Wyoming High School Volleyball Rankings: Sept. 14, 2017

For the first time since 2013, 2 things are different with the first volleyball coaches/media rankings of the 2017 season.

The first different thing is in 4A. The last rankings of 2013, was the last time Cheyenne East was not ranked #1. The 3-time defending state champs are ranked #2, tied with Laramie, behind unanimous #1 Kelly Walsh. Granted the Lady Thunderbirds beat the Lady Trojans at the start of the 2017 season, but performances by both teams at the Gillette Invitational, more than neutralized that game. East hosts #4 Campbell County this weekend in conference play. #1 Kelly Walsh and #5 Natrona open the home portion of their schedule this weekend, with conference game vs. Rock Springs and Green River.

Usually the Rawlins Invitational sets the stage for the first 3A rankings. Since they won their own event, Rawlins starts out ranked #1. The Lady Outlaws beat #3 Worland for the championship, and rematch the Lady Warriors this Friday in conference play, then visit #4 Buffalo. Last year's runner-up Douglas is ranked #2. the Lady Bearcats won their invitational to start the season and have been doing pretty well since. Riverton rounds out the top 5 at #5.

The other different thing that we mentioned earlier is in the 2A rankings. Wright has been ranked #1 every week since middle-2013, but now conference rival Sundance has the top spot, and the Lady Panthers are #2. After that, there's a very large gap between #2 and #3. Greybull has the next spot, and Southeast and Upton are tied for #4, 1 vote behind the Lady Buffalos. Both teams will face each other at the Lusk Invitational this weekend. Upton will also host #1 Sundance on Thursday night. We're still missing some results from invitational games played at Rocky Mountain and at Big Horn, and we hope to get the records caught up as soon as possible.

There's only 1 undefeated remaining in all of volleyball, and thus they are #1 in 1A. Defending champ Little Snake River will carry the #1 spot into the Thermopolis Invitational this weekend. Encampment only has 1 loss on the season (last week vs. LSR), and ranks #2. Lingle-Ft. Laramie and Cokeville share the #3 spot, while Burlington rounds things out at #5.

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.