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. 6 spot goes to UCLA this year, and here's why:

The Upshot

In head coach Mike Sealy's second season, UCLA won the national championship. Now starting his seventh season, his veteran Bruins could be poised to challenge for another.

Last Season

• 25-8 overall, 14-6 in Pac-12 (4th place)
  
• 2-1 in NCAA Tournament (lost 3-1 @ Texas)
  
• No. 12 in final 2015 RPI
  
• Team hitting percentage: .226 (#99 in nation)
  
• Opponents' hitting percentage: .180 (#57 in nation)
  
• Team blocks per set: 2.39 (#54 in nation)
  

The Players

RETURNING STARS

Jordan Anderson | 6-0 | Senior | Outside Hitter
4.38 kills/set (#18 in nation) (.231); 0.40 blocks/set

Reily Buechler | 6-1 | Junior | Outside Hitter
3.39 kills/set (.193); 0.34 blocks/set

Claire Felix | 6-6 | Senior | Middle Blocker
2.01 kills/set (.370); 0.97 blocks/set

Taylor Formico | 5-7 | Senior | Libero
4.50 digs/set

Haley Lawless | 6-3 | Senior | Outside Hitter
1.89 kills/set (.163); 0.67 blocks/set

Zana Muno | 5-10 | Sophomore | Setter
10.04 assists/set

Jennie Frager | 6-5 | Senior | Middle Blocker
1.31 kills/set (.254); 1.08 blocks/set

Ryann Chandler | 5-9 | Redshirt Junior | Setter
9.64 assists/set

PROMISING NEWCOMERS

Torrey Van Winden | 6- 3| Freshman | Opposite

Madeleine Gates | 6-3 | Freshman | Middle Blocker

Kylie Miller | 6-3 | Freshman | Setter

Jamie Robbins | 6-1 | Freshman | Outside Hitter

BIGGEST LOSSES

Jessyka Nguamo | 5-11 | Junior | Opposite
Returned home to Australia; 2.67 kills/set (.190); 0.43 blocks/set

Non-Conference Matches to Watch

September 3 @ Hawaii

Outlook

Take UCLA's entire 2015 starting lineup. Add up to three 2016 incoming players with a real shot at becoming starters themselves. If the chemistry is right, the Bruins should be a handful this fall. Coach Mike Sealy (seventh season) welcomes back a whole lot of offense in outside hitters Jordan Anderson and Reily Buechler and middle Claire Felix, who combined for almost 10 kills/set in 2015. He'll be able to add opposite Torrey Van Winden to that mix, a freshman with what observers call "monster" talent. Another freshman, Kylie Miller, will be the backup to junior setter Ryann Chandler. Last season's setter, sophomore Zana Muno, moves to defensive specialist in UCLA's 5-1 offense. The Bruins' defense will again be anchored by senior Taylor Formico, who is also one of the Bruins' best at the service line. Toward season's end last year, six of eight matches went five sets. UCLA was 3-3 in those contests, but Sealy said his team is learning to take everything one play at a time. "We don't worry about the score or what set we're in," he said. "That's our culture, and we want everyone to be OK with it."

Prediction

UCLA's final five conference matches include contests with Stanford, Oregon, Washington, and USC. If the Bruins survive that Pac-12 obstacle course, they could be primed to challenge for a spot in the national semifinals.

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
7. Kansas

Additional research and reporting contributed by Leslie Hamann.