Fab five: I-Ridge moves into top spot with win against Salpointe

Ranking Tucson's top girls volleyball teams

Each Monday through the end of the regular season, the Star will rank the top five high school girls volleyball teams in the Tucson area.

This will be the second-to-last poll before the postseason begins next Tuesday. Then, once the state tournament wraps up, we will reveal our final poll of the season.

Here are this week's girls volleyball rankings, with records limited to five-set regular-season matches. (Last week's rankings are in parentheses.)

1. Ironwood Ridge (3) 11-4

While the Arizona Interscholastic Association rankings might have the Nighthawks at No. 5, a spot below Salpointe Catholic, I-Ridge deserve the nod to be No. 1 in the Star's Southern Arizona rankings. The Nighthawks beat the previously top-ranked Lancers in five sets and continue to carry the toughest strength of schedule in Division II. I-Ridge is riding a six-match winning streak after sweeping Mountain View to round out last week. The Nighthawks host Sabino on Tuesday before heading to Canyon del Oro to end the regular season on Thursday.

2. Salpointe Catholic (1) 14-1

Despite dropping their first match of the season last week, the Lancers are still a top five team in Division II and are as dangerous as ever. The set scores against I-Ridge, including a 15-12 fifth, indicating just how close these teams are to each other. Salpointe bounced back to end the week by sweeping Sahuarita, putting the Lancers in a tie for the second-most wins in the division. Salpointe hosts Canyon del Oro on Tuesday and travels to play at Tucson High on Thursday.

3. Sahuaro (2) 13-2

The Cougars slid out of the top five in Division II last week after falling in five sets at Cienega; Sahuaro had won the first two sets before losing three straight. The Cougars got back on track to end the week by sweeping Sunnyside. Hoping to wrap up a home match in the playoffs, Sahuaro will head to Rincon/University on Tuesday and finish up at home against Sahuarita on Thursday.

4. Tucson (4) 10-3

After a week off, the Badgers returned to action last week picking up a pair of wins against Mountain View and Marana. With the victories, Tucson moved up one spot in the Division II rankings to No. 11. The Badgers play Catalina Foothills on Tuesday and end with Salpointe at home on Thursday, two teams they haven't faced this season. Tucson will have to win at least one of its last two matches to avoid being on the bubble.

5. Cienega (not previously ranked) 7-5

The Bobcats are making a late push toward a postseason berth, with the help of a five-set win over Sahuaro and a sweep of Sabino last week. No. 17 Cienega has won four straight, since losing in four sets at No. 18 Rincon almost three weeks ago. The Bobcats and Rangers, along with No. 20 Catalina Foothills are all vying for what looks like the last at-large spot in the state tournament. The Falcons beat Rincon last week but lost to Canyon del Oro, giving the Bobcats a chance to bypass both. Of the three, Cienega has the highest strength of schedule.

Dropped out: Rincon/University (10-5)

The Rangers fell out of the Fab Five rankings after losing to Catalina Foothills last Tuesday, the same night Cienega rallied to upset Sahuaro. Rincon hold the No. 18 spot heading into its last two matched, including a clash against No. 8 Sahuaro. If the Rangers can win both, they'll have a shot at earning one of the final at-large spots.