It was a busy week across the board in girls volleyball. There were key league matches and plenty of tournaments, which shook up the rankings like a blender.
Cardozo made the biggest move, debuting at No. 6 in the NYC rankings after winning its host tournament Saturday. Susan Wagner is back at No. 3 in New York City after finishing in third place at the Francis Lewis tournament and crushing McKee/Staten Island Tech, 25-11, 25-11, on Friday night. Horace Mann also debuts at No. 10 after winning the Ivy League title.
This week is a big one. Fontbonne Hall meets Bishop Kearney in a huge rematch Thursday in Bay Ridge while Preston and St. Catharine Academy square off in The Bronx the day before. In the PSAL, Columbus and Bronx Science mix it up again Monday with rankings implications on the line. The CHSAA Brooklyn/Queens playoffs also begin Sunday.
Here’s how The Post’s rankings take shape:
1. Francis Lewis (4-0) (Last week: 1)
The Patriots followed up a victory in their own match play tournament last Monday with a tie-for-fifth-place finish in the Horseheads Classic, one of the top tourneys in the state, this weekend. Lewis went 3-3 against New York’s elite in Western New York and returns home to host another tournament Saturday. Coach Arnie Rosenbaum keeps his players busy.
New: RFK (Oct. 19, 4:30 p.m. @ Queens HS of Teaching)
2. St. Francis Prep (9-0) (2)
Can you believe the regular season is over already? St. Francis Prep plays Wednesday against St. Agnes before it will get more than a week off, waiting for the CHSAA Brooklyn/Queens semifinals. The quarters are Sunday, but the Terriers will likely get a bye.
Next: St. Agnes (Oct. 21, 5 p.m.)
3. Susan Wagner (8-0) (5)
The Falcons were impressive in routing McKee/Staten Island Tech, 25-11, 25-11, on Friday. Karolina Wisniewski and Emily Burke were pounding the ball, Amanda Fiore set beautifully and Esther Jang’s passing was on the money. The Sea Gulls didn’t have an answer the entire match. To make it even more impressive, it was at the end of a week that contained three league matches and two grueling day-long tournaments.
Next: Petrides (Oct. 23, 4:30 p.m. @ Staten Island Tech)
4. Mary Louis (6-2) (3)
The Hilltoppers had somewhat of a disappointing performance in the Francis Lewis match play tournament last Monday, finishing fourth out of six teams. Of course, two of those teams ahead of them were No. 1 Francis Lewis and No. 3 Susan Wagner. Mary Louis will meet rival Molloy on Wednesday. A win will lock up the Queens No. 2 seed in the CHSAA Brooklyn/Queens playoffs. TMLA is likely to play Bishop Loughlin for the second year in a row in Sunday’s quarters.
Next: @ St. Agnes (Oct. 20, 5 p.m.)
5. St. Catharine Acad. (10-0) (4)
A perfect regular season is there for the taking for the Crusaders. St. Catharine Academy meets Preston on Wednesday in the biggest match of the season up until this point. SCA beat the Panthers in four sets last time. A victory will all but guarantee a second straight CHSAA Bronx/Westchester title.
Next: @ Maria Regina (Oct. 19, 5 p.m.)
6. Cardozo (4-1) (NR)
What a Saturday for the Judges. Cardozo didn’t just win its fifth straight host tournament, but it beat Stuyvesant, Midwood and Hunter College HS – three of the PSAL’s best – in the process. After giving Francis Lewis all it could handle two weeks ago, coach Danny Scarola’s club has to be looked at as a potential title contender in the PSAL.
Next: Bayside (Oct. 23, 4:30 p.m. @ Townsend Harris)
7. Fontbonne Hall (10-0) (7)
It all comes down to this week for the Bonnies. With a victory Wednesday against Bishop Kearney, Fontbonne, which snapped its rival’s 14-year league winning streak last month, will win CHSAA Brooklyn. A Tigers win and the two teams will play again Friday. Then comes the playoffs Sunday. It’s an exciting time in Bay Ridge.
Next: Bishop Ford (Oct. 19, 5 p.m.)
8. Bishop Kearney (9-1) (8)
Kearney can’t overlook Loughlin on Monday, but Wednesday will make or break the Tigers’ season. A loss to Fontbonne and Kearney will not be the CHSAA Brooklyn winner for the first time in more than a decade. A Tigers victory and there will be a tiebreaker Friday. The division victor will also gain a quarterfinals bye in the Brooklyn/Queens playoffs.
Next: Bishop Loughlin (Oct. 19, 5 p.m.)
9. Midwood (6-0) (10)
The Hornets haven’t won a tournament yet, but they have played well in them. At Tottenville, they lost in the quarters, playing No. 3 Susan Wagner tough and at Cardozo on Saturday, they lost in the finals to the hosts in three sets. Midwood, which also swept Stuyvesant in Queens, has cemented itself as an top-five PSAL team at this point.
Next: Sheepshead Bay (Oct. 23, 4:30 p.m. @ New Utrecht)
10. Horace Mann (9-1)
The Lions got revenge last week on Poly Prep, the only Ivy League team to give Mann a loss. On Saturday, coach Jason Torres’ team won its second regular-season crown in 30 years. Led by Lavinia Anzai, Belle Yoeli, Margot Penn and company, Horace Mann should be a force in the upcoming NYSAIS tourney.
Next: NYSAIS tournament
New: Cardozo (4-1)
Dropped out: John F. Kennedy (6-0) and Stuyvesant (8-0
On the bubble: Stuyvesant (8-0), John F. Kennedy (6-0), St. John’s Prep (5-5), Archbishop Molloy (5-4), Hunter College HS (6-0), Poly Prep (4-2) and Preston (8-1)
CHSAA RANKINGS
1. St. Francis Prep (9-0) (1)
2. Mary Louis (6-2) (2)
3. St. Catharine Acad. (10-0) (3)
4. Fontbonne Hall (10-0) (4)
5. Bishop Kearney (9-1) (5)
6. St. John’s Prep (5-5) (6)
7. Archbishop Molloy (5-4) (7)
8. Preston (8-1) (8)
9. Cardinal Spellman (9-3) (9)
10. Bishop Loughlin (5-4) (10)
New: None
Dropped out: None
On the bubble: St. Joseph by the Sea (8-1) and St. Joseph Hill (7-1)
PSAL RANKINGS
1. Francis Lewis (4-0) (1)
2. Susan Wagner (8-0) (2)
3. Cardozo (4-1) (8)
4. Midwood (6-0) (5)
5. Stuyvesant (8-0) (3)
6. John F. Kennedy (6-0) (4)
7. Hunter College HS (6-0) (6)
8. Brooklyn Tech (4-0) (9)
9. McKee/S.I. Tech (5-2) (7)
10. Bronx Science (6-1) (10)
New: None
Dropped out: None
On the bubble: Tottenville (6-2), Bryant (7-0), Columbus (6-1), Long Island City (6-0), LaGuardia (6-2), Academy of American Studies (4-1), New Utrecht (4-1), Brandeis (5-2), Edison (6-2) and Boys & Girls (4-1) and Lab Museum (5-2)