2017 Preseason KVA Volleyball Rankings - click here

The 2017 high school volleyball season is set to start this weekend for a few area teams with tournament action and with the start of the season the Kansas Volleyball Association has released its Top 10 preseason rankings for each classification. Eight area teams find themselves in the rankings from Class 1A-Division II up to 4A-Division II. 

Leading the charge for the area teams in the rankings is the defending Class 1A-DI State Champion Centralia Panthers are set to start the season ranked #1 after claiming the 1A-DI State title for the third time in the last four years last season. The Panthers posted a 44-1 record last season winning the Twin Valley League regular season and tournament titles and captured the schools 13th State volleyball title. Fellow TVL school in the Hanover Wildcats joins Centralia to start the season ranked in Class 1A-DI as the Wildcats check in at #3 after a 38-8 season that saw them finish second in the TVL and State runner-up. 

A pair of TVL teams are also starting the season ranked in Class 1A-DII led the defending State Champion Axtell Eagles who captured their first State title in school history last year and finished the season 27-15. The Eagles start the 2017 campaign ranked #5 in Class 1A-DII, while the Blue Valley-Randolph Rams who lost to Axtell in Sub-State last year are set to start the season ranked #6. The Rams posted a 21-16 record last year. 

Two area teams check into the rankings in Class 2A to open the volleyball season and both hail form the Northeast Kansas League. Last year's NEKL champs the Valley Falls Dragons are preseason ranked #5 coming off a 30-8 season, while the Jefferson County North Chargers are ranked #6 in the 2A polls after a 33-7 record and second place finish in the NEKL last year. 

Nemaha Central Thunder won the Big Seven League last year and made the Class 3A State tournament finishing 32-11 and are set to open the 2017 season ranked #7 in the preseason 3A KVA rankings. 

Class 4A-DII features the Holton Wildcats in the preseason rankings checking in at #10 to start the year after finishing second in the Big Seven League last year posting a 23-14 record. 

The high school volleyball season opens for several area teams on Saturday, August 26th with a pair of tournaments featuring many northeast Kansas teams.