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. 7 spot goes to Kansas this year, and here's why:

The Upshot

Last season, Kansas became the first Big 12 team other than Texas and Nebraska to reach the national semifinals. Can Cinderella get back to the big dance?

Last Season

• 30-3 overall, 14-2 in Big 12 (second place)
  
• 4-1 in NCAA Tournament (lost 3-1 vs. Nebraska at Omaha)
  
• No. 6 in final 2015 RPI
  
• Team hitting percentage: .299 (No. 4 in nation)
  
• Opponents' hitting percentage: .163 (No. 21 in nation)
  
• Team blocks per set: 2.19 (No. 107 in nation)
  

The Players

RETURNING STARS

Ainise Havili | 5-10 | Junior | Setter
12.13 assists/set (No. 3 in nation); First Team All-American

Kelsie Payne | 6-3 | Junior | Opposite
4.39 kills/set (No. 17 in NCAA) (.386); 0.73 blocks/set; First Team All-American

Tayler Soucie | 6-1 | Senior | Middle Blocker
2.18 kills/set (.354); 1.23 blocks/set

Madison Rigdon | 6-0 | Junior | Outside Hitter
2.75 kills/set (.206); 0.41 blocks/set

Cassie Wait | 5-8 | Senior | Libero
5.19 digs/set (No. 20 in nation)

PROMISING NEWCOMERS

Jada Burse | 6-1 | Freshman | Outside Hitter

Zoe Hill | 5-11 | Freshman | Middle Blocker

Patricia Montero | 5-10 | Redshirt Freshman | Outside Hitter

Ashley Smith | 6-0 | Redshirt Freshman | Outside Hitter

Allie Nelson | 5-6 | Freshman | Libero

Jacqui Mostrom | 5-3 | Freshman | Defensive Specialist

BIGGEST LOSSES

Tiana Dockery | 5-10 | Outside Hitter
2.89 kills/set (.217); 0.47 blocks/set

Janae Hall  | 6-1 | Middle Blocker
1.75 kills/set (.367); 0.85 blocks/set

Non-Conference Matches to Watch

September 8 at Creighton
September 16 at Purdue

Outlook

The Jayhawks surprised a lot of teams last season, not the least of which was NCAA Tournament top seed USC, whom Kansas beat 15-13 in the fifth set of the NCAA Tournament regional final. Coach Ray Bechard (18th season) has five of his seven core players back from that team, led by two First Team All-Americans, junior setter Ainise Havili and junior opposite Kelsie Payne. Havili loves the setter dump--she recorded 104 kills last season, averaging nearly one per set. Bechard, however, must fill the unexpected hole created by the departure of middle blocker Janae Hall, who is no longer playing volleyball. Look for junior Kayla Cheadle and freshman Zoe Hill to be MB2 candidates. Another freshman, Jada Burse, will contend for the outside hitter vacancy left by Tiana Dockery's graduation. Dockery was the Jayhawks' leading passer, so her replacement should expect to be the target of plenty of serves. Opposing servers will probably stay away from senior Cassie Wait, who played outstanding defense down the stretch, including 28 digs in the USC win and 23 digs in the national semifinal loss to Nebraska.

Prediction

The Jayhawks travel to Austin on September 24, but the Big-12 conference title could be settled as early as October 29, when Texas visits Kansas. Havili is a fiery leader, the kind that can take a team far in the tournament.

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
10. USC
9. Hawaii
8. Washington

Additional research and reporting contributed by Leslie Hamann.