Volleyball: Pinellas County Top 10 rankings — Aug. 16

Last year, Calvary Christian became the sixth school from Pinellas County to win a state title. The Warriors will be contenders again. But so will many others in a county that has no shortage of talented teams. Here are the initial top 10 county rankings to start the season. 

1. Clearwater Central Catholic

After losing eight of their final nine matches last year, including consecutive losses to Calvary Christian in the district final and region quarterfinals, the Marauders have catapulted to the top of the rankings due in large part to who they have coming back – and who they added. Four players – outside hitters Taylor Bedinghaus (236 kills, 163 digs) and Brooke Green (224 kills, 49 blocks), defensive specialist Myah Typrowicz (303 digs) and setter Josie Hensley (179 kills, 114 digs, 85 assists) – all return. Those veterans will be aided by the addition of three key players – outside hitters Lauren Cairo (Calvary Christian), Bella Periera (Steinbrenner) and Aliyah Waldon (Bishop McLaughlin) – who all transferred from other schools. 

2. Calvary Christian

The defending 3A state champion Warriors now are in the role of defending their title. That is always a difficult task, especially in their district (3A-10), which includes plenty of other contenders.Calvary Christian will have to do it without some offensive firepower after Kendall McCain and Noelle Walsh both graduated and Lauren Cairo transferred to Clearwater Central Catholic. Fortunately, the Warriors still have setter Taylor Parks, a Florida commit who was named the Florida Dairy Farmers 3A player of the year after leading the program to last season’s state title. Parks (1,076 assists, 283 digs) has help with the return of defensive specialist Ava Bonin (446 digs) and middle hitter Morgen Talley (131 kills, 61 blocks).  

3. Osceola

Playing a challenging schedule last season paid off for the Warriors, who advanced to the region final. Two key players from that playoff run, defensive specialist Natalie Grantges (160 digs) and middle blocker Lauren Lewis (187 kills, 51 blocks), are back. Osceola also added outside hitter Erika Spankus, a first-team all-county selection who transferred from Tarpon Springs. The addition of Spankus gives the Warriors a strong presence at the net. 

4. East Lake

The defending Pinellas County Athletic Conference champion Eagles lost two of their top players, Olivia Aniol and Valentina Echeverri, both of whom graduated. Kiki Provatas also transferred to Calvary Christian. Still, East Lake was able to fill the holes in its lineup. Kristina Rhoden (162 kills, 106 digs) and Natalie Aniol (172 digs, 109 kills, 23 blocks) will team to form a solid hitting duo. Other contributors include Kalena Bex, Emily Solondz, Tessa Zaccardo and Kellyanne Wylie. 

5. St. Petersburg

The Green Devils graduated some key pieces from last year’s 18-10 team. But there should not be too much of a dropoff based on the players St. Petersburg has back. The returners include Jordan Bunce (226 kills, 183 digs), Leilani Diggs (57 kills, 34 digs) and Paige Spurlock (51 kills, 46 digs). The Green Devils also got a boost with the addition of Kendall Webber, who transferred from Northside Christian. 

6. Shorecrest

The Chargers have the misfortune of being in the same district (3A-10) as Berkeley Prep, Calvary Christian and Clearwater Central Catholic. Still, Shorecrest has the talent to be competitive with Maria Happ (416 kills, 235 digs, 103 blocks) and Bella Hursey (69 blocks, 67 kills) both returning. Chargers coach Courtney Draper also is excited about the addition of incoming eighth grad setter Brynn Farmer. 

7. Keswick Christian

The Crusaders lost outside hitter Sydney Jackwin, who is now at Louisiana Tech, and Lauren Cook, a Pepperdine commit who is concentrating on beach volleyball. But there are plenty of others back from last season’s 26-4 team. The top returners include Isabel Brenes-Laroche (181 digs), Sydney Melcher (127 kills, 59 blocks) and Hannah Jantomaso (453 assists). 

8. Palm Harbor University

Former Clearwater Central Catholic coach Stephen Shepherd, who took over the Hurricanes last season, had a successful debut. PHU went 14-10 before losing to Sickles in the district quarterfinals. Shepherd has plenty of depth. Maddie Allena, Olivia Burns, Addison Engle, Hunter Moore and Deyja Tshibangu are powerful hitters..Sophia Castaneda, Anna Garufo and Ava Landmeyer are crisp passers. And Cam Justus and Kyla Stout are efficient setters.  

9. Indian Rocks Christian

The Golden Eagles, who finished 17-10 last season, have plenty of returners, including Madison Stoeckler (429 assists, 213 digs), Sophia Perez (412 digs) and Silvana Lorente (305 digs, 209 kills). That experience should help Indian Rocks Christian make a run in the playoffs. 

10. Largo

The Packers played a challenging schedule last season,finishing 13-12 after falling in the district quarterfinals.Graduation took away some offensive firepower, but Largo still has enough returning talent to remain a playoff threat.