The final CCCWVCA State Top 25 Rankings finds a new #1 in state champion San Diego Mesa, a team that swept all three 3C2A tourney foes and accomplished the program's first-ever state championship. 

San Joaquin Delta, the #1 team all regular season, had to settle for #5 on this final ranking. Defending state champ Feather River is #2 and regains bragging rights as the North's top team for the second straight season.

The South Region showed it can compete with the North best squads as Grossmont was #3, Irvine Valley #4, and Ventura #7. Meanwhile, the North stays strong as recent former state champs American River at #5 and Fresno City at #6 once again established their perennial s state tourney participants.

Number 9 Sierra and #10 Lassen round out the top 10. SoCal still was represented by 15 teams to the North's 10 on the final rankings.

1. SAN DIEGO MESA, Pacific Coast Athletic, 29-2: The Olympians beat eight different conference champions on its way to the college's first volleyball state title. Their postseason run started with Regional wins over Santa Barbara and Mt. San Antonio, then sweeps at the state tourney over American River, Grossmont, and Feather River to complete the title run. Coach Bobbi Jo Stall-Vest, a state tourney-playing alum from 2006, directed the masterpiece season. One small step, but big #1 for the SD college. SoCal; #1; Last Ranking: 2
2. FEATHER RIVER, Golden Valley, 28-6: The Golden Eagles settle for state runner-up to go with their state titles from 2019 and 2022, a pretty impressive performance by the Quincy brigade and head coach Sarah Ritchie. FRC swept Monterey Peninsula and Lassen in the Regionals, then beat Ventura in four and swept Irvine Valley before the clock struck midnight on their parade with the stunning defeat v. Mesa. Still, a 2-spot climb for #2 and once again tops in the North for the second straight season. A 2-slot climb. NorCal #1; Last Ranking: 4
3. GROSSMONT, Pacific Coast Athletic, 27-2: The Griffins placed tied for third at the state tourney, defeating Fresno in the quarters, then suffering its third-meeting sweep defeat v. SD Mesa. They got through Regionals with wins over two conference champs in Mt. San Jacinto and Rio Hondo. Four straight state tourney appearances now for PCAC champion Coach Brooke Callahan. A 3-spot final trip up the ladder. SoCal #2; Last Ranking: #6
4. IRVINE VALLEY, Orange Empire, 22-5: The Lasers placed tied for third at 3C2A tourney, earning big props by sweeping previously #1-ranked Delta in the quarters before being swept by Feather River in the semis. IVC swept Pasadena, then outlasted Orange Coast in the Regionals. A 6-spot final leap for Coach Anna Unke's co-Orange Empire Conference champion crew. SoCal #3; Last Ranking: #10
5. SAN JOAQUIN DELTA, Big 8, 27-2: The Mustangs struggled in their final few Big 8 matches and it foreshadowed a disappointing '23 season end in an upset sweep defeat in the quarters by Irvine Valley. Ranked #1 all regular season, Delta defeated Modesto and Solano in Regionals. They finish tied for fifth at state. Two-time NorCal Coach of the Year and Big 8 champion Molly Hummel will have to continue her quest for the school's first state title next year. A 4-slot final drop. NorCal #2; Last Ranking: #1
6. AMERICAN RIVER, Big 8, 24-7: The Beavers place tied for fifth at state after a quarterfinals defeat v. SD Mesa in three sets. ARC made it to its fifth straight state tourney behind Regionals wins v. Taft and Sierra. Coach Carson Lowden's squad moved up two final positions. NorCal #3; Last Ranking: #8
7. FRESNO CITY, Central Valley, 26-5: The Rams place tied for fifth at state, beaten by Grossmont in four sets during the quarterfinals. Fresno made it to state thanks to Regional wins over San Mateo and West Valley. Coach Kieran Roblee has established an elite progam as a regular 3C2A tourney visitor. The Central Valley champions lost a head-to-head v. American River in the regular season, drop four final slots. NorCal #4; Last Ranking: #3
8. VENTURA, Western State North, 19-3: The Pirates made their first trip to the state tourney in 23 years and while they lost to the FRC juggernaut, they place in that annual 4-way tie for fifth place. VC made it through Regionals on wins v. Bakersfield and Santa Monica. Coach Brad Lyans and his tri-Western State North Division champion team falls three final spots. SoCal #4; Last Ranking: #5
9. SIERRA, Big 8, 22-7: The Wolverines lost to American River in four in the Regional finals after a 2nd Round win over Cosumnes River. One of three Big 8 teams to finish in the state top 10, it actually swept Feather River on the opening day of the season and won four of 10 matches against the region's state tourney participants. Just a 2-slot final drop for Coach Allana Whitnack's team. NorCal #5; Last Ranking: #7
10. LASSEN, Golden Valley, 28-5: The Cougars were the team that came out of nowhere for a magnificent regular season and were swept in the Regional finals by Feather River after a 5-set win over West Hills Coalinga in Round 2. The program's best year ever as Lassen makes it into the final top 10 under Coach Amy Morris. Only a 1-position final fall. NorCal #6; Last Ranking: #10
11. ORANGE COAST, Orange Empire, 18-8: The Pirates were oh so close to sneaking into the state tourney for a second straight, year but were edged by Irvine Valley in five sets in the Regional finals. OCC upset Saddleback in five in Round 2 and had wins over Irvine Valley, Rio Hondo, Cypress and Santa Monica in the regular season. Coach Chuck Cutenese unit made a final 10-spot ratings leap. SoCal #5; Last Ranking: #21
12. RIO HONDO, South Coast, 21-5: Another school that performed at its highest level in program history, the Coast champion Roadrunners beat Moopark in four in Round 2, then were swept by Grossmont in the Regional finals. RHC's Teddi Esko was named SoCal Coach of the Year and navigated through the most difficult conference that featured a schedule of six teams with better .500 records. They go up a step. SoCal #6 ; Last Ranking: #13
13. MT. SAN ANTONIO, South Coast, 18-10: The Mounties swept SCC rival Long Beach before being eliminated by SD Mesa in four during the Regional Finals. Mt. SAC and Coach Samantha Neely played perhaps the hardest schedule from start to finish in Socal and beat #3 Grossmont. They make a final 2-level ascent. SoCal #7; Last Ranking: #15
14. SOLANO, Bay Valley, 25-7: The Falcons beat Hartnell in four, then were swept by Delta in the Regional finals. Coach Darla Williams had her strongest team in her tenure at Solano. A 6-spot final jump. NorCal #7; Last Ranking: #20
15. SANTA MONICA, Western State South, 22-8: The Corsairs upset Cypress in five sets, then were swept by Ventura in the Regional finals. Another solid year for SMC Coach Christian Cammayo. Santa Monica climbs two rungs on final ladder. SoCal #8; Last Ranking: #17
16. WEST VALLEY, Coast South, 21-4: The Vikings defeated Santa Rosa in four sets before losing in the Regional finals in four v. Fresno. Coach Sam Crosson made the seamless transition from D1 HC to the community college level and sported a 15-match win streak before his team was eliminated. WVC's softer Coast schedule contributes to a 5-slot slip. NorCal #8; Last Ranking: #11
17. MOORPARK, Western State North, 15-9: The Raiders lost to Rio Hondo in four in Round 2. Moorpark had two wins over #8 Ventura, wins over SMC and Bakersfield and took the eventual state champ SD Mesa to five sets in a defeat and #3 Grossmont to four in a loss. Coach Adam Black's unit picks up one final spot rise. SoCal #9; Last Ranking: #18
18. PASADENA CITY, South Coast, 19-9: The Lancers beat an underrated San Bernardino Valley in four in Round 1, then were swept by Irvine Valley in Round 2. They were a bit of an enigma as they have wins over #12 Rio Hondo, #17 Moorpark, Saddleback, Cypress, Long Beach, and Santa Barbara, but also struggled v. some of the other higher-ranked opponents. Coach Mike Terrill's squad jump four final spots. SoCal #10; Last Ranking: #22
19. SADDLEBACK, Orange Empire, 18-6: The Bobcats were beaten by Orange Coast in five in Round 2. The big story was the unbelievable performance by Stila Fresenius, who totaled a playoff record 42 kills and added 30 digs in what is easily the first 40-30 in CCC volleyball history. Coach Brian Hughes directed Saddleback's best season since the school was a state runner-up in 1998. A 7-spot fall but due more to a pre-conference schedule against not-higher ranked competition. SoCal #11; Last Ranking #12
20. CYPRESS, Orange Empire, 19-7: The Chargers lost to SMC in Round 2 and had wins this year over Rio Hondo, Orange Coast and Saddleback. A good year for first-year Coach Danko Iordanov. Cypress falls a final six spaces. SoCal #12; Last Ranking: #14
21. LONG BEACH CITY, South Coast, 18-5: The Vikings lost to #13 Mt. SAC in Round 2, a team that it defeated twice in the SCC play. Coach Tyler Jackson's squad had a terrific regular season overall. A 5-spot final descent. SoCal #13; Last Ranking: #16
22. SANTA BARBARA CITY, Western State North, 16-11: The Vaqueros swept East Los Angeles in Round 1, then were swept by state champ SD Mesa in Round 2. Despite a 3-7 start to the season, SBCC won twice over Moorpark and have a win over Bakersfield and finished strong under Coach Kat Niksto. A 3-slot final leap. SoCal #14; Last Ranking: #25
23. BAKERSFIELD, Western State South, 17-7: The Renegades swept Cerritos in Round 1, then were eliminated in a Round 2 sweep by Ventura. Coach Carl Ferreira's team had wins over Mt. SAC, Santa Monica, and Moorpark. A 1-position final spot up. SoCal #15; Last Ranking: #24
24. HARTNELL, Coast North, 21-7: The Panthers were beaten in four by Solano in Round 2. Their best win of the season was v. #14 Solano, and the team had a 17-match win streak that ended the regular season. A 5-position fall for Coach Jamie Pedroza's Coast North champions. NorCal #9; Last Ranking: #19
    
25. SAN MATEO, Coast South, 14-11: The Bulldogs swept Sacramento in Round 1, then were swept by Fresno in Round 2. They opened the year with a 5-set loss to #6 American River and beat #2 Feather River in five. After that, CSM struggled with two losses to West Valley and Ls v. Hartnell and Cabrillo. Coach Katie Hahn's group snags the final spot on the Top 25. NorCal #10; Last Ranking: Not Ranked. 
    
    BEST OF THE REST
    Golden West, Orange Empire, 13-8: The Rustlers didn't make the postseason, but they did have wins over #4 Irvine Valley and #19 Saddleback. 
    East Los Angeles, South Coast, 20-11: The Huskies were swept by Santa Barbara in Round 1. They have wins over #13 Mt. SAC and #21 Long Beach as well as sweeps over both IEAC co-champs Mt. San Jacinto and San Bernardino Valley. The best season in Huskies history. 
    Riverside City, Orange Empire, 15-11: The Tigers lost to Mt. San Jacinto in four in Round 1. They had OEC victories over Orange Coast, Cypress, and Golden West.
    Modesto JC, Big 8, 15-9: The Pirates won in five over Cabrillo in Round 1, and took Delta to four in a Round 2 defeat. They upset #9 Sierra at the end of Big play. NorCal #11
    Cerritos, South Coast, 13-9: The Falcons were swept by Bakersfield in Round 1. They twice defeated ELAC and beat Golden West. 
    Mt. San Jacinto, Inland Empire Athletic, 23-6: The Eagles beat Riverside in 4 in Round 1, then were swept by Grossmont in Round 2. The team's best win was over Mt. San Antonio. Last State Ranking: #23
    West Hills Coalinga, Central Valley, 16-9: The Falcons earned major props by taking Lassen to five sets (16-14 5th) in a Round 2 defeat and had the program's best season ever. NorCal #12
    San Bernardino Valley, Inland Empire Athletic, 18-7: The Wolverines had a turnaround season and battled Pasadena hard in a 4-set Round 1 defeat. 
    Santa Rosa JC, Big 8, 18-12: The Bear Cubs lost to West Valley in four in Round 2. They had an impressive 16 wins via a sweep. NorCal #13
    Cabrillo, Coast North, 13-11: The Seahawks lost to Modesto in five in Round 1. They had a win over #25 San Mateo. NorCal #14
    LA Mission, Western State North, 16-14: The Eagles had wins over Riverside and Mt. San Jacinto.
    Taft, Central Valley, 18-11: The Cougars were swept by American River in Round 2 and beat Cuesta. NorCal #T15
    Cosumnes River, Big, 17-12: The Hawks swept Los Medanos in Round 1, then were swept by Sierra in Round 2. CRC did have two wins over Modesto. NorCal #T15
    Cuesta, Western State North, 14-14: The Cougars had a win over #24 Hartnell.
    Monterey Peninsula, Coast North, 15-6: The Lobos swept Folsom Lake in Round 1, then were swept by Feather River in Round 2. 
    Los Medanos, Bay Valley, 19-13: The Mustangs were swept by Cosumnes River in Round 1.
    Canyons, Western State South, 11-13: The Cougars had a win over #22 Santa Barbara. 
    Sacramento City, Big 8, 14-17: The Panthers were swept by San Mateo in Round 1.
    Folsom Lake, Big 8, 9-20: The Falcons were swept by Monterey Peninsula in Round 1.
    Palomar, Pacific Coast Athletic, 13-11
    MiraCosta, Pacific Coast Athletic, 12-12
    Merced, Central Valley, 12-11
    Ohlone, Coast South, 16-16
    
    Rankings/Release by Robert Lewis, CCCWVCA SID