FloVolleyball is excited to introduce our NCAA Men's Countdown, ranking the top 10 collegiate men's volleyball teams in the country leading up to the start of the 2017 season.

The No. 6 spot goes to Lewis this year, and here's why:

The Upshot

The Flyers have youth and promise at both setter and outside hitter.

Last Season

19-13 overall, 10-6 in MIVA (fourth place)
2-1 in MIVA Tournament (lost 3-2 at Ohio State)
Final 2016 RPI: 12
Team Hitting Percentage: .306 (#7 in NCAA)
Team Blocks Per Set: 2.46 (#7)

The Players

RETURNING STARS

Mitch Perinar | 6-foot-6 | Sophomore | Opposite
3.15 kills/set; .325 (#21 in NCAA); 0.61 blocks/set
Jacob Schmeigelt | 6-6 | Senior | Middle Blocker
1.63 kills/set; .427; 1.03 blocks/set (#20 in NCAA)
Trevor Weiskircher | 6-7 | Senior | Outside Hitter
2.32 kills/set; .273; 0.48 blocks/set
Jake Walenga | 6-0 | Sophomore | Libero
2.04 digs/set (#27 in NCAA)
Julian Moses | 6-4 | Sophomore | Outside Hitter
3.00 kills/set; .252; 0.61 blocks/set

PROMISING NEWCOMERS

Danny Maurer | 6-8 | Junior | Middle Blocker (transfer from Cal Baptist)
Ryan Coenen | 6-9 | Redshirt Freshman | Outside Hitter
Jacob Kerschner | 6-4 | Redshirt Freshman | Setter
Dalen Instenes | 6-5 | Redshirt Freshman | Outside Hitter
Kyle Bugee | 6-5 | Freshman | Outside Hitter
Ryan Van Loo | 6-3 | Freshman | Setter

BIGGEST LOSSES

Bobby Walsh | 6-9 | Middle Blocker
3.15 kills/set, .471 (#3 in NCAA); 1.11 blocks/set (#13
Scott Fifer | 6-3 | Setter
9.73 asssists/set (#16 in NCAA); 0.67 blocks/set
Patrick Lilly | 6-5 | Opposite
1.15 kills/set; .271; 0.18 blocks/set

Non-Conference Matches to Watch

January 6 vs. BYU
January 14 vs. Pepperdine
March 8 at UCLA

Outlook

Coach Dan Friend (12th season) needs to replace graduated setter Scott Fifer, but Friend thinks has a good one in "very athletic" 6-5 sophomore Matt Yoshimoto. Six-foot-six senior middle blocker Jacob Schmeigelt is recovering nicely from offseason surgery but will get competition from 6-8 Cal Baptist transfer Danny Maurer and 6-9 senior John Hodul. Six-foot-nine redshirt freshman Ryan Coenen is leading the outside hitter pack, with 6-5 true freshman Kyle Bugee battling 6-7 senior Trevor Weiskircher for OH2. Six-foot-six sophomore Mitch Perinar will be the opposite, and sophomore Jake Walenga will start the season at libero.

Prediction

Everyone in the MIVA will be chasing Ohio State; Lewis will need a lot from its young outsides to hold off Loyola and Ball State for second place.

FloVolleyball NCAA Men's Volleyball Countdown

10. USC
9. Stanford
8. UC Irvine
7. Hawaii
6. Lewis
5-1. Check back every day to see the remainder of the rankings!

MUST SEE FloFilms of 2016

The Program: Penn State

Watch Episode One here.

All In: USA Women's National Volleyball Team

Watch Episode One here.