2017 NCAA Top 10 Countdown: No. 2 Stanford

Last year’s fantastic freshmen are now superb sophomores and Stanford will be on the hunt for a repeat with a new coach at the helm.

Last Season

27-7 overall, 15-5 Pac-12
NCAA Champion
3.36 blocks/set (#1 in nation)

The Players

Returning Stars

Audriana Fitzmorris | 6-foot-6 | Sophomore | Middle Blocker
Jenna Gray | 6-1 | Sophomore | Setter
Morgan Hentz | 5-9 | Sophomore | Libero
Merete Lutz | 6-8 | Redshirt Senior | Opposite
Kathryn Plummer | 6-6 | Sophomore | Outside Hitter/Opposite

Biggest Losses

Inky Ajanaku | 6-3 | Middle Blocker
Hayley Hodson | 6-3 | Outside Hitter
Kelsey Humphreys | 6-0 | Setter
Ivana Vanjak | 6-4 | Outside Hitter

The Newcomers

Kate Formico | 5-9 | Freshman | Defensive Specialist
Meghan McClure | 6-0 | Freshman | Outside Hitter
Blake Sharp | 5-11 | Freshman | Outside Hitter
Sidney Wilson | 6-0 | Freshman | Outside Hitter

Preseason Matches to Watch

Texas A&M Tournament | College Station, Texas
Sept. 1 vs. Penn State

Big Ten/Pac-12 Challenge | Champaign, Illinois
Sept. 8 @ Illinois

Outlook

It’s not easy to win back-to-back NCAA titles, even when you return most of your starting lineup. The biggest loss for Stanford is All-American middle Inky Ajanaku, who was not only the best blocker on the 2016 Cardinal team that led the country in blocks per set, but also the emotional leader.

To fill that hole, first-year head coach Kevin Hambly may have to rearrange his front row, but big hitters Kathryn Plummer and Merete Lutz are used to being asked to try out a new positions. Meghan McClure is probably the highest-profile hitter in the 2017 Stanford recruiting class, and depending on the configuration Hambly chooses we could see the CIF Southern Section Player of the Year earn a starting spot on this young and talented team.

Prediction

Stanford will be a force to be reckoned with in the Pac-12, and will even make a deep run into the NCAA tournament, but it’s going to be very challenging to recreate the magic the Stanford sophomore sensations experienced as freshmen.

Don't Miss a Beat

It's time to step up your game. Fill in the information below to get the best of FloVolleyball delivered directly to your inbox.

MUST SEE FloFilms

Lauren Carlini: Setting the Standard 

Watch full episode here.

The Program: Penn State

Watch Episode One here.

All In: USA Women's National Volleyball Team

Watch Episode One here.