With three tournaments last weekend, there was a little bit of a shakeup in the rankings. Wharton’s win in its Harvest Tournament means the Wildcats are on the rise. Tampa Prep was the only Tampa Bay team to escape the Berkeley Premier with a winning record, further solidifying their stronghold on the top spot.
1. Tampa Prep (12-2)
Upcoming matches: Monday, vs. Calvary Christian
Lowdown: The Terrapins’ 3-2 record in last weekend’s Berkeley Premier — which included wins against Woodard (Ga.) and Miami Ransom Everglades — proved Tampa Prep is still the team to beat in the Tampa Bay area.
2. Bloomingdale (13-1)
Upcoming matches: Tuesday, at Wharton
Lowdown: The Bulls took a stranglehold on 8A-7 with a pair of district wins last week, including one against Plant, Bloomingdale’s first win against the Panthers in three years.
3. Clearwater Central Catholic (7-5)
Upcoming matches: Tuesday, vs. Shorecrest Prep; Thursday, vs. East Lake
Lowdown: Outside hitter Shea Hamilton has been bothered by a hand injury. The Marauders have a fairly light week after playing in the Berkeley Premier last week.
4. Calvary Christian (11-2)
Upcoming matches: Monday, at Tampa Prep; Thursday, vs. Tampa Catholic
Lowdown: Tonight’s game at Tampa Prep is a big match. The Warriors have not shied away from top competition this season.
5. Sunlake (11-2)
Upcoming matches: Thursday, vs. River Ridge
Lowdown: The Seahawks suffered their first losses of the season in Wharton’s Harvest Tournament last weekend, and they won’t have too much time to regroup before taking on district foe River Ridge.
6. Mitchell (9-1)
Upcoming matches: Monday, at Fivay; Tuesday, at Springstead; Thursday, at Osceola.
Lowdown: The Mustangs haven’t lost a match in almost a month nor a game since Sept. 11.
7. River Ridge (6-2)
Upcoming matches: Wednesday, vs. Pasco; Thursday at Sunlake
Lowdown: The Royal Knights have a chance to solidify a top spot in the 5A-8 standings with a win against Sunlake.
8. Fivay (9-3)
Upcoming matches: Monday, vs. Mitchell; Wednesday, at Land O’Lakes
Lowdown: The Falcons will have their work cut out for them tonight against a hot Mitchell team on a nine-game win streak.
9. Palm Harbor University (7-0)
Upcoming matches: Tuesday, vs. Sarasota Riverview; Thursday, vs. Clearwater; Friday, at Dr. Phillips OVA tournament.
Lowdown: The big test will be at the OVA tournament. PHU will find out just where it stands.
10. Carrollwood Day (3-0)
Upcoming matches: Monday, at Lakeland Christian; Tuesday, at Academy at the Lakes
Lowdown: After 18 days off, the Patriots jump back in the fire with back-to-back road matches.
11. Seminole (7-1)
Upcoming matches: Tuesday, vs. Countryside; Thursday, at Northeast
Lowdown: The Warhawks are big at the net and should continue to roll this week.
12. Wharton (10-2)
Upcoming matches: Tuesday, vs. Bloomingdale
Lowdown: The Wildcats had a big weekend in its Harvest Tournament, beating undefeated Sunlake before taking the crown.
13. Bishop McLaughlin (9-4)
Upcoming matches: Tuesday, at Seffner Christian
Lowdown: After a 2-3 finish in Wharton’s Harvest Tournament, the Hurricanes have a chance to redeem themselves in a district matchup against the Crusaders.
14. Academy of the Holy Names (6-5)
Upcoming match: Tuesday, vs. Indian Rocks Christian; Wednesday, vs. Trinity Catholic
Lowdown: The Jaguars had a good win against Calvary Christian last week but were unable to come away from the Berkeley Premier with a winning record.
15. Steinbrenner (8-4)
Upcoming matches: Tuesday, vs. Wiregrass Ranch;
Lowdown: The Warriors take a four-game win streak into a district matchup against a Wiregrass Ranch team that has just one loss since Sept. 6.
16. Newsome (8-4)
Upcoming matches: Tuesday, at Riverview; Friday, Saturday at HCC Lady Hawk Invitational
Lowdown: With wins against Wharton and Alonso last week, the Wolves took hold of the second spot in the district standings.
17. St. Petersburg (3-3)
Upcoming matches: Tuesday, at Manatee
Lowdown: Match against Manatee is important for district standings,, then a week later comes a showdown with district rival Palm Harbor U.
18. Cambridge Christian (10-2)
Upcoming matches: Tuesday, at Bradenton Christian
Lowdown: The Lancers lost a tough district game to Tampa Bay HEAT last week but rebounded against Academy at the Lakes.
19. Hernando (7-1)
Upcoming matches: Monday, at Weeki Wachee; Tuesday, at Zephyrhills; Wednesday, vs. Crystal River
Lowdown: The Leopards are already 7-0 in the district, and they have a chance to distance themselves even more with a pair of district games this week
20. Berkeley Prep (5-7)
Upcoming matches: Tuesday, vs. Tampa Catholic
Lowdown: Berkeley Prep had a rough go of it last week, losing to Tampa Prep in three sets and finishing 23rd of 24 teams in the Berkeley Premier. But the Bucs had some bright spots against the Terrapins, challenging them in close second set.
21. Tampa Catholic (8-2)
Upcoming matches: Tuesday, at Berkeley Prep; Thursday, at Calvary Christian
Lowdown: Tampa Catholic won the tournament it hosted last weekend, which could give the Crusaders momentum heading into the first district match of the season.
22. Wiregrass Ranch (6-3)
Upcoming matches: Monday, at Hudson; Tuesday, at Steinbrenner; Wednesday, vs. Zephyrhills
Lowdown: Wiregrass Ranch fell to Sickles last week in a district match, its first loss in weeks. The Bulls have a shot to regain ground in 7A-8 on the road against the Warriors.
23. Seffner Christian (7-3)
Upcoming matches: Monday, vs. Bayshore Christian; Tuesday vs. Bishop McLaughlin
Lowdown: The Crusaders will take on the Faith Warriors before heading into back-to-back district games.
24. King (9-2)
Upcoming matches: Monday, vs. Lennard
Lowdown: Before falling to Tampa Catholic in the Crusader Clash tournament final last weekend, King hadn’t lost a game since August.
25. Northside Christian (4-3)
Upcoming matches: Tuesday, vs. Seven Rivers Christian; Weekend, Mustang Invitational
Lowdown: The Mustangs’ three losses have been against 8A Sarasota Riverview, No. 4 Calvary Christian and No. 1 Tampa Prep.
In the conversation: East Lake (9-4), Durant (7-4), Strawberry Crest (10-3), Springstead (6-1)