The 2018 NCAA women’s volleyball season is upon us. Get ready to spend the next few weekends getting to know the newcomers on top teams and figuring out which squads have a chance to rise to the top come December. 

Here are our top picks for the best matches to watch between Friday and the start of conference action in September. (Matches are listed in chronological order.)

No. 9 Wisconsin vs. North Carolina 

August 24 | 4:30 PM CT

Watch right here on FloVolleyball.

Opinions differ on exactly how good Wisconsin will be this year. The Big Ten coaches picked the Badgers second in the conference preseason poll, but Wisconsin ranked ninth in the national AVCA preseason top 25l, behind Big Ten foes Nebraska, Minnesota and Penn State. 

This season opener versus North Carolina will be a great opportunity to get a feel for the Badgers, who return 6-8 middle and reigning Big Ten Freshman of the Year Dana Rettke and welcome a 6-7 freshman middle/opposite in Julia Wohlert. Six-foot-one outside Mariah Whalen and 6-4 middle Danielle Hart will also be eligible to make their collegiate debuts after redshirting in 2017.

Carolina suffered from a plague of injuries last season and many of its top players have since transferred, so this match will showcase a lot of new faces, including setter Hunter Atherton, a Nebraska transfer. 

No. 4 Minnesota vs. Florida State

August 24 | 7 PM CT

Watch right here on FloVolleyball.

If you’re like us, you can’t wait to see Minnesota’s high-flying First Team All-American opposite Stephanie Samedy back in action. As always, now-senior setter Samantha Seliger Swenson will put on a show as she runs the offense and Minnesota looks to live up to its No. 4 AVCA preseason ranking and No. 3 Big Ten preseason coaches poll spot.

On Florida State’s side, keep an eye on the Seminoles one-two punch of returning senior outside Christina Ambrose and West Virginia transfer Payton Caffrey, as well as sophomore middle Taryn Knuth, FSU’s top returning offensive contributor.

No. 5 Kentucky vs. No. 10 USC

August 24 | 8:30 PM CT

With stars on each side, this match will be an absolute battle. The SEC favorites bring a pair of dangerous outside hitters in Leah Edmond and Avery Skinner, not to mention Madison Lilley, one of the best setters in country, all three of whom were named Preseason All-SEC.

For USC, the key is outside hitter Khalia Lanier and opposite Brittany Abercrombie. First Team All-American Lanier had 511 kills, while Third-Teamer Abercrombie smashed an also-incredible 426 in 2017. This match also marks the competition debut of new USC head coach Brent Crouch.

No. 3 Texas vs. No. 7 Florida

August 25 | 3:30 PM CT

Texas and Florida will both test out some new talent at the Vert Challenge, a four-year series between Nebraska, Oregon, Texas, and Florida, hosted this year at Nebraska. Texas is without starting outside hitter Lexi Sun, who transferred to Nebraska, but the Longhorns benefit from the early high school graduation of freshman outside Logan Eggleston, who recently earned the MVP honor at the NORCECA U20 Continental Championship. 

Florida graduated an incredibly decorated group of players at the end of last year, but they’ve still got height in 6-8 middle blocker Rachael Kramer and veteran setting from redshirt senior Allie Monserez, and the Gators reload with firepower from the No. 1 recruit in the country, Thayer Hall. 

No. 2 Nebraska vs. No. 18 Oregon

August 25 | 6 PM CT

Watch right here on FloVolleyball.

Nebraska won the national championship in December. The Huskers enter 2018 without setter Kelly Hunter, middle Briana Holman, and outside Annika Albrecht, but head coach John Cook brings in one of the top recruiting classes in the country. The youngsters will be put to the test at the Vert Challenge in front of their home crowd decked out in Husker scarlet. 

Oregon’s group of freshmen equals, if not surpasses, Nebraska’s, featuring three Under Armour All-Americans and one of the top setters in the class. After suffering from injuries for most of 2017, the Ducks are now so deep head coach Matt Ulmer detailed the difficult lineup decisions he’ll have to make ahead of opening weekend.

No.1 Stanford vs. No. 8 BYU 

August 31 | 6 PM CT

By all accounts, Stanford just keeps getting better. The 2016 national champion brings back reigning AVCA National Player of the Year Kathryn Plummer, one of the country’s top liberos in Morgan Hentz, and athletic setter Jenna Gray, all three of whom are still only juniors and continuing to improve with experience. Competition for the one open starting spot vacated by graduated opposite Merete Lutz will be fierce. 

BYU starts the season up one spot in the rankings from where it finished in 2017. Middle blocker Kennedy Eschenberg capped her first collegiate season earning the WCC Freshman of the Year award, and outside hitter Roni Jones-Perry ranked fifth in the NCAA in kills in 2017. In the back court, you’ve got tenacious defender Mary Lake. We’re also looking forward to seeing First Team Under Armour All-American Heather Gneiting compete at the college level for the first time.

No. 12 Illinois vs. No. 15 Colorado 

August 31 | 5 PM PT

The pieces have been slowly coming together for Illinois the past few years. In 2016, the Fighting Illini went 17-14 and then improved to 23-11 last year. Super setter Jordyn Poulter and the nation’s reigning top blocker Ali Bastianelli are now seniors and ready to help this team reach its potential. 

Colorado will be Illinois’ first ranked opponent of the season. The Buffs earned their highest-ever Preseason Pac-12 ranking, coming in fifth after going 24-10 last year. Four starters return for Colorado, including preseason All-Pac-12 seniors middle blocker Naghede Abu and outside Alexa Smith.

No. 11 UCLA vs. No. 14 San Diego

September 2 | 5 PM PT

Madeleine Gates and Mac May lead the No. 11-ranked UCLA team, which also features 6-5 outside Alexis Light and 6-4 middle Emily Ryan making their collegiate debuts after redshirting in 2017. Add to that seven incoming true freshmen, including 6-7 middle Tristin Savage. As a whole, UCLA has four players taller than 6-4 and eight over 6-foot.

For their part, the Toreros bring in a nationally ranked recruiting class and add Penn State transfer Cami May. Kaity Edwards and Addie Picha got Preseason All-WCC nods and the conference coaches picked the team to finish second behind BYU. 

No. 1 Stanford vs. No. 6 Penn State

September 7 | 12 PM CT

September 7 marks a showdown between No. 1 Stanford and the team with the No. 1-ranked recruiting class in the country. This match will be a tough test for Penn State’s youthful squad with eight freshmen and transfers Taylor Leath (UNC) and Bayleigh Hoffman (ULM).

Penn State leads the series between the two most decorated programs in college volleyball 12-9, but this year Stanford plays the role of favorite, with a much more experienced roster and the No. 1 preseason ranking.

No. 1 Stanford vs. No. 3 Texas

September 11 & 14 | 9 PM CT & 8 PM CT

This double header has the No. 1 and No. 3 teams in the country facing off in Palo Alto and then three days later running it back in Austin. Stanford knocked Texas out of the 2017 NCAA tournament and prevented the Longhorns from making the national semifinals for the first time since 2011, so Texas should be fired up to prove itself versus the top-ranked team in the country--almost as fired up as fans of college volleyball in California and Texas are to witness this battle.