The 2018 women’s season begins in less than two weeks now, and after releasing our Way-Too-Early 2018 VolleyMob Top 25 Power Rankings back in June, we’ve updated the list to get set for opening week. With that said, we will be releasing teams five at a time with a full list including honorable mention picks coming on Friday for our official 2018 Preseason Top 25.

1. STANFORD CARDINAL

2017 Finish/Rank: Final Four, #4 in final VM Top 25

Final Four, #4 in final VM Top 25 2017 Record: 30-4 (19-1, Pac-12)

30-4 (19-1, Pac-12) Returning Letterwinners/Starters (at least half of matches): 14/5 + Libero

Incoming Freshmen (AVCA All-Americans)/Redshirts/Transfers: 2 (1)/0/0

Key Returners: OH Kathryn Plummer (2017 AVCA Player of the Year, Two-time AVCA First-Team AA), S Jenna Gray (2017 AVCA First-Team AA), L Morgan Hentz (2017 AVCA First-Team AA), MB Audriana Fitzmorris (2017 AVCA Second-Team AA), MB Tami Alade (2017 AVCA All-America HM), OH Meghan McClure (2017 Pac-12 Freshman Team)

OH (2017 AVCA Player of the Year, Two-time AVCA First-Team AA), S (2017 AVCA First-Team AA), L (2017 AVCA First-Team AA), MB (2017 AVCA Second-Team AA), MB (2017 AVCA All-America HM), OH (2017 Pac-12 Freshman Team) Key Losses: RS Merete Lutz (Four-time AVCA Second/Third-Team AA)

RS (Four-time AVCA Second/Third-Team AA) Key Additions: MB Holly Campbell (UA First-Team AA)

MB (UA First-Team AA) Bottom Line: Stanford will have to overcome the loss of Lutz, who was their best attacker in the Final Four loss to Florida, but even then Lutz started in 16 matches with Kate Formico as a DS starting 14. They also have an incredible amount back with experience now playing in two Final Fours and winning a title that reaches to both starters and backups returning to the fold. In 2015 Nebraska won it all but lost in the Final Four in 2016 before winning it all this year. The Cardinal have followed the first two years of that path and should have a great chance to repeat as the soon-to-be junior class of Plummer-Gray-Hentz may represent the best player in the country at each position. Two talented middles add to it as well in Alade and Fitzmorris with a third on the way in 6’4″ true freshman Holly Campbell.

2. MINNESOTA GOLDEN GOPHERS

3. NEBRASKA CORNHUSKERS

4. WISCONSIN BADGERS

2017 Finish/Rank: Sweet 16, #14 in final VM Top 25

Sweet 16, #14 in final VM Top 25 2017 Record: 22-10 (11-9 Big Ten)

22-10 (11-9 Big Ten) Returning Letterwinners/Starters (at least half of matches): 12/4+ Libero

Incoming Freshmen (AVCA All-Americans)/Redshirts/Transfers: 1 (0)/3/0

Key Returners: MB Dana Rettke (2017 AVCA First-Team AA, Freshman of the Year), S Sydney Hilley (2017 AVCA All-America HM), MB Tionna Williams (2017 AVCA All-America HM)

MB (2017 AVCA First-Team AA, Freshman of the Year), S (2017 AVCA All-America HM), MB (2017 AVCA All-America HM) Key Losses: None with award recognition

None with award recognition Key Additions: OH Molly Haggerty (Medical Redshirt in 2017; 2016 AVCA Third-Team AA), OH Mariah Whalen (Medical Redshirt in 2017; 2016 UA Third-Team AA), MB Danielle Hart (Redshirted in 2017; #17 PrepVolleyball Recruit for 2016), MB/RS Julia Wohlert (#47 PrepVolleyball Recruit)

OH (Medical Redshirt in 2017; 2016 AVCA Third-Team AA), OH (Medical Redshirt in 2017; 2016 UA Third-Team AA), MB (Redshirted in 2017; #17 PrepVolleyball Recruit for 2016), MB/RS (#47 PrepVolleyball Recruit) Bottom Line: Wisconsin brings back a strong four starters plus the libero, but still has to overcome some losses as they bid farewell to a pair of solid players in Lauryn Gillis and Kelli Bates. However, with seven freshmen and five sophomores in 2017, the Badgers will be much more experienced and have a Player of the Year candidate in Rettke at the forefront. The wild card in it all is the return of Molly Haggerty, who was a 2016 AVCA All-America Third Team selection and the Big Ten Freshman of the Year before missing 2017 with a back injury. The group is still relatively young with just one senior in Tionna Williams, but they’re all experienced in terms of playing with each other. Madison Duello and Grace Loberg, who surged late in the season, should help round out what should be one of the more complete teams in the country and could easily win the Big Ten.

5. BYU COUGARS