During preseason, we get to see the top teams from various conferences face off -- an opportunity we won't get again until the NCAA tournament in December.

Here are the matches to mark on your calendar during the first month of the 2017 NCAA Division I women's volleyball season.

Minnesota vs. North Carolina

ACC/Big Ten Challenge | Madison, Wisconsin
August 25, 4:30 PM CT

The Gophers, who have been to the Final Four the last two seasons, are kicking off their 2017 campaign versus ACC-favorite North Carolina. The Tar Heels had a fantastic 2016, taking down Penn State and Wisconsin in preseason, and this year, they'll face Minnesota AND Wisconsin at the ACC/Big Ten Challenge on opening weekend.


USA Today Sports

Nebraska vs. Oregon

Vert Challenge | Gainesville, Florida
August 25, 5 PM ET

The Vert Challenge has been the premier preseason volleyball tournament for the past three years, bringing together Big 12 powerhouse Texas, four-time national champion Nebraska, West Coast challenger Oregon, and East Coast leader Florida. Whoever can collect wins at this event will benefit greatly in the first rankings of the season, and this big-time battle will open up the action in Gainesville.

Texas vs. Florida

Vert Challenge | Gainesville, Florida
August 25, 7 PM ET

Right after the Nebraska/Oregon face-off, 2016 national runner-up Texas will take on senior-laden Florida. Expect a slug-fest, with Florida's big blockers Rhamat Alhassan and Rachael Kramer seeking to shut down Texas' lights out pin hitters.


Florida Athletics/Jim Burgess

Creighton vs. Washington

Washington Tournament | Seattle, Washington
August 26, 7 PM PT

Washington was picked as the top preseason team in the Pac-12 by the conference's coaches and is the No. 3 team in the nation. This match versus 2016 NCAA regional finalist Creighton will be best opportunity in preseason to gauge just how good this Washington team is.

Ohio State vs. BYU

BYU Invitational | Provo, Utah
August 26, 7:30 PM MT

The final match of the BYU Invitational, this is the one Cougar and Buckeye fans alike will be looking forward to. These two teams played each other for the first time in over 10 years last fall, with BYU taking the victory in five sets in Columbus. The Buckeyes will be looking for redemption, and their first-ever victory over the Cougars, but it will a uphill battle inside what will no doubt be a packed Smith Fieldhouse.


USA Today Sports

BYU vs. Missouri

Boise State Invitational | Boise, Idaho
September 1, 7:30 PM MT

BYU's challenging preseason slate continues when it travels to Boise for the Boise State Invitational. There, the Cougars will face Missouri, which ranked 19th in the preseason AVCA Poll. Mizzou won its second SEC Championship in four seasons and earned a spot in its 13th NCAA tournament field since 2000.

Stanford vs. Penn State

Texas A&M Tournament | College Station, Texas
September 1, 4:30 PM CT

This is the first of two times Big Ten favorite Penn State and reigning national champion Stanford will faceoff in the 2017 preseason, and both matches will be played in neutral locations. With seven national championships each, these are the two most decorated women's volleyball programs of all time, with Penn State holding a slight head-to-head advantage 10-9.


USA Today Sports

Florida vs. North Carolina

SEC vs. ACC Challenge at the Puerto Rico Classic | Bayamon, Puerto Rico
September 3, 8:30 PM ET

Florida, UNC, Auburn, and NC State will make the journey to Puerto Rico in the second week of the season to face off in the SEC vs. ACC Challenge. The matchup between No. 6 Florida and No. 12 North Carolina will be the highlight of the event and should have the crowd inside Coliseo Rubén Rodríguez on their feet.

Kentucky @ Kansas

Lawrence, Kansas
September 4, 1 PM CT

No. 11 Kansas will be Texas' top challenger in the Big 12, and No. 14 Kentucky came within a point of tying Florida for the top spot in the SEC's preseason coaches poll. These two programs top the list women's volleyball programs on the rise, and this match will be Kansas' first big test of the season, before the Jayhawks take on Purdue and Creighton the following weekend.

UCLA @ Nebraska

Lincoln, Nebraska
September 8, 8 PM CT
September 9, 7 PM CT

Youthful UCLA will take on Midwestern royalty Nebraska in a double-header in early September. Although UCLA will be used to being on the road after competing in tournaments in Honolulu and New Mexico, and the Bruins' match versus Hawaii should be a good warm-up for playing Nebraska at home in a packed Devaney Center.


USA Today Sports

Florida State @ Florida

Gainesville, Florida
September 12, 6 PM ET

Other than a trip to the SEC vs. ACC Challenge in Puerto Rico, September 2-3, the preseason is all about staying home and breaking in the recently renovated Exactech Arena at the Stephen C. O'Connell Center. This in-state rivalry match comes midweek between the Active Ankle Challenge and the Gator Invitational. FSU knocked Florida out of the 2016 NCAA tournament in a dramatic five-set come-from-behind upset, so there's a lot of pride hanging on this rematch.

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