Now things are really starting to get interesting.
The CHSAA has wrapped up its diocesan playoffs – St. Francis Prep won Brooklyn/Queens for a fourth straight year and St. Catharine won the Archdiocese for the third – and its states will begin this weekend. SFP has a chance to do some damage. The Terriers looked very strong in beating Archbishop Molloy on Thursday.
In the PSAL, playoff seeding is Tuesday and the first round is Friday. We smell some upsets brewing already. But before that, there’s a nice little appetizer: Queens rivals Francis Lewis and Cardozo duking it out Monday with more than just bragging rights on the line.
NYC RANKINGS
1. St. Francis Prep (12-0) (Last week: 1)
The Terriers didn’t just win CHSAA Brooklyn/Queens, they made a major statement by bashing Archbishop Molloy, 25-9, 25-9, 25-10, on Thursday. Now comes the big test. St. Francis has a strong chance to make it to the second day of the CHSAA Class AA state tournament. Prep did it two years ago, but it has only been done a few times by teams from New York City.
Next: CHSAA Class AA state tournament (Nov. 13, All day @ York College)
2. Francis Lewis (9-0) (2)
The playoffs might still be five days away, but Monday’s match between Lewis and Cardozo is sure going to feel like a championship. So much is on the line – the Patriots haven’t lost to a PSAL team since the 2006 city title match against John F. Kennedy. The No. 1 seed in the playoffs could also be up for grabs. And then there’s the question of how will Lewis do without senior star middle Alexandra Persaud, who’s out for the year with a torn ACL.
Next: No. 3 Cardozo (Nov. 8, 5:30 p.m. @ Bayside)
3. Cardozo (8-1) (3)
Emotions are going to be sky high Monday and Cardozo knows it has a legitimate chance to knock off its heated rival Lewis. Since the first meeting, the Judges added senior outside hitter Martina Vaglia, an Italian import. Could she be the complement to star outside hitter Ashley Grubler that the Judges have needed all season? We’ll find out in a few hours.
Next: No. 2 Francis Lewis (Nov. 8, 5:30 p.m. @ Bayside)
4. Archbishop Molloy (8-5) (4)
Just getting to the CHSAA Brooklyn/Queens final was a significant accomplishment for Molloy. The Stanners played their best volleyball late in the season, but it just wasn’t there against St. Francis Prep. They’ll try to pull a more few upsets this weekend at York.
Next: CHSAA Class AA state tournament (Nov. 13, all day @ York College)
5. Fontbonne Hall (9-3) (5)
The Bonnies weren’t able to meet St. Francis Prep again in the CHSAA Brooklyn/Queens final after falling to Molloy in the semis, but they could see the Terriers again this weekend in the state tournament. Fontbonne has a chance to do damage, too – if it plays its best volleyball. That didn’t happy against Molloy.
Next: CHSAA Class AA state tournament (Nov. 13, all day @ York College)
6. Midwood (9-0) (6)
For the first time all season, Midwood did not go to the championship match of a tournament it participated in. The Hornets fell to John F. Kennedy in the semifinals of The Bronx team’s host tourney. Shannon Appel was named to the all-tournament team. The Hornets should still get a top-four seed in the PSAL playoffs, which start Friday.
Next: @ Sheepshead Bay (Nov. 8, 4:30 p.m.)
7. Susan Wagner (11-0) (7)
By beating Tottenville last week, the Falcons clinched a third straight PSAL Staten Island A9 title after having never won one before. Emily Burke has been strong all year on the outside and Esther Jang is a steady setter, but libero Jia Sha has started to emerge. Wagner might be peaking at the right time going into the postseason.
Next: @ Port Richmond (Nov. 8, 4:30 p.m.)
8. St. Catharine (18-1) (NR)
The Crusaders are more than just a two-year wonder – they’re here to stay. St. Catharine came into the season with a host of new faces, a new coach (former player Alessandra Rosso) and expectations that weren’t nearly as high. In the middle of the season, the Crusaders lost setter Jenny Lopez due to age ineligibility. Yet somehow they pulled through to win the CHSAA Bronx/Westchester title for the third straight year and Sunday they beat Cardinal Spellman for a third consecutive CHSAA Archdiocesan title.
Next: CHSAA Class A state tournament (Nov. 13, All day @ Cardinal Spellman)
9. Stuyvesant (11-0) (9)
The Vixens should be headed to a solid seeding spot, perhaps somewhere in the top five or six. But they absolutely cannot overlook Seward Park. The Bears have played well at tournaments this year and Stuy has already lost a set to a team in league play this year (Bard).
Next: @ Seward Park (Nov. 8, 4:30 p.m.)
10. Horace Mann (11-2) (8)
The Lions are going to start getting the reputation of being bridesmaids after falling in the NYSAISAA final for the second time in three years. Horace Mann advanced to the semis last year. That’s better than the program was a few years ago, though, so coach Jason Torres and his girls will take it – even if they were thirsting for a state championship to call their own.
Next: Season complete
New: St. Catharine (18-1)
Dropped out: Poly Prep (7-4) (10)
On the bubble: Brooklyn Tech (10-0), Bronx Science (11-0), Poly Prep (7-4), Mary Louis (5-8), John F. Kennedy (9-2), Tottenville (9-3) and Cardinal Spellman (15-2)
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) (5)
5. Mary Louis (5-8) (4)
6. Cardinal Spellman (15-2) (6)
7. St. Joseph Hill (12-2) (9)
8. Bishop Kearney (2-9) (8)
9. St. Joseph by the Sea (10-4) (NR)
10. Christ the King (11-1) (NR)
New: St. Joseph by the Sea (10-4) and Christ the King (11-1
Dropped out: Preston (6-6) and St. John’s Prep (10-2)
On the bubble: Preston (6-6) and St. John’s Prep (10-2)
PSAL RANKINGS
1. Francis Lewis (9-0) (1)
2. Cardozo (8-1) (2)
3. Midwood (9-0) (3)
4. Susan Wagner (11-0) (4)
5. Stuyvesant (11-0) (5)
6. Brooklyn Tech (10-0) (6)
7. Bronx Science (11-0) (9)
8. John F. Kennedy (9-2) (8)
9. Tottenville (9-3) (7)
10. Hunter College HS (11-0) (NR)
New: Hunter College HS (11-0)
Dropped out: Grover Cleveland (6-4)
On the bubble: Grover Cleveland (6-4), Seward Park (9-2), Forest Hills (10-1), Townsend Harris (6-4), Newcomers (7-3), New Dorp (8-4), Long Island City (6-4), LaGuardia (9-2) and Bard (9-3)