In Class AAAAAAA, four-time defending state champion Walton opens the year at No. 1. The Lady Raiders were the Volleyballmag.com National Team of the Year in 2018 and Ohio State signee Gabby Gonzales closed out her banner varsity career with back-to-back Gatorade Player of the Year awards. Her 539 kills, 237 digs, 34 aces and 27 blocks from this past season will certainly need to be replaced in 2019 and the loss of 6-foot-2 Reilly MacNeill (also an Ohio State signee) will also need to be addressed, but head coach Suzanne Fitzgerald has consistently sustained the program’s elite status over the years. Lassiter makes its debut at No. 2 and will have most of its contributors back this season after last year’s 29-6 effort.
In Class AAAAAA, defending champion Pope opens the year at No. 1 ahead of Alpharetta, which posted a 46-5 overall record in 2018 before getting defeated by No. 3 Allatoona in an ultra-competitive semifinal matchup 3-1 [25-21, 23-25, 23-25, 23-25]. Harrison and Apalachee round out the top five and No. 6 Lakeside-Evans and No. 7 Greenbrier supply considerable depth to this competitive classification.
In Class AAAAA, two-time defending champion McIntosh opens the year at No. 1. The Lady Chiefs posted a 38-3 record in 2018 and did not suffer a single loss to a Class AAAAA opponent during the regular season before sweeping the playoff field in straight sets during their successful title defense. Outside Hitter Erykah Lovett will be back after leading McIntosh with 402 kills last season as a sophomore.
Defending champion St. Pius is No. 1 in Class AAAA and comes off a 42-5 season that included a flawless record against Class AAAA competition. Two-time defending champion Pace Academy is No. 1 in Class AAA with Westminster, Lovett, Greater Atlanta Christian and Calhoun rounding out the top 5.
Reigning Class A/A-Private champion Mt. Paran debuts at No. 1 and Calvary Day, Hebron Christian, Walker and Savannah Christian round out the top 5. Two-time defending champion Coosa has the top spot in Class AA/A-Public
Class AAAAAAA
1. Walton
2. Lassiter
3. South Forsyth
4. Lambert
5. West Forsyth
6. North Gwinnett
7. Milton
8. Etowah
9. Kennesaw Mountain
10. East Coweta
Class AAAAAA
1. Pope
2. Alpharetta
3. Allatoona
4. Harrison
5. Apalachee
6. Lakeside-Evans
7. Greenbrier
8. Sequoyah
9. Creekside
10. Winder-Barrow
Class AAAAA
1. McIntosh
2. Chamblee
3. Starr’s Mill
4. Buford
5. Whitewater
6. Riverwood
7. Locust Grove
8. Union Grove
9. Decatur
10. Statesboro
Class AAAA
1. St. Pius
2. Marist
3. Blessed Trinity
4. Columbus
5. Northside-Columbus
6. LaFayette
7. Cartersville
8. Woodward Academy
9. Northwest Whitfield
10. Flowery Branch
Class AAA
1. Pace Academy
2. Westminster
3. Lovett
4. Greater Atlanta Christian
5. Calhoun
6. North Hall
7. Morgan County
8. Jefferson
9. Jackson County
10. East Hall
Class AA/A-Public
1. Coosa
2. Elite Scholars Academy
3. Harlem
4. Gordon Lee
5. Pepperell
6. Bremen
7. Rabun County
8. Woodville-Tompkins
9. Jordan
10. Thomasville
Class A/A-Private
1. Mt. Paran
2. Calvary Day
3. Hebron Christian
4. Walker
5. Savannah Christian
6. Fellowship Christian
7. North Cobb Christian
8. Lakeview Academy
9. Holy Innocents’
10. Eagle’s Landing Christian
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