2017 NCAA Top 10 Countdown: No. 1 Texas

Some big-time returners and one of the nation’s top recruiting classes combine to make Texas the most dangerous team in the country.

Last Season

27-5, 14-2 Big 12
NCAA championship runner-up
.307 team hitting percentage (No. 3 nationally)

The Players

Returning Stars

Yaasmeen Bedart-Ghani | 6-foot-4 | Junior | Opposite/Outside Hitter
Morgan Johnson | 6-3 | Junior | Middle Blocker
Cat McCoy | 5-7 | Senior | Libero
Chiaka Ogbogu | 6-2 | Senior | Middle Blocker
Ebony Nwanebu | 6-4 | Senior | Opposite
Micaya White | 6-1 | Sophomore | Outside Hitter

Biggest Losses

Chloe Collins | 5-7 | Setter
Nicole Dalton | 6-2 | Setter/Defensive Specialist
Paulina Prieto-Cerame | 6-2 | Outside Hitter

The Newcomers

Brionne Butler | 6-4 | Freshman | Middle Blocker
Ashley Shook | 6-1 | Freshman | Setter
Lexi Sun | 6-2 | Freshman | Outside Hitter
Olivia Zelon | 5-6 | Freshman | Libero

Preseason Matches to Watch

Vert Challenge | Gainesville, Florida
8/25 @ Florida
8/26 vs. Oregon

American Campus Classic | Austin, Texas
9/8 vs. Minnesota

Outlook

Texas returns plenty of firepower this fall with Ebony Nwanebu, Micaya White, and Chiaka Ogbogu, in addition to bringing in one of the best recruiting classes in the country. That group includes Gatorade Player of the Year Lexi Sun, high-flying middle blocker Brionne Butler, and Sports Performance setter extraordinaire Ashley Shook.

The biggest challenge for the Longhorns -- who finished runners-up at the 2016 NCAA Championship -- will be to fill the shoes of three-year starting setter Chloe Collins. Shook is billed as one of the best setters in her class, but the speed of the college game will no doubt take some getting used to.

Prediction

Texas probably won’t be perfect out of the gates, but don’t be surprised to see the Longhorns in Kansas City come December. This team has lost in the Final Four every year since it won the title in 2012, and this senior-heavy group will be gunning for the trophy.

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