With the 2023 season rapidly approaching, the Division I Women's Volleyball Committee has already started to look ahead to 2024 and the next NCAA Tournament. The committee released its initial Top 10 ranking for the upcoming season, and there were some surprises in store.

Key Contenders

In addition to Texas A&M, there are several other teams that are expected to be in contention for the national championship in 2024. These include:

Louisville

The Cardinals are coming off a Final Four appearance in 2023, and they return a strong nucleus of players, including All-American Aiko Jones. Louisville is expected to be a major challenger to Texas A&M for the national title.

Pittsburgh

The Panthers have made back-to-back Elite Eight appearances, and they return All-American Kayla Lund in 2024. Pittsburgh is a well-rounded team with a lot of experience, and they should be considered a dark horse to make a run to the Final Four.

San Diego

The Toreros are coming off a Sweet 16 appearance, and they return a lot of talent, including All-American Katie Lukes. San Diego is a young team with a lot of potential, and they could be a surprise team in 2024.

Surprises in the Top 10

There were a few surprises in the committee's initial Top 10 ranking. One of the most notable was the inclusion of Nebraska at No. 2. The Huskers have not won an NCAA Tournament match since 2018, but they have a lot of talent on their roster, including All-American Madi Kubik. Nebraska will be a team to watch in 2024.

Another surprise was the absence of Florida in the Top 10. The Gators have won two national championships in the past five years, but they lost a lot of talent to graduation after the 2023 season. Florida will be a team to watch in 2024, but they will need to replace some key players.

Outlook for the 2024 Season

The 2024 DI Women's Volleyball season is shaping up to be one of the most competitive in recent memory. There are several teams that are capable of winning the national championship, and it should be a lot of fun to watch.

The committee will release its final Top 10 ranking in late October, and that will give us a better idea of who the favorites are for the national championship. But for now, the race is wide open.

Conclusion

The DI Women's Volleyball Committee Chair has released its initial Top 10 ranking for the 2024 season, and there were some surprises in store. Texas A&M is the defending national champion, and they are ranked No. 1 in the preseason poll. However, there are several other teams that are expected to be in contention for the title, including Louisville, Pittsburgh, and San Diego. The 2024 season shaping up to be one of the most competitive in recent memory, and it should be a lot of fun to watch.

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