The margin between No. 1 and No. 2 in the Sac-Joaquin Section Division V volleyball rankings is 0.13 ratings points. That is the gap Sutter Union High carried into Thursday’s MaxPreps rankings update, a sliver of separation earned after a week of routine league play and a flip-flop with Bear River for the top spot.
Sutter opened its Golden Empire League schedule Tuesday night at home against El Camino and swept in straight sets, 25-14, 25-9, 25-14, to move to 1-0 in league and 18-5 overall. Kenzy Shannon led the Huskies with 10 kills. Middle blocker Taylor Palmer produced nine off the hands of senior setter Kalena DeLaCerna, who collected a team-high 17 assists.
The Huskies ended the week Wednesday with a home match against league foe Natomas. Results will be published on Friday.
The computerized rankings factor in game results, playoff wins and losses, and opponents’ overall rating, according to the MaxPreps rankings explanation on its website. The SJS uses those rankings to fill at-large berths and determine final playoff positioning for all 16-team brackets in October, per section playoff criteria.
Sutter and Bear River have spent the early season trading the Division V lead. Thursday’s drop would confirm which side holds it entering the second half of the schedule.
In Division III, Yuba City’s troubles against Nevada Union continued Tuesday. The Miners swept the Honkers for their fourth straight victory over YC, a match played at Yuba City High. YC fell to 12-4 overall and 0-1 in the Foothill Valley League.
The loss dropped Yuba City a spot to No. 2 in the division as Ripon took over the top spot by less than three ratings points. Nevada Union will likely leap-frog YC with Thursday’s weekly drop after its win. Christian Brothers (Sacramento), Oakdale, and River Valley rounded out the top six as of Wednesday.
River Valley dropped its fifth straight Tuesday with a home defeat in four sets to Placer, kicking off FVL action. Hailey Runyen led River Valley with 10 kills, while Parveen Takhar produced nine for the Falcons (9-8, 0-1). River Valley plays at Nevada Union on Thursday.
Down in Division IV, Wheatland (7-9, 1-0) swept Center on Tuesday and remained a spot up on Marysville. Wheatland travels to Marysville on Thursday for a Pioneer Valley League match with first serve set for 6:30 p.m. The teams rotate venues on Oct. 5 for the second and final match in the home-and-home league series.
Wheatland is home next Wednesday to face three-time defending champion Bear River, the class of the PVL.
All rankings update Thursday at MaxPreps.com.
According to Yahoo Sports.