Indiana high school volleyball power rankings: Our Insider's top 15 teams so far

We're trying something different this fall with a statewide Fab 15. The format may eventually change — going by class like Kyle does with his football power rankings could be in play — but for the inaugural installment, we're going with the top 15 teams regardless of class.

Is there a team I'm overlooking or should have an eye on? Let me know.

Here's a look at the state's best entering the final week of August.

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Kills, digs and aces: Vote for volleyball players of the week (Aug. 21-26)

1. Hamilton Southeastern (7-0)

Here's an early-season fun fact: The Royals' closest set of the season was a 25-22 decision against Carmel. They have an interesting stretch upcoming with Bellmont and Fort Wayne Carroll on Saturday, followed by a 4A championship rematch vs. Yorktown on Tuesday.

Last week: W vs. Carmel, Brownsburg, Floyd Central, Providence

This week: Brebeuf (Tuesday), at Avon (Thursday), vs. Bellmont & FW Carroll (Saturday)

2. Cathedral (8-1)

The Irish responded nicely to their first loss of the season, shaking off a slow start to down Center Grove in four on Tuesday, before sweeping Westfield on Wednesday. Cathedral's lone match this week, at Roncalli, provides another quality test.

Last week: W vs. Center Grove, Westfield

This week: at Roncalli (Tuesday)

3. Bellmont (10-0)

The defending 3A runner-up Braves added a 2-0 sweep of Roncalli to a resume that already included Yorktown, Bishop Dwenger and Avon. Sophomore MaryKate Scheumann and senior Delaney Lawson both average over four kills per set at the forefront of a Bellmont attack that boasts a .378 hit%. Senior setter Hailey Cole is already nearing 300 assists for the season.

Last week: W vs. FW Concordia Lutheran (2), South Adams, Westfield, Crown Point, Roncalli.

This week: FW Blackhawk Christian (Monday), at Heritage (Tuesday), FW Snider (Thursday), vs. Hamilton Southeastern & Elkhart (Saturday). 

4. Yorktown (8-2)

The first leg of the Tigers' schedule included matches against Westfield, Brebeuf Jesuit, Bellmont, McCutcheon and Roncalli. The next stretch features Wapahani, HSE and Mt. Vernon, which is off to a 7-3 start. Hitter Charlotte Vinson is up for Volleyball Player of the Week; Addi Rains and Addi Applegate have combined for 219 digs with just nine errors on 262 receptions.

Last week: W vs. Shelbyville, Delta, McCutcheon, Munster, Crown Point; L vs. Roncalli

This week: Wapahani (Tuesday), at Pendleton Heights (Thursday)

5. Roncalli (7-2)

The Royals opened Saturday's Yorktown Invite with wins over Munster and Yorktown, before suffering their first losses of the season: A three-set decision vs. McCutcheon and a two-set decision vs. Bellmont. Mackenzie Kruer has 42 total blocks (16 solo) through her first 25 sets.

Last week: W vs. Covenant Christian, Columbus North, Munster, Yorktown; L vs. McCutcheon, Bellmont

This week: Cathedral (Tuesday), at Guerin Catholic (Thursday), vs. Franklin (Saturday)

6. Providence (9-2)

The defending 3A champion Pioneers ran into the HSE buzzsaw Saturday, but their only other loss was to Assumption (Kentucky), while their wins include Brebeuf Jesuit, Castle and Fishers. Senior hitters Makenzie Wagner and Lilly Tappel have 82 and 72 kills, respectively, and are both hitting well above .300. Setters Reese Carver and Addison Smith both have over 100 assists.

Last week: W vs. Brownstown Central, Fishers; L vs. Assumption (Kentucky), HSE

This week: New Albany (Tuesday), at Sacred Heart (Kentucky) (Thursday)

7. McCutcheon (6-4)

The Mavericks' record is the result of a brutally difficult schedule. They split four matches over the weekend, beating Munster and Roncalli and losing to Yorktown (nearly forced a third set) and Westfield (both sets were close). Isabella Humphrey has been spearheading the attack and also leads the team with 105 receptions (only seven errors). Allie Shondell and Lexi Shondell average 5.6 and 4.3 assists per set, respectively.

Last week: W vs. Brebeuf Jesuit, Kokomo, Munster, Roncalli; L vs. Yorktown, Roncalli

This week: at West Lafayette (Tuesday), Lafayette Jefferson (Thursday)

8. Noblesville (5-0)

The Millers haven't had any clean sweeps yet, but they haven't had any losses, either, following a season-opening 3-1 win over North Central with five-set triumphs over Mt. Vernon and Pendleton Heights. Their efficiency on the attack has steadily improved through the first couple weeks, with the Millers hitting a season-best .317 in Saturday's 3-1 win over Guerin Catholic.

Last week: W vs. Pendleton Heights, Avon, Guerin Catholic

This week: at Lawrence North (Wednesday), at Fishers (Thursday)

9. North Central (9-4)

Eight of North Central's first 13 matches were in a tournament setting, pitting them against the likes of Cathedral, Perry Meridian and Plainfield. They bounced back from a 2-2 weekend with sweeps of Fishers, Mt. Vernon and Shelbyville last week. Seniors Daya Vestal, Samantha Roberts and Marlina Anderson have all accumulated over 20 blocks. Alaleh Tolliver, the team's leading attacker, has six errors on a team-high 186 receptions.

Last week: W vs. Fishers, Mt. Vernon, Shelbyville

This week: at Warren Central (Tuesday), Lebanon (Thursday), vs. Perry Meridian, New Castle & Pendleton Heights (Saturday)

10. Zionsville (10-0)

The Eagles are off to their best start since 2017, boasting wins over McCutcheon, Western Boone and Fishers. Their schedule ramps up a bit over the next few weeks with Carmel, a home tournament that includes Mt. Vernon and West Lafayette, Harrison and Noblesville.

Last week: W vs. Western Boone, Lawrence North, Fisherss

This week: at Westfield (Thursday)

11. Benton Central (6-0)

The 3A Bison constructed their early schedule with a blend of quality Class A (Tri-County) and 2A (Lafayette Central Catholic) foes, plus 4A opponents Harrison and Brownsburg. They've dropped only two sets on the season, and are led offensively by the Fosters, senior Sienna and sophomore Cali, both of whom have 75 kills through 20 sets.

Last week: W vs. Lafayette Central Catholic, Northview, Brownsburg

This week: Lafayette Jefferson (Tuesday), Frontier (Thursday)

12. Brebeuf Jesuit (6-4)

The Braves have lost four of six entering Tuesday's match vs. HSE, but those losses were to Yorktown, Providence, Carmel and McCutcheon. McKenna Wilken, Lola Schumacher and Meryl Zunk are all averaging around three kills per set; Lexi Gin has 19 errors on 218 receptions with 262 digs.

Last week: W vs. Chatard, Heritage Christian; L vs. McCutcheon

This week: at HSE (Tuesday), at Ben Davis (Thursday)

13. Angola (5-0)

Led by Notre Dame commit Morgan Gaerte (69 kills, .567 hit%) and Central Florida commit Mya Ball (25 aces, 63 assists), the Hornets breezed through their first five matches (all three-set sweeps). Their schedule picks up in mid-September with a Saturday tournament (Bellmont and Northwood among the participants), followed by Homestead a couple days later.

Last week: W vs. New Haven, DeKalb

This week: Fairfield (Tuesday), at West Noble (Thursday)

14. Carmel (3-3)

The Greyhounds' three losses this season have come via 3-set sweep, but the first was vs. HSE, and they were competitive against both Roncalli (25-20, 25-22, 25-23) and Avon (25-23, 25-20, 31-29). Seniors Addison Larsen and Lauren Evans have a combined 126 kills; juniors Noema Philistin-Lynch and Avery Carroll both have 50-plus kills on the season.

Last week: L vs. Avon

This week: Center Grove (Tuesday), Lawrence Central (Wednesday), vs. TBA (Saturday)

15. Western Boone (5-2)

Most everything for the Stars runs through Raegan Durbin, who has 133 kills (.377 hit%), 11 aces and 63 digs, but they've held their own through the first month, topping Hamilton Heights and going five sets with 4A opponent Zionsville. Alayna Christner has 15 solo blocks (20 total); Emmerson Gott has 13 solo blocks.

Last week: W vs. Covenant Christian; L vs. Zionsville

This week: at Park Tudor (Tuesday), Southmont (Wednesday)

Others to consider

Center Grove (6-1): The Trojans battled back to beat Bloomington North, dropped a four-set decision to Cathedral, then stopped Plainfield's three-match win streak. CG travels to rival Carmel on Tuesday.

Fort Wayne Carroll (7-1): The Chargers koncked off Hammond Bishop Noll Saturday afternoon, before suffering their first loss of the year against Homestead in the following match.

Homestead (8-1): Homestead has won eight straight since dropping its season opener to FW Concordia Lutheran, a run that includes Andrean, Lawrence North and FW Carroll, and should extend to next Tuesday's home match vs. Bellmont.

Linton-Stockton (10-4): The 2A Miners stacked their August schedule with multiple 4A foes, fellow 2A contender Andrean and Class A contender Indianapolis Lutheran. They split with 3A Barr-Reeve last week.

Westfield (5-4): The Rocks secured a quality win over McCutcheon in Muncie on Saturday. Their stacked schedule has included Yorktown, Cathedral, Bellmont and FW Concordia Lutheran. Westfield hosts Zionsville on Thursday.

Follow Brian Haenchen on Twitter at @Brian_Haenchen.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indiana high school girls volleyball rankings: Statewide IHSAA Fab 15