Wyoming High School Volleyball Rankings: Sept. 13, 2018

With most of the early season tournament and invitational out of the way, the coaches and media have some idea on where to rank teams for the season.

Things are different in 4A with 16 teams, but the defending champs are on top. Kelly Walsh is ranked #1, heading into their home opener this weekend vs. Evanston and Green River. Cheyenne Central, who has missed the state tournament in each of the past 3 years, is #2, after an impressive showing at the Gillette Invitational, plus the Lady Indians already have a win vs. KW. 4A newcomers Star Valley and Cody have done well so far, and occupy #3 and #4, heading into this weekend's clash at Cody. Thunder Basin rounds out the top 5. The biggest thing to note, is that this is the first time since the end of the 2013 season, that Cheyenne East isn't ranked. The Lady Thunderbirds are last year's runner-ups and have played in the last 4 state championship matches.

In 3A, the #1 ranked team is undefeated after 3 weekends of play. Lyman won the Cokeville Invitational, went 7-0 at the WY/UT border war, and then won the Rawlins Invitational. Last year's runner-ups and state champs, Rawlins and Douglas are behind them at #2 and #3. Mountain View is off to a good start and carry the #4 ranking, while Lander and Powell tie for #5 and play each other on Friday at Lander.

Most of the 2A teams were at the Big Horn Invitational last week. Pine Bluffs won that event and thus they are ranked #1. The Lady Hornets beat #5 Glenrock for the championship, and rematch the Lady Herders in Glenrock this weekend. Last year's runner-up Wright is ranked #2 heading into Northeast Quadrant play. #3 Rocky Mountain visits #4 Greybull on Saturday. Defending champ Sundance did not get a vote in the first rankings of the season.

A big weekend is in store for 1A teams. On Saturday it's Panthers vs. Panthers, as #1 and defending champ Cokeville visits #2 and undefeated Saratoga. The East occupies the rest of the top 5, which hasn't happened in awhile. Kaycee is ranked #3, followed by Rock River and H.E.M., but that could switch next week, because the Lady Miners just beat the Lady Longhorns.

Disclaimer: The rankings have no official say on post-season positioning, and are only to be used as a measuring stick on the regular season. Please don't read too much into the rankings.