Teams are in order of preseason selections. Stats do not include Wednesday's matches.
Texas Longhorns (5-0)
Coach: Jerritt Elliott, ninth season, 185-62
2008: 29-4, 18-2 Big 12 (co-champs); NCAA semifinalist
Ranking: No. 2
Key win: 3-1 over No. 4 Hawaii
Key loss: None
Key players: 6-foot-4 sr. OH Destinee Hooker (leads Big 12 in kills per set at 4.42) and 6-3 sr. S/RS Ashley Engle, All-Americans as juniors. 6-2 jr. OH Juliann Faucette, preseason all-Big 12.
Plays A&M: Sept. 30 at UT; Oct. 28 at A&M.
Note: Setter Michelle Kocher was the third straight Longhorn to win Big 12 freshman of the year honors.
Nebraska Cornhuskers (7-2)
Coach: John Cook, 10th season at Nebraska, 251-17.
2008: 31-3, 18-2 (co-champs); NCAA semifinalist.
Ranking: No. 8
Key win: 3-2 over No. 9 Minnesota
Key loss: 3-0 to No. 6 Michigan
Key players: 6-0 jr. S Sydney Anderson 6-0 jr. OH Tara Mueller, preseason all-Big 12
Plays A&M: Sept. 23 at A&M; Nov. 13 at Nebraska.
Note: Nebraska has lost only six of 160 Big 12 matches.
Iowa State (8-1)
Coach: Christy Johnson-Lynch, fifth season, 78-53
2008: 22-13, 11-9 (T-4th); NCAA quarterfinals.
Ranking: No. 10
Key win: 3-1 over Northern Iowa
Key loss: 3-1 to No. 9 Minnesota
Key players: 5-11 jr. OH Victoria Henson (3rd with 3.93 kps), 5-10 sr. S Kaylee Manns (2nd 12.2 assists per set) and 5-8 jr. L Ashley Mass (preseason all-Big 12)
Plays A&M: Oct. 14 at ISU; Nov. 11 at A&M
Note: ISU had only won 13 Big 12 matches before Johnson-Lynch took over four years ago.
Texas A&M Aggies (7-1)
Coach: Laurie Corbelli, 17th season, 343-158
2008: 16-14, 11-9 (T-4th)
Ranking: Receiving votes
Key win: 3-1 over Northern Iowa
Key loss: 3-1 to (RV) St. Mary's
Key players: 6-2 sr. OH Sarah Ammerman (2nd in kps at 4.16) and 6-0 sr. OH Mary Batis are both on preseason all-Big 12 team
Note: Playing three freshmen at middle blocker.
Baylor Lady Bears (11-0)
Coach: Jim Barnes, sixth season, 77-81
2008: 18-13, 9-11 (sixth)
Ranking: No. 24
Key win: 3-2 over (RV) Purdue
Key loss: None
Key players: 6-1 sr. MB Anna Brayfogle (leads Big 12 in hitting percentage (.449), second in blocks at 1.56 blocks per set) and 5-11 sr. S Taylor Barnes are both preseason all-Big 12.
Plays A&M: Oct. 10 at BU; Nov. 7 at A&M.
Note: Baylor is ranked for the first time since 2001.
Kansas State Wildcats (6-4)
Coach: Suzie Fritz, ninth season, 171-79
2008: 24-8; 14-6 (third); NCAA first round.
Ranking: Receiving votes
Key win: 3-2 over BYU
Key loss: 3-2 to (RV) Purdue
Key players: 6-1 sr. MB Kelsey Chipman (preseason all-Big 12)
Plays A&M: Oct. 7 at A&M; Nov. 4 at KSU.
Note: Played three top-20 teams and one receiving votes in nonconference
Oklahoma Sooners (7-2)
Coach: Santiago Restrepo, sixth season (81-71)
2008: 12-16, 8-12 (seventh)
Ranking: None
Key win: 3-0 over (RV) Rice
Key loss: 3-2 to North Carolina
Key players: 6-4 jr. MB Sarah Fruedenrich (1.19 bps); 5-7 fr. L Maria Fernanda (4.56 digs)
Plays A&M: Oct. 21 at A&M; Nov. 18 at OU.
Note: OU did not play a home nonconference match.
Missouri Tigers (7-3)
Coach: Wayne Kreklow
Last year: 13-17, 7-13 (T-8th)
Ranking: None
Key win: 3-1 vs. BYU
Key loss: 3-1 to Utah
Key players: 6-0 OH jr. Julianna Klein (3.21 kps), 6-1 OH jr. Paola Ampudia (preseason Big 12 newcomer of year)
Plays A&M: Sept. 26 at MU; Nov. 28 at A&M.
Note: Missouri only has six players 6-foot or taller.
Kansas Jayhawks (7-2)
Coach: Ray Bechard, 12th season (174-160)
Last year: 13-16, 7-13 (T-8th)
Ranking: None
Key win: 3-0 at Arkansas
Key loss: 3-1 vs. Fla. International
Key players: 5-10 soph. S Nicole Tate (3rd in aps at 10.81), 6-0 jr. OH Karina Garlington (4.0 pps)
Plays A&M: Oct. 3 at A&M; Oct. 31 at KU.
Note: Won 3-0 in back-to-back-to-back matches for first time since September 2005.
Colorado Buffaloes (5-4)
Coach: Liz Kritza, first season
Last year: 13-16, 7-13 (T-8th)
Ranking: None
Key win: 3-0 vs. Cal-Poly
Key loss: 3-0 to Northern Colorado
Key players: 5-11 soph. OH Becah Fogle (3.79 kps)
Plays A&M: Oct. 17 at A&M; Nov. 25 at CU.
Note: Kritza comes from Tulane, where she was 76-39.
Texas Tech Lady Raiders (2-7)
Coach: Trish Knight, first season
Last year: 5-26, 0-20 (11th)
Ranking: None
Key win: 3-1 vs. Gonzaga
Key loss: 0-3 at Texas State
Key players: 5-11 soph. S Karlyn Meyers (7.27 aps), 6-3 soph. OH Amanda Dowdy (3.4 kps, leads Big 12 with .5 aces per set)
Plays A&M: Sept. 19 at TT; Nov. 22 at A&M.
Note: Knight led Missouri State-West Plains to 10 straight NJCAA tournaments.
-- RICHARD CROOME
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