Bee’s prep volleyball rankings

Top 10

1. Clovis West (4-1) Next: at Durango, Friday

2. Liberty (7-0) Next: at Durango, Friday

3. Buchanan (7-1) Next: vs. Bullard, today

4. Centennial (5-2) Next: vs. Garces, Wednesday

5. Frontier (14-1) Next: vs. Clovis East, today

6. CVC (10-5) Next: vs. Bullard, Thursday

7. Independence (6-1) Next: vs. Ridgeview, today

8. Garces (4-3) Next: at Centennial, Wednesday

9. Stockdale (3-4) Next: vs. Ridgeview, Sept. 19

10. Clovis North (11-5) Next: at Garces, Sept. 19

Divisional

D-I 1. Clovis West; 2. Liberty; 3. Buchanan

D-II 1. Independence; 2. Tehachapi (15-0); 3. El Diamante (7-1)

D-III 1. CVC; 2. Redwood 3-0; 3. Hoover 4-4

D-IV 1. Bak. Chris. (5-2); 2. Woodlake (6-1); 3. Sierra Pacific (9-1)

D-V 1. Fresno Christian (2-1); 2. Minarets (3-0); 3. Laton (2-2)

The Buzz

A year after a home upset of Division I heavyweight Clovis West propelled then D-IV Central Valley Christian to the top of these rankings, the Cavaliers entered their first season in D-III as a big question mark. And that was before three seniors off last season’s 31-7 team decided not to play this year and a returning junior went down with an injury. But a young and smaller-than-normal CVC remains among the section’s elite. “With a class like last year’s leaving, I wasn’t expecting a ton,” Cavaliers coach Meghan Warkentin said. “But on the other hand, I know what kind of athletes these kids are and what kind of workers they are. So I’m not surprised their hard work is paying off.” … The section’s top three — Clovis West, Liberty and Buchanan — as well as Clovis are headed to Las Vegas this weekend for the 48-team Durango Classic, which draws schools from seven states and Canada.

By Nick Giannandrea