1. Downers Grove South High (Downers Grove, Ill.) - (36-5 in '99)

	Shannon Parker and Co. will look to keep Downers Grove South High (Ill.) in the No. 1 spot throughout the 2000 season.

Downers Grove South starts the 2000 season as the top-ranked team nationally. After losing only five matches last year and winning its second straight state title, the Downers Grove girls' volleyball team graduated just one player this past spring.

Senior outside hitter Michelle Chatman (6-foot-1) and junior setter Shannon Parker (5-foot-10) will lead a solid team that will try to continue its strong tradition.

The competition in this year's Nike Challenge, which will include No. 2 Assumption High (Ky.) and No. 3 St. Francis Academy (Calif.), will give Downers Grove the opportunity to maintain a solid hold on the top spot.

2. Assumption High (Louisville, Ky.) - (41-1)
Louisville Assumption has one of the strongest programs in the nation. With seven players returning from last year's group, Assumption will once again be a favorite every time it steps on the court. As per tradition, it will play the top teams from Indiana and compete in the Nike Challenge.

After this Top 20 was created, Assumption fell to Central Grove High (Ind.) Saturday night in three games. Look for Assumption to take a mini-swan dive in the next Top 20.

3. St. Francis High (Mountain View, Calif.) - (39-2)
St. Francis will try to duplicate its 1999 season, when it was nearly flawless - losing only to Newport Harbor High and then to Santa Margarita High in the state finals. Seniors Kelli Corbett (6-foot, middle blocker), Hayley Anderson (6-foot-1, setter), Jen Williams (5-foot-6, outside hitter), Melissa Borelli (6-foot, outside hitter) and Bonnie Van Elderen (5-foot-11, outside hitter/middle blocker) all return to lead the Lancers.

4. Mater Dei High (Santa Ana, Calif.) - (24-7)
Typically, a standout team always comes out of Southern California. This year, Mater Dei, which has not been at the top of the Southern California rankings for several years, appears to be a team to beat.

The Monarchs return a balance of size, experience and talent this season, including junior Breegan Mulligan. Trips to the Maui-Life Durango Classic in Las Vegas and to San Diego for the Torrey Pines California Challenge will provide plenty of tough competition this season.

5. Indianapolis Cathedral (Indianapolis, Ind.) - (34-5)
There may be a change at the top in Indiana with Indianapolis Cathedral leading the way this season. The Irish lineup will include senior middle blocker Allyne Rebholz (6-foot-1) and senior outside hitter Ellen Rehme (6-foot-2), who competed on the USA Junior National training team. In addition, senior setter Lauren Holbrook (5-foot-8) and senior middle blocker Amanda Schiff (6-foot-1) will add experience to the lineup.

Indianapolis Cathedral will be tested this fall by traditional powers Muncie Burris and Central and will also play No. 2 Assumption.

6. Bishop Moore High (Orlando, Fla.) - (32-2)
At 32-2, Bishop Moore had one of the best records in the nation last season. It returns five starters from its 3A state championship squad and will travel to play Punahou in Hawaii this fall.

7. Long Beach Poly (Long Beach, Calif.) - (18-6)
Long Beach Poly is another team out of Southern California that may pull some surprises this season. Poly won the 2000 SCVA Prep Nationals this summer, giving an early indication that it will be competitive this fall.

Senior setter Drew Robertson (5-foot-10) will anchor this year's squad.

8. St. Mary's High (Stockton, Calif.) - (37-5)
So, our Top 10 is a little California-heavy. Those West Coast girls can play!

The Rams have almost never had a down season. With rival Lincoln High losing significant talent from 1999, St. Mary's should be the team to beat. Senior setter/outside hitter Lauren Moscovic (5-foot-9), who will play for the University of Florida in 2001, will join senior middle blocker Carrie Morreira (6-foot) and senior setter Megan Wooton (5-foot-7) to help lead this year's group.

St. Mary's will compete at the Maui Life Durango Tournament in Las Vegas and the Archbishop Mitty National Invitational in San Jose, Calif., this fall

9. Desert Vista High (Phoenix, Ariz.) - (30-9)
With Valley Christian's strong group gone in 2000, Desert Vista may be the team to step up to the top spot in Arizona. While none of its experienced players are six feet or taller, seven seniors - including all six starters - return; senior middle blocker Alexis Welsh leads the way. Desert Vista will compete against in-state powers Xavier Prep and Mountain View High.

10. Bishop Carroll High (Wichita, Kan.) - (26-6)
Bishop Carroll has been in the Final Four of its state tournament seven of the past eight seasons. This year, it will try to get to the top with senior middle blocker Cori Meyer (6-foot-1), junior setter/outside hitter Emily Watts (6-foot) and outside hitter Heather Gray (5-foot-11).

11. Freedom High (Bethlehem, Pa.) - (24-0)
Freedom is one of two teams in the Top 20 that finished 1999 with an undefeated record. Six seniors and five of last year's six starters will be back for the 2000 season. Outside hitter/middle blocker Jennifer DeWalt (6-foot-2) will try to repeat the performance that earned her league Player of the Year honors last fall.

12. Muncie Central (Muncie, Ind.) - (36-3)
Muncie Central and Muncie Burris have been the consistent powers in Indiana for several years. In 2000, there may be a changing at the top, but the Bearcats should still be plenty competitive.

Central will have a balanced group this fall, with two seniors, two juniors and a sophomore leading the way. Compared to highly regarded Cathedral, the Bearcats will be small. Seniors Kelly Spisak and Liz Wall are the team's top experienced players.

13. Westlake High (Austin, Texas) - (36-5)
Westlake is the first of two Texas teams in the 2000 Top 20. It returns five players from its 1999 team, which lost only five matches. Seniors Bethany Howden (6-foot-2) and Becca Kainz (6-foot-3) will provide some size at the middle blocker position for coach Al Bennett, while junior Jessica Mihm (sister of hoop star Chris Mihm) returns as the team's starting setter and senior Elena Garcia returns at outside hitter.

14. Mira Costa High (Manhattan Beach, Calif.) - (23-5)
Did you really think the parade of California teams was going to end with St. Mary's?

Mira Costa has been a consistent program in Southern California for several years. Strong outside hitter Brooke Donahue (5-foot-9; senior) will be coming off an injury that sidelined her during part of the club season. With her return, along with three other starters from 1999, Mira Costa should once again be in the title hunt this fall.

After this Top 20 was created, Mira Costa reportedly fell to Harvard-Westlake High (Calif.) in a time match at the Iolani Invitational in Hawaii.

15. University High (Normal, Ill.) - (37-5)
At times, it is possible for one player to carry a high school team. While she will not be alone this year, outside hitter Ogonna Nnamani (6-foot-1) will likely play the most significant role of any one player on the scholastic level in 2000.

Nnamani, the top recruit in the country and the reigning Gatorade Circle of Champions Illinois Player of the Year, will lead a team that loses only a defensive specialist from last season. Last year's squad won the Class A State Championship.

16. Mishawaka High (Mishawaka, Ind.) - (30-8)
For those who know squat about high school volleyball, here's a news flash: Indiana girls are tough.

Mishawaka should be another solid team from the Hoosier State. Three top players return from last year's team, which finished the year at 30-8. Senior Susan Cunningham (5-foot-7) will anchor the squad at the setter position. Mishawaka will challenge Muncie Central for the state 4A title.

17. Clark High (San Antonio, Texas) - (33-5)
Tom C. Clark High has had a solid program for a number of years. Eight players, including seven seniors, return from last fall's team. Senior middle blocker Shannon Brown (6-foot-2) and junior outside hitter Liz Tomasovic (5-foot-11) will lead the group of returnees. Clark will look to go all the way this year, as it was the state runner-up last fall.

18. Magnificat High (Rocky River, Ohio) - (25-3)
Three seniors will try to help Magnificat improve on its 1999 runner-up finish in the state championships. Middle blocker Janeve Hayes (5-foot-11), outside hitter Mary Fox (6-foot-1) and outside hitter Mollie Murphy (5-foot-9) will provide the experience, with junior outside hitter Emily Turza (5-foot-9) giving the squad a fourth returning player.

19. Cardinal Gibbons High (Raleigh, N.C.) - (27-0)
With an overall record of 51-0 over the past two seasons, Cardinal Gibbons has some strong momentum entering the 2000 campaign. It returns five solid players from last season's squad. Senior middle blocker Juliet Anderson (6-foot-2), the state's Player of the Year, will lead in 2000.

20. Hillcrest High (Cuba, Kan.) - (33-4)
The top teams each year often include those with many starters returning from a previously successful season. Hillcrest fits this role with five starters back from a team that finished fourth in the state in 1999. Hillcrest will get tested this year at the Concordia Tournament, where many state-ranked teams will be featured.

Other Teams To Watch This year's "Teams to Watch" contains solid squads that will threaten the Top 20. They are:

Archbishop Mitty High (Calif.)
Austintown Fitch High (Ohio)
Berkeley Prep (Fla.)
Bishop Kenny High (Fla.)
Bloomington Jefferson High (Minn.)
Burnt Hills High (N.Y.)
Cardinal Mooney (Fla.)
Centennial High (Calif.)
Central Grove (Ind.)
Christ The King High (N.Y.)
Cy Falls High (Texas)
Darien High (Conn.)
Greenbrier East High (W.Va.)
Horizon High (Ariz.)
Irvine High (Calif.)
McGill-Toolen High (Ala.)
Menomonee Falls High (Wis.)
Michigan City Marquette High (Ind.)
Mother McCauley High (Ill.)
Mt. Juliet High (Tenn.)
Muncie Burris High (Ind.)
Presentation High (Calif.)
Punahou High (Hawaii)
Roncalli High (Ind.)
St. Francis High (Wheaton, Ill.)
Stockdale High (Calif.)
Torrey Pines High (Calif.)
Xavier Prep (Ariz.).

Vball.com contributed to this Top 20.