The CHSAA finished its season Sunday and the private schools are already done. It feels like it just started yesterday, but the 2010 girls volleyball season is quickly coming to a close. By the time next week’s rankings come out, there will be just one significant match left: the PSAL Class A final.
St. Francis Prep made the CHSAA Class AA state semis Sunday for the second time in three years after no Brooklyn/Queens team advanced that far since 2000. Cardinal Spellman made the CHSAA Class A state finals for the first time in coach Jeri Faulkner’s illustrious 29-year tenure.
As for the PSAL, things are just starting to heat up. The PSAL Class A second round is set for Monday, the quarterfinals for Wednesday and the semis Sunday. There are so many questions left to be answered.
NYC RANKINGS
1. St. Francis Prep (12-1) (Last week: 1)
The accolades have piled up for St. Francis. The Terriers have gone undefeated the last four years in CHSAA Brooklyn/Queens and Saturday they advanced to their second CHSAA Class AA state semifinals in three years. Prep was so close to becoming the first team from the city to make the finals since 2000, but fell in a five-set heartbreaker to Sacred Heart (Buffalo).
Next: Season complete
2. Francis Lewis (10-0) (2)
The Patriots will begin defending their title yet again Monday when they host New Dorp. Lewis has won three PSAL Class A city championships in a row and to win another it’ll need to overcome some adversity. Things haven’t been easy in Fresh Meadows, but this group has already shown some serious mental toughness.
Next: New Dorp, PSAL Class A second round (Nov. 14, 5 p.m.)
3. Cardozo (8-2) (3)
What does Cardozo have to do to beat Francis Lewis? That’s what Judges coach Danny Scarola must have been wondering last Monday when his squad came so, so close to being the first PSAL team to top the Patriots since 2006. Cardozo could get another chance if both teams make the city finals again.
Next: Cleveland, PSAL Class A second round (Nov. 14, 5 p.m.)
4. Archbishop Molloy (8-5) (4)
The Stanners failed to advance to the second day of the CHSAA Class AA state tournament Saturday, but it was a solid season. Molloy was back in the CHSAA Brooklyn/Queens championship match after a three-year absence and coach Steve Leoutsakos’ team played its best ball down the stretch. Those eight seniors, though, will be greatly missed.
Next: Season complete
5. Fontbonne Hall (9-3) (5)
You have to give coach Linda Strong some credit. Since she came back to the Bonnies after a sabbatical, they have been one of the top teams in the city. Fontbonne didn’t make it out of pool play at the CHSAA Class AA state tournament Saturday, but it finished second in Brooklyn/Queens in the regular season and won the Tottenville Robert Kronisch Memorial Tournament. The future is still bright with middle hitter Lauren Ganun, setter Katie Lang and others coming back.
Next: Season complete
6. Midwood (10-0) (6)
It’s time for Midwood to strut its stuff. The Hornets have said from Day One that they are in the mix for a PSAL Class A city title. They proved it during the regular season with a pair of tournament wins. Now it’s time to face the league’s best in the postseason. Midwood hosts scrappy Long Island City, coming off an upset of Forest Hills, on Monday in the second round.
Next: Long Island City, PSAL Class A second round (Nov. 14, 5 p.m.)
7. Susan Wagner (12-0) (7)
If Wagner is going to make its third straight PSAL Class A semifinals, it’s going to be a tough road. The Falcons host a division winner, Hunter College HS, in the second round Monday and if they win they might have to make a long commute to Bronx Science on Wednesday. Regardless of who Wagner is playing, this is Hofstra-bound outside hitter Emily Burke’s time to shine.
Next: Hunter College HS, PSAL Class A second round (Nov. 14, 5 p.m.)
8. Stuyvesant (13-0) (9)
A No. 7 seed is probably not what coach Phil Fisher had in mind coming into the playoffs. But the Vixens will take it in stride. This, after all, is still a young team with just a pair of seniors on the roster. But it’s a young team that has the size in the middle, the power on the outside and the ball control to do some damage.
Next: Newcomers, PSAL Class A second round (Nov. 14, 5 p.m.)
9. Horace Mann (11-2) (10)
This year, the Lions had to deal with the loss of star outside hitter Lavinia Anzai. Next year, they’ll have to make do without superb libero Margot Penn and a host of others. If history is any indication, coach Jason Torres’ group will take it in stride and still be a contender in the Ivy League.
Next: Season complete
10. Brooklyn Tech (12-0) (NR)
The Engineers’ PSAL Class A second-round opponent won’t be unfamiliar Monday. Brooklyn Tech has seen Seward Park in tournament and playing the Bears, led by Eli Rojas, is never an easy task. But coach Rosanne D’Augusta’s group has the talent for a solid showing in the postseason. They’ll start showing it against Seward.
Next: Seward Park, PSAL Class A second round (Nov. 14, 5 p.m.)
New: Brooklyn Tech (12-0)
Dropped out: St. Catharine (18-1)
On the bubble: Bronx Science (12-0), St. Catharine (18-1), Mary Louis (5-8), Cardinal Spellman (15-2), John F. Kennedy (11-2), Tottenville (10-3) and St. Joseph Hill (13-2)
CHSAA RANKINGS
1. St. Francis Prep (12-0) (1)
2. Archbishop Molloy (8-5) (2)
3. Fontbonne Hall (9-3) (3)
4. St. Catharine (18-1) (4)
5. Mary Louis (5-8) (5)
6. Cardinal Spellman (16-3) (6)
7. St. Joseph Hill (13-3) (7)
8. Bishop Kearney (2-9) (8)
9. St. Joseph by the Sea (10-5) (9)
10. Christ the King (11-1) (10)
New: None
Dropped out: None
On the bubble: St. John’s Prep (10-2)
PSAL RANKINGS
1. Francis Lewis (10-0) (1)
2. Cardozo (8-2) (2)
3. Midwood (10-0) (3)
4. Susan Wagner (12-0) (4)
5. Stuyvesant (13-0) (5)
6. Brooklyn Tech (10-0) (6)
7. Bronx Science (12-0) (7)
8. John F. Kennedy (11-2) (8)
9. Tottenville (10-3) (9)
10. Hunter College HS (13-0) (10)
New: None
Dropped out: None
On the bubble: Seward Park (10-3), Newcomers (8-3), Grover Cleveland (7-4), Townsend Harris (7-4), New Dorp (9-4) and Long Island City (7-4)