The Top 10 stays in place; six Howard County teams remain in this week’s rankings
Glenelg High, which pulled off an opening 3-0 sweep of then-No. 12 Atholton, has replaced the Raiders in the VSN Volleyball Week 1 Top 20, as the Gladiators have made their debut at No. 20.
Of the 20 teams in our Preseason poll, 19 remain and the Top 10 stayed complete intact, led by No. 1 Arundel. Also remaining in the top five are No. 2 Westminster, No. 3 Broadneck, No. 4 Reservoir and No. 5 Maryvale Prep.
With the schedule set to open up and a couple of key tournaments on tap, things will get more interesting in the coming weeks.
Here is the complete Week 1 VSN Volleyball Top 20:
1. ARUNDEL
Record: 1-0
Preseason ranking: 1
Note: Wildcats handle then No. 10 Archbishop Spalding in straight sets in opener.
2. WESTMINSTER
Record: 0-0
Preseason ranking: 2
Note: Owls set to meet Linganore Wednesday in their opener, before hosting its invitational on Saturday.
3. BROADNECK
Record: 1-0
Preseason ranking: 3
Note: Bruins get underway with 3-game sweep of Martinsburg (WV).
4. RESERVOIR
Record: 1-0
Preseason ranking: 4
Note: Gators get going with 3-0 win over Long Reach.
5. MARYVALE PREP
Record: 1-0
Preseason ranking: 5
Note: The Lions opened by topping Roland Park Country School in straight sets.
6. SEVERNA PARK
Record: 0-0
Preseason ranking: 6
Note: Falcons set to take flight against North County on Monday.
7. HOWARD
Record: 0-0
Preseason ranking: 7
Note: Lions see their first action Wednesday when they host Wilde Lake.
8. BEL AIR
Record: 0-0
Preseason ranking: 8
Note: Bobcats set to test their mettle at Westminster Tournament Saturday.
9. RIVER HILL
Record: 1-0
Preseason ranking: 9
Note: Hawks come up strong in opener against rival Wilde Lake.
10. ARCHBISHOP SPALDING
Record: 1-1
Preseason ranking: 10
Note: The Cavaliers swept St. John’s Catholic Prep and then suffered a sweep at the hands of No. 1 Arundel.
11. CENTURY
Record: 1-0
Preseason ranking: 13
Note: Knights impress in opener with 3-0 win over then-No. 11 Dulaney.
12. HEREFORD
Record: 1-0
Preseason ranking: 14
Note: The Bulls were impressive in opening win over Notre Dame Prep.
13. ST. MARY’S
Record: 2-0
Preseason ranking: 15
Note: The Saints, of IAAM B Conference, opened with a pair of wins over A Conffoes.
14. DULANEY
Record: 0-1
Preseason ranking: 11
Note: The Lions got bitten by then-No. 13 Century in Top 20 opener.
15. MOUNT DE SALES ACADEMY
Record: 0-1
Preseason ranking: 16
Note: The Sailors went to the District and dropped 3-1 decision to St. John’s College in their opener.
16. CENTENNIAL
Record: 0-0
Preseason ranking: 17
Note: Eagles host 17th-ranked Mount Hebron Thursday in Top 20 showdown.
17. MOUNT HEBRON
Record: 1-0
Preseason ranking: 18
Note: The Vikings vanquished Oakland Mills in three sets. No. 16 Centennial is next.
18. POLY
Record: 0-0
Preseason ranking: 19
Note: The Engineers open with a non-conference match with Northeast Thursday.
19. C. MILTON WRIGHT
Record: 0-0
Preseason ranking: 20
Note: The Mustangs await visit from Fallston Thursday.
20. GLENELG
Record: 1-0
Preseason ranking: Not ranked
Note: The Gladiators sent Howard County rival Atholton from the rankings with three-game sweep in opener.
