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