RPI, seedings shape final regular season Women's Volleyball State Top 25

Southern California Regional Bracket

Northern California Regional Bracket

Objects in mirror are closer than they appear.

The long-running safety warning about car rearview mirrors may apply even more for the many high seeds as part up of the upcoming Regional Playoffs. After Thursday's release of the seedings for both the North and South Regions, the aftermath has caused a massive shift across the board for the Final Regular Season CCCWCA State Top 25 Rankings #11.

The coaches have spoken as San Joaquin Delta earned NorCal's top seed and remained the state's #1 team for the 11th consecutive week. The Mustangs were the last of the unbeaten, but that ended as their 25-match win streak was stopped by American River in the Big Conference finale.  

As RPI and not head-to-head matchups or quality wins and close quality defeats that ultimately dictated the seedings, it's San Diego Mesa which grabbed the #1 seed in the South while Grossmont, the PCAC champions and winners of two matches v. the Olympians, settling for the #3 seed.  

An amazing eight teams from the Big 8 qualified for the NorCal Regionals 20 seeds, including eighth-place 9-19 Folsom Lake. 

The South Coast Conference had a record six teams make the SoCal Regionals topped by SCC champion and state #13 Rio Hondo.

Here are the final regular season rankings based on the seedings:

1. SAN JOAQUIN DELTA, Big 8, 25-1: The Mustangs won the Big 8 Conference title, but it was quite tough their final few matches as they need five sets to get by Sierra, then suffered their first loss of the year v. American River in four sets. NorCal #1 Seed; Last Week's Ranking: #1
2. SAN DIEGO MESA, Pacific Coast Athletic, 24-2: The Olympians swept San Diego Miramar, SD City, and MiraCosta to close out a 24-0 run v. every team not known as Grossmont as the Pacific Coast's second place squad. Mesa's pre-conference schedule is as good as it gets with wins over six different SoCal conference champs, including over Ventura and Irvine Valley. They top the South teams going into the regionals. Mesa bumps up three spots. SoCal #1 Seed; Last Week's Ranking: #5
3. FRESNO CITY, Central Valley, 24-4: The Rams win their 16th straight CVC title and another undefeated run as they extended one of the state's longest win streaks ever in any sport at 176 straight in conference matches. Helped by its always tough non-conference schedule, FCC climbs four slots. NorCal #2 Seed; Last Week's Ranking: #7
4. FEATHER RIVER, Golden Valley, 24-5: The Golden Eagles captured their 13th consecutive GVC title and extended their conference win streak to 63. You have to go back to 2016 for its last defeat v. GVC teams to Butte, 25-21, 18-25, 14-25, 25-21, 19-17, when the two teams shared the crown that season. The streak since that match faced its biggest test in the GVC finale v. Lassen as FRC rallied from two sets down to win in extra points in the fifth, 18-25, 21-25, 25-21, 25-19, 19-17. Remarkably, FRC has now only lost once in Golden Valley contests since 2010 at 127-1. The RPI had Feather River slip two spots. NorCal #3 Seed; Last Week's Ranking: #2
5. VENTURA, Western State North, 19-3: The Pirates are truly the gurus of how to execute RPI to their favor as their pre-conference schedule of facing Mesa, Saddleback, Orange Coast, Pasadena, and under .500 foes Desert, Imperial Valley, Fullerton and Citrus combined with a strong WSC overall was enough to take the region's second highest seed. VC needed five sets to get past Santa Monica in their crossover final. VC soars four spots up. SoCal #2 Seed. Last Week's Ranking: #9
6. GROSSMONT, Pacific Coast Athletic, 24-1: The Griffins went undefeated at 16-0 to win the PCAC crown. They won 48 of 51 sets in conference, yet two of those lost sets were against non-playoff seed Palomar while they were 6-1 in sets and 2-0 v. top seed Mesa. Their pre-conference schedule against Canyons, Pasadena, Moorpark, Mt. San Antonio (only loss) and El Camino could be considered tough in many seasons. But the PCAC worked against Grossmont as it drops three slots in the rankings. SoCal #3 Seed; Last Week's Ranking: #3
7. SIERRA, Big 8, 21-6: The Wolverines rocky finish didn't hurt them in the overall. Sierra was shocked by unranked Modesto in five sets in its Big 8 finale. They placed third in the conference and had great efforts near the end to take both Delta and American River to the limit in 5-set defeats. Only a 2-place fall. NorCal #4 Seed; Last Week's Ranking: #5
8. AMERICAN RIVER, Big 8, 22-6: The Beavers may be the most dangerous team in the state going into the postseason with nine straight wins, capped by their victory of the season over Delta, 25-22, 13-25, 25-11, 25-19. As the second place team from the Big 8, ARC only slips one rung on the rankings ladder. NorCal #5 Seed; Last Week's Ranking: #7
9. LASSEN, Golden Valley, 27-4: The Cougars came oh so close to sharing the GVC title and their 5-set loss to Feather River once again proves their top 10 worth. Lassen leads the state in victories in easily its greatest season in its volleyball history as it moved up a spot. NorCal #6 Seed; Last Week's Ranking: #10
10. IRVINE VALLEY, Orange Empire, 19-4: The Lasers were upset by Orange Coast in four sets and needed a 4-set win over Riverside in the OEC finale to share the conference crown with Saddleback. IVC rounds out the regular season top 10 but fall two places. SoCal #4 Seed; Last Week's Ranking: #8
11. WEST VALLEY, Coast South, 20-3: The Vikings take a 14-match win streak into the playoffs after going a perfect 10-0 route for the Coast South title. While their best wins were v. Hartnell and Solano, they used the benefit of its three defeats v. Fresno, Feather River and Sierra to gain a solid seed. WVC shot out of the circus wagon cannon seven spaces. NorCal #7 Seed; Last Week's Ranking: #19
12. SADDLEBACK, Orange Empire, 18-5: The Bobcats clinched their first OEC title since 1997. They scored two big wins in conference, one over their co-champ Irvine Valley back on on Oct. 27, then a thrilling 5-set victory over Cypress in its OEC finale. However, it also lost to non-playoff opponent Golden West in five on Nov. 8. At one time part of the Best of the Rest, the Bobcats sling-shot up seven places. SoCal #5 Seed; Last Week's Ranking: #22
13. RIO HONDO, South Coast, 20-4: Like Lassen, a feel good story for 2023, the Roadrunners won their first conference title of any kind since 1995 and first in the SCC since joining in 2016 at 15-1. RHC won its last six, including defeating Long Beach in the final. However on Nov. 8, non-playoff foe El Camino stretched them to five sets, trailed 2-1 and won the fourth 29-27 before a 15-7 fifth-set triumph. They fall one spot. SoCal #6 Seed; Last Week's Ranking: #12
14. CYPRESS, Orange Empire, 19-6: The Chargers tied for third in the OEC. They were 4-1 in 5-set matches this year before losing a 2-1 sets lead in the distance defeat v. Saddleback. Cypress falls three spaces. SoCal #7 Seed; Last Week's Ranking: #11
15. MT. SAN ANTONIO, South Coast, 17-9: The Mounties tied for third in the SCC, but certainly had one of the state's toughest schedules. They won four straight to enter the postseason. It's only a one slot drop. SoCal #8 Seed; Last Week's Ranking: #16
16. LONG BEACH CITY, South Coast, 18-4: The Vikings gained a forfeit win over East Los Angeles (official date limit infraction) after initially losing in five sets on Nov. 8. LBCC also had late-season defeats v. Pasadena and then Rio Hondo in the finale (both in four sets) in a tough end to a great regular season. LBCC places second in the SCC. SoCal #9 Seed; Last Week's Ranking: #16
17. SANTA MONICA, Western State South, 21-7: The Corsairs won 10 in a row to capture a share of the WSC South championship, then took #2 seed Ventura to five sets in its regular season finale. SMC moves on up six slots. SoCal #10 Seed; Last Week's Ranking: #23
18. MOORPARK, Western State North, 15-8: The Raiders lost to Bakersfield in four sets in their crossover finale. They finished in a 3-way tie for the WSC North title with two wins over #2 seed Ventura, two losses to #16 seed Santa Barbara, a win over #10 seed SMC, a loss to #13 seed Pasadena and a defeat v. #15 seed Bakersfield (split in two matches v. Renegades) MC falls three spaces. SoCal #11 Seed; Last Week's Ranking: #15
19. HARTNELL, Coast North, 21-6: The Panthers have the state's second longest current winning streak at 17 in a row entering the postseason. They went undefeated at 10-0 and won a Coast crossover thriller in five sets (15-13) over San Mateo on Nov. 14. It's 3-slot rise. NorCal #8 Seed; Last Week's Ranking: #22
20. SOLANO, Bay Valley, 24-6: The Falcons went a perfect 36-0 in sets to go undefeated at 12-0 for another Bay Valley title. Their BVC win streak is at 59 matches. In non-conference play, Solano had 5-set losses over top seeds in #2 Fresno, #3 Feather River, and #5 American River. The BVC didn't help the RPI and thus a 7-spot drop in state rank and a road match to open the postseason. NorCal #9 Seed; Last Week's Ranking: #13
21. ORANGE COAST, Orange Empire, 17-7: The Pirates enter the playoffs red-hot, including a big 4-set win over #4 seed Irvine Valley on Nov. 8. OCC placed in a tie for third in conference. SoCal #12 Seed; Last Week's Ranking: #21
22. PASADENA CITY, South Coast, 18-8: The Lancers stumbled in their conference finale, shocked in being swept by El Camino. They tie for third place in the SCC. PCC slides five spaces. SoCal #13 Seed; Last Week's Ranking: #17
23. MT. SAN JACINTO, Inland Empire Athletic, 22-5: The Eagles won a share of the IEAC title, but its best win was over #8 seed Mt. SAC all the way back on Sept. 6. They make it back on the top 25 at the finish. SoCal #14 Seed; Last Week's Ranking: Not Ranked.
24. BAKERSFIELD, Western State South, 14-6: The Renegades won 12 of their last 13 matches and took a share of the WSC South title. They earned a big win in their regular season finale, a 4-set victory over Moorpark. SoCal #15 Seed; Last Week's Ranking: #24
25. SANTA BARBARA CITY, Western State North, 15-10: The Vaqueros were tri-champions of the WSC North, but RPI didn't work in their favor at all. In fact, the strength of the WSC North and non-conference contests v. #1 seed Mesa, #4 Irvine Valley, North #8 Hartnell (win), and South #9 Long Beach. Two wins over a tough #11 Moorpark squad and two losses v. #2 seed Ventura resulted in a ho-hum seed. Ten losses, but avenged one in its finale v. Canyons in five sets. SBCC makes the last spot on the rankings despite a 5-slot drop. SoCal #16 Seed; Last Week's Ranking: #20
    BEST OF THE REST
    East Los Angeles, South Coast, 20-10: The Huskies played one more date (25, the limit is 24) and it caused quite a controversy entering the postseason. ELAC officially finishes in a tie for fifth place in the SCC, but had its strongest year in its volleyball history and on the floor did beat state #16 LBCC twice despite one being a forfeit. SoCal #17 Seed; Last Week's State Ranking: #T25
    Cerritos, South Coast, 13-8: After a 14-year drought, the Falcons return to the postseason. They finished in a tie for fifth in the SCC. SoCal #18 Seed; Last Week's State Ranking: #T25
    Santa Rosa JC, Big 8, 18-11: The Bear Cubs won their final three matches, including a 5-setter over Modesto, to place fourth in the Big 8. NorCal #10 Seed
    Riverside City, Orange Empire, 15-11: The Tigers finished in a tie for fifth in the OEC, a sweep over state #14 Cypress their best victory. SoCal #19 Seed
    San Bernardino Valley, Inland Empire Athletic, 18-6: The Wolverines won their final seven matches and earned a share of the IEAC title, the program's first since 2006 as a member of the Foothill Conference. SoCal #20 Seed
    Golden West, Orange Empire, 13-8: The Rustlers get the title of the best team to not make it into the postseason. Tied for fifth in the OEC, they upset state #12 Saddleback in five late in the season after its upset of #10 Irvine Valley in the conference opener in September. They beat the other fifth place team and playoff qualifier Riverside in five on Nov. 3. It's weaker pre-conference schedule doomed GWC, but hard to ignore two wins over co-OEC champions?? They were left out through the RPI math v. quality wins, strong conference, and set scores. 
    Canyons, Western State South, 11-13: The Cougars placed third in the WSC South and played its best v. state #25 SBCC, splitting two matches with both going the 5-set distance. No postseason for COC.
    West Hills Coalinga, Central Valley, 16-8: The Falcons placed second in the CVC at a sparkling 14-2, the only two losses to champion state #3 Fresno. NorCal #11 Seed
    Taft, Central Valley, 18-10: The Cougars were third in the CVC and advance to the postseason. NorCal #12 Seed
    Cosumnes River, Big, 16-11: The Hawks tied for fifth in the Big 8 and earn a playoff position. NorCal #13 Seed
    Monterey Peninsula, Coast North, 15-6: The Lobos closed with a 4-match win streak to place in a tie for second in the Coast North. NorCal #14 Seed
    San Mateo, Coast South, 13-10: The Bulldogs came into the year with bells and whistles with a season-opening, 5-set win over state #4 Feather River. They ended with two losses albeit to two Coast champions in West Valley and Hartnell. CSM placed second in the C-South. NorCal #15 Seed; Last Week's State Ranking: #T25
    Cabrillo, Coast North, 13-10: The Seahawks tied for second in the C-North. NorCal #16 Seed
    Modesto JC, Big 8, 15-9: The Pirates tied for fifth in the Big 8, but were excited with their upset over state #7 Sierra, 26-24, 22-25, 19-25, 25-16, 15-13. NorCal #17 Seed
    LA Mission, Western State North, 16-14: The Eagles were fourth in the difficult WSC North and have a winning season. 
    Cuesta, Western State North, 14-14: It's a .500 season for the Cougars, who placed fifth in the WSC North. They handed state #19 Hartnell its last loss back on Sept. 16.
    Sacramento City, Big 8, 14-16: The Panthers placed seventh in the Big 8. NorCal #18 Seed
    Folsom Lake, Big 8, 9-19: The Falcons are believed to have the lowest winning percentage of any playoff team in state history at .321. They lost their last seven matches and who knows what would happened had they not won two 5-set matches in conference v. last-place Diablo Valley. They have a win over #11 seed WH Coalinga and rode the coat tails of being in the Big 8. NorCal #19 Seed
    Los Medanos, Bay Valley, 19-12: The Mustangs were second in the Bay Valley and were 1-4 in 5-set matches, including a close defeat v. state #9 Lassen and another v. Folsom Lake. NorCal #20 Seed
    Palomar, Pacific Coast Athletic, 13-11: The Comets won their last five matches to make it above .500 and tie for third in the PCAC.
    MiraCosta, Pacific Coast Athletic, 12-12: The Spartans were 7-3 in their last 10 to reach the .500 mark, also tying for third in conference.
    Merced, Central Valley, 12-11: The Blue Devils finish with a winning record and place fourth in the CVC.
    Ohlone, Coast South, 16-16: The Renegades placed third in the Coast South and finish .500.
    Porterville, Central Valley, 14-15: The Pirates won their last three matches and place in a tie for fifth in the CVC.
    Siskiyous, Golden Valley, 12-14: The Eagles placed in a tie for third in the GVC.
    Marin, Bay Valley, 14-12: The Mariners placed third in the BVC and above .500.
    Desert, Inland Empire Athletic, 11-14: The Roadrunners place third in the IEAC.
    Victor Valley, Inland Empire Athletic, 10-10: The Rams finish at .500 and were fourth in the IEAC.
    
    Rankings/Release by Robert Lewis, CCCWVCA SID