These 14 athletes were some of the most aggressively recruited, highly touted members of the class of 2016. Then, after graduating from high school and showing up for preseason, each one them decided to redshirt. Some did so because of injury, others to give themselves more time to acclimate to the college game, and still others because their position's starting spots were already filled by veteran upperclassmen.

This fall, however, the training wheels are off and this group of redshirt freshmen is ready to finally make their collegiate debuts.

1. Lauren Stivrins | 6-foot-4 | Middle Blocker | Nebraska

With the starting middle blocker positions locked up by All-Americans Briana Holman and Amber Rolfzen in 2016, it makes sense why Scottsdale, Arizona, product Lauren Stivrins chose to redshirt. This year, with Rolfzen graduated, Stivrins is a top candidate for a starting spot opposite Holman, who is now a senior.

Stivrins' top challenger for the position will be 6-4 true freshman Chesney McClellan of Maryville, Tennessee.

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2. Regan Pittman | 6-5 | Middle Blocker | Minnesota

Minnesota graduated two incredible middle blockers in Paige and Hannah Tapp, but 6-5 middle blocker Regan Pittman should do a good job of stepping into the Tapp twins' shoes. The 2015 Under Armour First Team High School All-American led her Aquinas High School team to a Kansas state championship in 2014 and runner-up finishes in 2013 and 2015, earning first team all-state honors twice.

This summer, Pittman competed with the U.S. junior national team at the 2017 FIVB U20 World Championships in Mexico.

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3. Holly Carlton | 6-7 | Setter/Opposite | North Carolina

It's not clear exactly what capacity UNC head coach Joe Sagula will use 6-7 redshirt freshman Holly Carlton, but we can almost guarantee the Potomac Fall, Virginia, native will make an impact for the Tar Heels this fall.

With opposites Taylor Treacy and Hayley McCorkle now graduated, a starting spot has opened up for Carlton, who spent her summer training and competing with the U.S. junior national team at the U20 Pan-American Cup and the FIVB U20 World Championships. She could also serve as the other half of the 6-2 opposite sophomore setter Mariah Evans.

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4. Mia Sokolowski | 6-4 | Outside | Florida

Mia Sokolowski must be feeling pretty comfortable at Florida by now. The Tucson, Arizona, native graduated high school early and enrolled at UF in January 2016. Now three semesters in to her college academic career, she's ready to make her college athletics debut.

A decorated player at Tucson High School, Sokolowski chose Florida over Texas and Arizona, but there will be stiff competition for playing time at the outside hitter position this fall. With senior Carli Snyder sure to keep her starting spot, Sokolowski will have to beat out highly touted freshman Paige Hammons, sophomore Morgyn Greer, who got some experience at the position as a freshman, and perhaps also Shaniah Joseph, although we predict Joseph will be the starting opposite this fall.

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5. Katie Myers | 6-2 | Middle Blocker | Maryland

Third Team Under Armour High School All-American Katie Myers played in only two sets for the Terrapins in 2016, suffering an injury in a preseason match versus Washington. She's back this fall, and with the graduation of Ashlyn MacGregor there's a starting spot in the middle up for grabs.

Myers, who holds 22 school records at Westerville Central High School in Ohio and led her high school team to three unbeaten seasons, will be in competition with true freshman Jada Gardner for that second starting middle blocker position, assuming head coach Steve Aird sticks with 2016 starter Hailey Murray.

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6. Kayla Caffey | 6-0 | Middle Blocker | Missouri

As one of two middle blockers on the 2017 Mizzou roster, it's safe to say Kayla Caffey should get plenty of playing time this fall. AVCA Honorable Mention All-American Alyssa Munlyn is back for 2017, but 2016 starter Emily Thater has graduated, leaving the door open for Caffey to step in.

Caffey is a product of high school volleyball powerhouse Mother McAuley where she was the team captain and averaged a .478 hitting percentage over her last three seasons.

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7. Shardonee Hayes | 6-3 | Middle Blocker | Arizona

Shardonee Hayes was a rockstar at Columbus High School in Georgia. The team captain earned First Team Under Armour All-American honors as a senior after leading her team to a state championship with 530 kills and 114 blocks. Her 1,351 career kills set a school record.

Despite a solid resume, Hayes will face tough competition at the middle blocker position this year. In addition to returning 2016 starters Devyn Cross and McKenzie Jacobson, the 2017 middles include 6-4 redshirt junior Jade Turner, and freshman Candice Denny, who was a member of our first team high school All-Americans list.

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8. Abigail Buckingham | 6-1 | Outside Hitter | Texas Christian

Originally committed to Texas, Abigail Buckingham became Texas Christian's highest-ranked recruit ever when she ultimately committed to TCU. A second ACL injury during her senior year forced her take a medical redshirt as a freshman, but assuming she's healthy now, the 6-1 outside hitter could be a game-changer for the Frogs.

Known as the BuckingSlam in high school, the San Antonio native will be joined at the outside hitter position by fellow redshirt freshman Calli Novak, true freshman Allye Beth Deaton, junior Ashleigh Martin, and Arizona State transfer Lexi MacLean.

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9. Kennedy Redding | 6-4 | Middle Blocker | BYU

A basketball and volleyball standout at Bountiful High School, Kennedy Redding received scholarship offers from BYU for both sports. After choosing to focus on volleyball, Redding redshirted the 2016 season, perhaps because senior duo Amy Boswell and Whitney Howard Young had both starting middle blocker spots locked up.

As a high school senior, Redding led her Bountiful volleyball squad to a 4A state title and earned her fourth-consecutive all-state and all-region honors. This fall, she's more than ready to attempt filling the big shoes of Boswell and Howard Young.

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10. Lauren Dorrell | 6-0 | Outside Hitter | Colorado

A product of Father Ryan High School in Brentwood, Tennessee, Lauren Dorrell earned Second Team Under Armour All-American honors as a high school senior after leading her team to a Division II AA state title.

Despite the fact that both of Colorado's 2016 starting outside hitters (Alexa Smith and Stephanie Shadley) return this fall, head coach Jesse Mahoney had said he sees Dorrell being in the mix for playing time.

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11. Piper Roe | 6-2 | Middle Blocker | Louisville

With the graduation of fifth year senior Janelle Jenkins after the 2016 season, a starting middle blocker spot is up for grabs on the Louisville team. Roe, who broke the Virginia High School League record for career blocks, should be a top candidate to fill Jenkins' role, although senior Maddie DeJong, who started as a freshman and a sophomore, will also be in the conversation.

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12. Erica Kostelac | 6-2 | Outside Hitter | Cincinnati

The Bearcats' No. 2 kill producer from 2016, Ciara Hill, graduated, so there's an open outside hitting position on the team. A position that redshirt freshman Erica Kostelac has to be eyeing.

The two-time Honorable Mention Under Armour All-American won two Division 2 Ohio state championships with her Notre Dame Cathedral Latin team and was an AAU All-American in her junior season of club volleyball.

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13. Hunter Atherton | 5-11 | Setter | Nebraska

A First Team Under Armour All-American and the Best Setter of the Under Armour All-American showcase match in 2015, Hunter Atherton would be a shoe-in for a starting position at almost any other program.

At Nebraska, however, she'll likely continue to sit on the bench for at least one more year while Second Team AVCA All-American setter Kelly Hunter finishes out her senior season, as Hunter herself did while waiting for Mary Pollmiller to pass the torch to her.

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14. Brooke Westbeld | 6-2 | Setter/Opposite | Dayton

Dayton-area local Brooke Westbeld was a big pick-up for the Flyers, but chances are, like Atherton, she'll sit the bench one more year after redshirting in 2016. Three-year starting setter Jane Emmenecker will likely maintain her hold on the position this fall, but we wouldn't be surprised to see head coach Tim Horsmon get Westbald some playing time when possible, so she'll be ready to take over the offense next year.

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