disrespect to the Scots by any means.
Pushing Boca Raton Christian to five sets and a three-set sweep over Benjamin is commendable despite a three-set loss to Jupiter.
7. Benjamin (6-4)
The loss to St. Andrew's seems to have served as a wakeup call for the Bucs, who have gone on a three-game win streak since, defeating Jupiter Christian, North Broward Prep and Oxbridge Academy.
Benjamin had a slow start last season before evolving into the team that emerged as a Final Four competitor for the Class 3A state championship.The Bucs' early season struggles appear to be acase of history repeating itself.
8. Suncoast (4-3)
Only two teams have forced Boca to five sets. Just three have pushed Jupiter to the fifth. Class 5A underdog Suncoast didn't get the wins, but the Chargers at least got whatever bragging rights thatfive-set games against two local powerhouses are worth.
That experience– plus a great strength of schedule– are sure to result in outcomes against Palm Beach Gardens, Benjamin and Lake Worth Christian that will keep Suncoast in the Top 10.
9. Palm Beach Gardens (8-5)
I'd be lying if I said the Gators weren't my dark horse favorite to make a deep playoff run.
Gardens' lone senior, Leila Johnson is one of the county's top setters and provides much-needed IQ, experience and scoring opportunities for the Gator junior Sara Inman and under-the-radar sophom*ore Mikaylah Hedlund at the net.
The young roster will appreciate struggles against Boca Raton Christian and Jupiter by the end of the Gators'regular seasonwhen they meet Boca Raton.
10. Jupiter Christian (6-3)
Will four and five-set losing battles with King's and Benjamin, respectively, and a high from Tuesday upset of St. Andrew's be the difference in extending their win-streak to 5-0 against a Lake Worth Christian out for redemption?
We'll see about this sleeper. And if the Eagles pull off the dub against their district opponent, Jupiter Christian could soar to the upper end of the power rankings next week.
FHSAA Top 10
List as of September 12:1)Jupiter, 2) Lake Worth Christian, 3)Boca Raton, 4)Boca Raton Christian, 5) Palm Beach Central, 6) Wellington, 7) Benjamin, 8) Oxbridge, 9) Palm Beach Gardens, 10) King's Academy
List as of September 19: 1) Jupiter – No. 21 overall, No. 8 in Class 7A, 2) Boca Raton – No. 26 overall, No. 9 in 7A, 3) Saint Andrew's– No. 49 overall, No. 12 in 3A, 4) Boca Raton Christian– No. 60 overall, No. 4 in 2A, 5) Lake Worth Christian– No. 71 overall, No. 5 in 2A, 6) Benjamin– No. 91 overall, No. 22 in 3A, 7) King's– No. 118 overall, No. 25 in 3A, 8) Palm Beach Gardens– No. 153 overall, No. 34 in 7A, 9) Wellington– No. 158 overall, No. 36 in 7A, 10) Oxbridge– No. 163 overall, No. 35 in 3A
MaxPreps Top 10
List as of September 19: 1) Boca Raton – No. 23 overall,No. 8 in Class 7A, 2) Jupiter – No. 24 overall, No. 9 in 7A, 3) Saint Andrew's– No. 44 overall, No. 11 in 3A, 4) Boca Raton Christian– No. 51 overall, No. 22 in 3A, 5) Lake Worth Christian– No. 67 overall, No. 5 in 2A, 6) Benjamin– No. 104 overall, No. 22 in 3A, 7) King's– No. 128 overall, No. 27 in 3A, 8) Palm Beach Gardens– No. 137 overall, No. 31 in 7A, 9) Oxbridge– No. 165 overall, No. 35 in 3A, 10) West Boca Raton– No. 169 overall, No. 34 in 6a
Emilee Smarr is the high school sports reporter for The Palm Beach Post. She can be reached at esmarr@gannett.com.
