We're counting down to the start of the 2017 NCAA beach volleyball season by previewing one of the nation's top programs every day leading up to opening weekend.

So far, we've highlighted Loyola Marymount, Georgia State, and Louisiana State, Long Beach State, Arizona, and Hawaii.

Today, get to know the Seminoles of Florida State University.

In Short

Florida State represented the East Coast in 2016, going 32-3 overall and making it to the final round at the inaugural NCAA Beach Volleyball National Championship. No. 1 pair Jace Pardon and Julie Brown have graduated, but Florida State enters 2017 with a strong recruiting class and increased overall depth.

Last Season

32-3 overall
2016 CCSA champions
NCAA National Championship runner-up
Second in final 2016 AVCA poll

The Players

Returning Stars

Victoria Paranagua | 5-11 | Junior | Austin, Texas
Vanessa Freire | 5-10 | Junior | Windermere, Florida
Sierra Sanchez | 6-0 | Senior | Valencia, California
Nikki Esposito | 5-10 | Sophomore | Deerfield Beach, Florida
Hailey Luke | 6-0 | Redshirt Junior | Altamonte Springs, Florida
Julia Thompson | 5-10 | Senior | Fox River Grove, Illinois

Key Newcomers

Danielle Pennington | 6-0 | Freshman | Bettendorf, Iowa
Molly McBain | 5-9 | Freshman | Toronto, Ontario
Sara Putt | 5-11 | Sophomore | Jupiter, Florida | Stetson Transfer (All-American)
Francesca Goncalves | 5-10 | Freshman | Dallas, Texas
Lehigh Andrew | 6-0 | Grad Student | Fort Lauderdale, Florida | UNC Transfer

Biggest Losses

Kayla Joyce | 5-8 | Oviedo, Florida
Kristina Pellitteri | 5-9 | Deerfield Beach, Florida
Jace Pardon | 5-10 | Manhattan Beach, California
Julie Brown | 6-0 | Oviedo, Florida
Annie Montgomery | 6-0 | Sarasota, Florida

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Opening Weekend Matches

March 4

9 AM ET vs. LSU at Stetson
3 PM ET vs. Stetson

March 5

10 AM ET Stetson Pairs Tournament

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Overview

Florida State is coming off a great performance in 2016 and ranks second in the AVCA preseason poll. But, as head coach Brooke Niles pointed out, the Seminoles are a young squad, and the starting lineup is far from set in stone. Sierra Sanchez and Julia Thompson are the only four-year seniors on the roster, and three studly freshmen and two transfers will play big roles this season.

Stetson transfer Sarah Putt played at the No. 1 spot for the Hatters in 2016, going 32-3 with partner Vendy Strakova, and former UNC indoor player Lehigh Andrew is returning to her home state as a grad student.

Freshman Molly McBain, an Ontario native, paired with FSU indoor star Katie Horton to beat Sanchez and Eva Torruella at the Garnet and Gold exhibition match on February 26. Two of McBain's fellow frosh, Francesca Goncalves and Danielle Pennington, also secured victories at the intrasquad scrimmage.

"Our teams looked super strong and there were no standouts, but I think that is a great thing because it shows how diverse our team is and how ready we are," junior Vanessa Freire said after the Garnet and Gold match. "It shows how much we have grown up this season and the past few years."