Ponte Vedra, which seeks back-to-back state titles, on top of the first regional all-classification rankings
GAINESVILLE – Defending Class 5A state champion Ponte Vedra remains on top of the all-classification regional volleyball rankings heading into the 2020 season.
The Sharks (25-6 last season), who received five of the first six first-place votes, ended last season atop The Prep Zone Power Poll after winning their second state title in three years with a sweep over Vanguard (Ocala).
Trinity Catholic (Ocala) (23-7), which lost to Cardinal Mooney (Sarasota) in the Class 4A state semifinals, is ranked second, while Class 4A state runner-up Santa Fe (Alachua) (21-10), Buchholz (Gainesville) (22-6) and Forest (Ocala) (22-7) round out the top five.
Bishop Kenny (Jacksonville), which lost at Santa Fe in last year’s 4A Region Final, leads off the second five at No. 6. The Crusaders (19-11) narrowly missed a 20-win season.
Bell (27-2) is next at No. 7, while Class 1A state runner-up Newberry (18-13), which returns eight seniors, jumped eight spots from 16th in last season’s final rankings to eighth in the second annual poll.
Class 2A state runner-up Seven Rivers Christian (Lecanto) is ranked ninth, while Vanguard rounds out the top 10.
The season kicks off this week with 2017 1A state runner-up Union County traveling to 2018 1A runner-up Bell on Friday night, while RV Lafayette (Mayo) and Trenton travel to Dixie County (Cross City) on Saturday for a tri-match.
The Prep Zone Power Poll ranks the top 20 high school football, volleyball, basketball, baseball and softball teams (regardless of FHSAA classification) across the 26 counties in North Florida (Alachua, Baker, Bradford, Citrus, Columbia, Dixie, Duval, Flagler, Gilchrist, Hamilton, Hernando, Jefferson, Lafayette, Levy, Madison, Nassau, Putnam, Sumter, St. Johns, Suwannee, Taylor, Union and Volusia counties). It is voted on weekly by sportswriters and sportscasters and is powered by Anytime Fitness of Gainesville.
The Prep Zone Power Poll – 2020 Volleyball Poll #1
(School, classification, first place votes, 2019 record and total voting points)
1. Ponte Vedra (5A) (5) (25-6) – 119
2. Trinity Catholic (Ocala) (3A) (1) (23-7) – 114
3. Santa Fe (Alachua) (4A) (21-10) – 101
4. Buchholz (Gainesville) (6A) (22-6) – 97
5. Forest (Ocala) (6A) (22-7) – 88
6. Bishop Kenny (Jacksonville) (4A) (19-11) – 79
7. Bell (1A) (27-2) – 73
8. Newberry (1A) (18-13) – 66
9. Seven Rivers Christian (Lecanto) (2A) (24-4) – 65
10. Vanguard (Ocala) (5A) (16-11) – 64
11. Fleming Island (Orange Park) (6A) (16-6) – 58
12. Bartram Trail (St. Johns) (7A) (19-9) – 55
13. Creekside (St. Johns) (6A) (14-10) – 51
14. Branford (1A) (22-6) – 46
15. Lecanto (5A) (25-4) – 45
16. East Ridge (Clermont) (7A) (21-6) – 26
17. Nature Coast (Brooksville) (4A) (20-10) – 25
18. Yulee (4A) (22-5) – 17
19. Leesburg-First Academy (2A) (17-2) – 11
20. Spruce Creek (Port Orange) (7A) (17-11) – 10
Also receiving votes: Pedro Menendez (St. Augustine) (16-8) 9, Christ’s Church Academy (Jacksonville) (23-7) 9, Fletcher (Neptune Beach) (20-5) 8, St. John’s Lutheran (Ocala) (14-6) 7, Mandarin (Jacksonville) (20-6) 7, Deland (0-0) 4, Lake Minneola (16-9) 4, Lafayette (Mayo) (13-10) 2, Union County (Lake Butler) (14-10) 1.
