The San Diego Section has released its official rankings in girls’ volleyball, girls field hockey and boys’ water polo. The end-of-season rankings will be used to seed teams for the playoffs.
East County teams are well represented in the three sports, including several near the top of their respective divisions.
Helix Charter (13-5) and Christian (12-5) are ranked second and third, respectively, among the section’s Division II girls’ volleyball teams while Santana (9-2) and Helix (11-5) are ranked second and third, respectively, among the section’s Division I boys’ water polo teams.
The girls’ volleyball rankings include five divisions (Division I through Division V). The top eight teams in Division I will split off at the end of the season for the Open Division playoffs.
The boys’ water polo rankings include three divisions (Division I through Division III), with the top eight teams in Division I advancing to the Open Division playoffs.
The girls field hockey teams include two divisions (Division I and Division II) and will add the Open Division for the playoffs.
Heavy hitters
The Lady Highlanders (3-1 in Grossmont Hills League play) entered Tuesday’s home match against West Hills riding a three-game winning streak that included victories over Santana (3-0 on Sept. 21), Granite Hills (3-1 on Sept. 26) and Valhalla (3-0 on Sept. 28).
Helix defeated West Hills by scores of 25-12, 25-21, 25-20 and topped Granite Hills 25-10, 22-25, 25-21, 25-17. The Lady Highlanders swept Valhalla by scores of 25-10, 25-18, 25-13.
Christian finished 6-1 at the prestigious Nike Tournament Champions tournament in Phoenix over the weekend prior to defeating Patrick Henry in a 3-0 sweep (25-23, 25-15, 25-19) on Sept. 26 to improve to 3-0 in City Eastern League play.
Junior Julia Marinesi and sophomore Sophia Willett pace the Lady Patriots with 294 and 263 kills, respectively, while senior Jessie Vincent (259), Marinesi (225) and Willett (211) key the team in digs.
Junior Kaitlyn Favela is the runaway assist leader (631).
El Capitan (4-0 in Grossmont Hills League play) entered the week ranked sixth among the section’s Division I teams with a bead on qualifying for the elite Open Division playoffs.
Kills leaders include senior Madison Triplett (262) and juniors Madelyn Wutzke (185) and Savannah Simpson (225). Seniors Madison Liedecke and Ruby Ennis pace the team with 272 and 225 digs, respectively. Ennis is the team’s assist leader (505).
Senior Delaney Fry keyed Granite Hills with 16 kills in the match-up against Helix while junior Paisely Stednitz had 16 digs and sophomore Tatum Ripke contributed 21 assists.
No. 5 Santana (10-7), No. 6 Steele Canyon (15-8) and No. 7 West Hills (11-12) are ranked in the middle of the pack in Division III while Grossmont (9-8) is ranked sixth in Division IV.
