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FHSAA releases first set of power rankings for 2023 volleyball season

emilee smarr, palm beach post
·5 min read

The Florida High School Athletic Association released its first set of power rankings for the 2023 volleyball season on Tuesday afternoon.

See where Palm Beach County teams fell among the state's best:

Which team is on top for Palm Beach County?

Boca Raton Christian (11-1) − No. 17 in Florida

Boca Christian’s Tekoa Barnes tallies a kill during the Blazers’ regular season matchup against King’s Academy (Sept. 8, 2023).
Boca Christian’s Tekoa Barnes tallies a kill during the Blazers’ regular season matchup against King’s Academy (Sept. 8, 2023).

The Blazers had given up just four sets across 11 games to start the season, so last Friday's loss to King's (22-25, 22-25, 25-18, 19-25) was a bitter pill to swallow. Still, with one loss on the fourth most-difficult schedule in Class 2A, the Blazers are nicely positioned at No. 2 in their classification.

Let's not forget Week 2's huge five-set win over Class 7A state semifinalist Boca Raton, either. Junior outside hitter Tekoa Barnes, an Oklahoma commit, and her teammates proved they can make a deep run after last fall's historic state final appearance. The Blazers will be a favorite in district and region play the rest of the way.

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Who else made the FHSAA's Top 100?

No. 40: King's Academy (8-5)

King’s Academy’s Devereaux Hoxsie rises to slam the ball during the Lions’ regular season game against Boca Christian (Sept. 8, 2023).
King’s Academy’s Devereaux Hoxsie rises to slam the ball during the Lions’ regular season game against Boca Christian (Sept. 8, 2023).

The Lions are No. 11 in Class 3A and second in Region 2 behind Lake Highland Prep (5-1), already the favorite to win its district out of the likes of Benjamin, Saint John Paul II, FAU High, Saint Andrew's, and more. Despite not having junior outside hitter Kelly Kinney while the Minnesota commit was representing the United States at the FIVB World Championship, unsung King's stars like Devereaux Hoxsie and Sofia Aguilera have managed a gritty schedule, rated 12.99, from home games to weekend tournaments. However, Kinney's return against Boca Christian saw the Lions walk away with the streak-snapping 3-1 win.

Wondering why Boca Christian is still the higher-ranked program with the loss to King's, in addition to a weaker schedule? Deeper rosters across Class 3A create an uphill battle to the top of the division, let alone the state.

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No. 47: Jupiter (8-2)

Jupiter's Macy Mcamis, left, celebrates with Sarah Brodner during match against Boca Raton in Boca Raton on September 15, 2022.
Jupiter's Macy Mcamis, left, celebrates with Sarah Brodner during match against Boca Raton in Boca Raton on September 15, 2022.

Another deep postseason run looks to be in the cards for the Warriors, but there's still a way to go before the North County powerhouse solidifies itself as a lock for region finals and beyond.

Jupiter stands at No. 14 in Class 7A and just one spot shy of the top five for Region 2, bounced out by the FHSAA algorithm's preference for undefeated records. Next Tuesday, Sept. 19, Jupiter coach Blaine Betz and company will have their chance to knock a lossless, but far less battle-tested Vero Beach (3.27 strength) out of the No. 5 spot.

No. 54: Boca Raton (6-1)

Boca outside hitter Natalie Depaula poses after the Bobcats' 3-1 match victory against West Boca in Boca's season opener on Aug. 25, 2022.
Boca outside hitter Natalie Depaula poses after the Bobcats' 3-1 match victory against West Boca in Boca's season opener on Aug. 25, 2022.

Boca Raton claimed an unanswered season opener win over the rival Warriors. Still, a few games less and a slightly weaker schedule (5.12) to Jupiter's 6.73-rated docket of opponents have edged the Bobcats out of the Top 50.

If Boca Returns with a win from its upcoming Thursday road trip to Lourdes Academy, 2022 Class 6A region finalists, there's a good possibility that the FHSAA's next set of power rankings will see the returning final four squad back in the Top 50.

No. 58: Benjamin (6-1)

Grace Havlicek (17) makes a kill shot during Florida High School Athletic Association Class 3A girls' volleyball action at The Benjamin School in in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., on September 6, 2022. The Scots won the night's match in three straight games over the hosting Buccaneers.
Grace Havlicek (17) makes a kill shot during Florida High School Athletic Association Class 3A girls' volleyball action at The Benjamin School in in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., on September 6, 2022. The Scots won the night's match in three straight games over the hosting Buccaneers.

An upperclassman-depleted Benjamin squad is making the push for an extended season against the odds. In Class 3A, the 2022 region semifinalists rank No. 16.

The Bucs got swept at Calvary Christian last Wednesday, but they rebounded nicely with a hard-fought five-set win over Jupiter Christian to end the week, starting this one on a positive note with a sweep over NSU University on Monday.

Led by Auburn middle hitter commit Grace Havlicek − the team's lone senior, ranking No. 7 in the division with 107 kills on the season − the Bucs sit just behind King's in Region 2 at the No. 3 spot. Unfortunately, with no regular season game on the lineup, local volleyball fans are going to have to wait until the postseason to see these foes square off.

No. 82: West Boca Raton (5-1)

Boca Raton volleyball defeated West Boca in four sets on Aug. 25, 2022 at Boca Raton High School.
Boca Raton volleyball defeated West Boca in four sets on Aug. 25, 2022 at Boca Raton High School.

It's early to tell. Yet, with a 3-1 win over Dwyer, No. 25 in Class 6A, already in the bag, it looks like No. 15 West Boca will claim a repeat district championship when tournaments come in October.

The Bulls are also making a strong push to be region finalists, currently seeded third behind Lourdes and St. Thomas Aquinas.

Where did the rest of Palm Beach County fall in first power rankings?

Lake Worth Christian's Sarah Montero accepts the game ball as her teammates congratulate her for eclipsing 1,000 digs in her volleyball career at Lake Worth Christian (Sept. 5, 2023).
Lake Worth Christian's Sarah Montero accepts the game ball as her teammates congratulate her for eclipsing 1,000 digs in her volleyball career at Lake Worth Christian (Sept. 5, 2023).

  • No. 123 Dwyer (4-2)

  • No. 131 Saint John Paul II (4-5)

  • No. 146 Dr. Joaquin Garcia (6-2)

  • No. 157 Park Vista (4-1)

  • No. 165 Royal Palm Beach (6-1)

  • No. 175 American Heritage-Delray (4-3)

  • No. 205 Wellington (5-4)

  • No. 219 Jupiter Christian (2-3)

  • No. 226 FAU High (2-1)

  • No. 236 Palm Beach Gardens (4-1)

  • No. 237 Trinity Christian (5-4)

  • No. 244 Saint Andrew's (2-8)

  • No. 260 Dreyfoos (6-2)

  • No. 267 Palm Beach Central (5-2)

  • No. 306 Lake Worth Christian (2-4)

  • No. 310 Somerset Canyons (2-2)

  • No. 388 Berean Christian (4-3)

  • No. 394 Cardinal Newman (1-7)

  • No. 399 Olympic Heights (3-4)

  • No. 419 Spanish River (1-4)

  • No. 423 Grandview Prep (1-1)

  • No. 434 Atlantic Christian (4-4)

  • No. 435 SLAM! (3-3)

  • No. 445 Suncoast (0-6)

  • No. 471 Oxbridge (0-4)

  • No. 501 Santaluces (3-4)

  • No. 523 Boynton Beach (1-3)

  • No. 537 Glades Day (1-6)

  • No. 541 Palm Beach Lakes (2-3)

  • No. 567 Forest Hill (0-4)

  • No. 596 Lake Worth (1-4)

  • No. 613 Atlantic (0-5)

  • No. 622 Donna Klein Jewish Academy (0-2)

Emilee Smarr is the high school sports reporter for the Palm Beach Post. She can be reached via email at esmarr@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: FHSAA releases first set of power rankings for 2023 volleyball season