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. 18 spot goes to BYU this year, and here's why:

The Upshot

The school with the fourth-most (1,192) wins in NCAA history looks to reach its fifth straight round of 16, despite the graduation of First Team All-American Alexa Gray.

Last Season

• 28-4 overall, 16-2 in WCC (1st place) 2-1 in NCAA Tournament (lost 3-0 to Nebraska in Lexington) 
  
• No. 11 in final 2015 RPI 
  
• Team Hitting Percentage: .277 (#11 in nation) 
  
• Opponents' Hitting Percentage: .170 (#29 in nation) 
  
• Team blocks per set: 2.85 (#17 in nation)
  

The Players

RETURNING STARS

Amy Boswell | 6-4 | Senior | Middle Blocker
2.61 kills/set (.365); 1.41 blocks/set (#19 in nation); 2015 WCC Defensive Player of the Year

Whitney Howard | 6-0 | Senior | Middle Blocker
1.09 kills/set (.248); 1.18 blocks/set

Cosy Burnett | 6-2 | Junior | Opposite
2.07 kills/set (.225); 0.84 blocks/set

Veronica Jones-Perry | 6-0 | Sophomore | Outside Hitter
2.16 kills/set (.206); 0.42 blocks/set

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PROMISING NEWCOMERS

McKenna Miller | 6-1 | Freshman | Outside Hitter

Emily Lewis | 6-4 | Redshirt Freshman | Opposite

Mary Lake | 5-7 | Freshman | Libero

BIGGEST LOSSES

Alexa Gray | 6-2 | Outside Hitter
5.24 kills/set (#2 in nation) (.298); 0.62 blocks/set; First Team All-American

Camry Willardson | 5-11 | Setter
8.72 assists/set  

Ciara Parker | 5-6 | Libero
4.08 digs/set; Four-year starter for BYU

Non-Conference Matches to Watch

September 3 @ Ohio State

Outlook

Heather Olmstead was named 2015 WCC Coach of the Year in her very first season heading up the Cougars. She was, however, a BYU assistant since 2011, so she can lay rightful claim to helping recruit the core of the team. "We'd like to see our offensive numbers go up [in 2016]," Olmstead said. That could be bad news for BYU opponents, since the Cougars have four returning hitters responsible for a combined eight kills/set in 2015. Blocking has always been a BYU trademark, and middles Amy Boswell and Whitney Howard have both proven they can stuff with the best. Freshman Mary Lake looks ready to step in as libero after the graduation of four-year starter Ciara Parker. Alohi Robins-Hardy is one of three setters looking to replace Camry Willardson. Olmstead said she'll wait and see how her hitters pass before deciding whether to run a 5-1 or 6-2 offense. The biggest challenge may be replacing First Team All-American outside Alexa Gray. Olmstead will have plenty of highly-regarded freshmen in the gym, including promising outside hitter McKenna Miller. With talk that the Big-12 is courting BYU, this could be one of the last seasons for BYU to lay claim to yet another West Coast Conference title.

Prediction

It'll be pushed by LMU and San Diego, but BYU should be a tournament selection shoo-in. The big question: will they make two trips this season to Columbus? The Cougars meet Ohio State in the preseason, and hope to return there for the national semifinals.

Previously:
20. Louisville
19. UNC

Additional research and reporting contributed by Leslie Hamann.