Check out the FloVolleyball NCAA Countdown, where we rank the top 20 collegiate women's volleyball teams in the country leading up to opening day on August 26. The No. 10 spot goes to the University of Southern California this year, and here's why:

The Upshot

A team that graduated National Player of the Year Samantha Bricio brings in the nation's top-rated freshman, Khalia Lanier.

Last Season

• 33-3 overall, 18-2 in Pac-12 (co-champions with Washington)
  
• 3-1 in NCAA Tournament (lost 3-2 [15-13] vs. Kansas @ San Diego)
  
• No. 4 in final 2015 RPI
  
• Team hitting percentage: .289 (#7 in nation)
  
• Opponents' hitting percentage: .153 (#6 in nation)
  
• Team blocks per set: 2.52 (#37 in nation)
  

The Players

RETURNING STARS

Alice Pizzasegola | 5-10 | Senior | Setter
5.13 assists/set

Taylor Whittingham | 5-8 | Senior | Libero
4.70 digs/set

Elise Ruddins | 6-3 | Senior | Middle Blocker
1.52 kills/set (.403); 0.92 blocks/set

Alyse Ford | 5-10 | Sophomore | Outside Hitter
2.61 kills/set (.238); 0.43 blocks/set

PROMISING NEWCOMERS

Nikki Leonard | 5-8 | Junior |Setter
Transfer from Gonzaga; 3.98 assists/set

Madison Murtagh | 6-1 | Sophomore | Middle Blocker
Transfer from University of San Francisco; 2.15 kills/set (.307); 1.11 blocks/set

Khalia Lanier | 6-2 | Freshman | Outside Hitter
Gatorade National Player of the Year

Daley Krage | 6-4 | Freshman | Opposite

Imani Davis | 6-5 | Freshman | Middle Blocker

Raegan LeGrand | 5-10 | Freshman | Libero

BIGGEST LOSSES

Samantha Bricio | 6-2 | Outside Hitter
5.14 kills/set (#3 in nation) (.299); 0.64 blocks/set; 89 aces (#1 in nation); First Team AVCA All-American

Alicia Ogoms | 6-4 | Middle Blocker
2.01 kills/set (.413, #13 in nation); 1.44 blocks/set (#15 in nation)

Baylee Johnson | 6-2 | Sophomore | Setter
Academically ineligible for 2016; 7.20 assists/set; 0.52 blocks/set

Non-Conference Matches to Watch

September 2 vs. Kentucky
September 3 vs. Creighton

Outlook

At the start of last season, Pac-12 coaches pegged Southern California as the fifth-best team in the conference. Three months later, coach Mick Haley (16th season at USC, 40th overall) had his Trojans as the NCAA Tournament's No. 1 overall seed, ending just two points short (against upstart Kansas) of Haley's seventh national semifinals with USC. Southern Cal's success was primarily thanks to two athletes: National Player of the Year Samantha Bricio, an offensive machine whose NCAA-leading 89 service aces were 29 more than her nearest competitor, and middle Alicia Ogoms, among the NCAA's best in hitting percentage and blocks/set. The offense this season will have to come from undersized dynamo sophomore Alyse Ford and senior middle blocker Elise Ruddins. And--oh, yeah--Gatorade National Prep Player of the Year, 6-2 freshman outside hitter Khalia Lanier. Sophomore setter Baylee Johnson is academically ineligible in 2016, so Haley will run a 6-2 with senior Alice Pizzasegola and either Gonzaga transfer Nikki Leonard or former Washington transfer Reni Whalley. Senior Taylor Whittingham continues a recent tradition of top liberoes at USC. Brittany Abercrombie and Niki Withers look like the leading candidates for SC's right side hitters.

Prediction

In 2014, USC was 15-15. In 2015, the Trojans were 33-3. Do you want to bet against Mick Haley? In a conference where most top teams graduated key players, expect Southern Cal to contend for the title and make a strong push for another final four.

Previously:
20. Louisville
19. UNC
18. BYU
17. Illinois
16. Purdue
15. Texas A&M
14. Oregon
13. Ohio State
12. Penn State
11. Florida 

Additional research and reporting contributed by Leslie Hamann.