1. Berkeley Prep: Sure, they have Stanford commit Sidney Brown, arguably the best player in the state, but the Buccaneers have so much more than just their star outside hitter. Setter Logan Weldon, middle blocker Addison Harden, outside hitter Maddie Raquet and co-captain Maddie Alberdi all return from a team that made the state finals a year ago. Berkeley Prep is far and away the best team in the Tampa Bay area.
2. Clearwater Central Catholic: With only four seniors graduating from last year's state semifinals team, the Marauders are loaded and ready for another run. Wake Forest commit and junior Katie Moore headlines the group, which also returns fellow rising juniors Shea Hamilton and Rachel Odell.
3. George Jenkins: Eagles head coach Lisa Bickerton has got to be smiling from ear to ear with the talent she has at her disposal. Jenkins surprised everyone last year by making the state semifinals, but there's no looking past them this year. Amanda Thiele, Kelly Germain, Kaitlin Boyd, Brooke Thompson, Tori Clark and the Scarpa sisters - Jessie and Sandy - will make sure of that.
4. Durant: A move to Class 7A should key the Cougars run to a district title. Good luck to all the area teams trying to stop outside hitters Victoria Fanning and Lexi Thompson - an Ole Miss commit - this season, you're going to need it.
5. Steinbrenner: The Warriors made the regional finals last year with a young group. That experience should help them in 2013, with players like Rachel Mathison, Avery Bradshaw and Casey McLean returning. Should be a 20-plus win upcoming for Steinbrenner.
6. Clearwater: With nine seniors, this Tornadoes group is ready to rain on everyone's parade in Pinellas County. The Reeves sisters - Samantha and Meghan - are a force to be reckoned with, and you can't forget about Allie Russell and digging-queen Caitlin Stoner. A very nice core that should win 20-plus games again.
7. Fivay: I believe the Falcons hype, and a lot of that has to do with the return of stud sisters Briannah Nemetz and Ashleigh Nemetz. They have help, too, in Courtney Costa and Jordyn Mattos. First-year head coach Nikki Pollock inherited a talented group.
8. Tampa Prep: Their star Katie Krueger is gone, but the Terrapins still have a nice young core returning. The new crop of talent includes their top two setters Ariana Mosley (352 assists in 2012) and Natalie Galdos (351 assists), libero Claire Blumenthal (254 digs), middle blocker Rachel Carr (63 blocks) and outside hitter Corey Perkins (185 kills). Their loss in the regional finals only made this team that much better.
9. Palm Harbor University: I'm scared of Naomi Mack, and Pinellas County should be, too. The Hurricanes lost a lot of big names from last year, but a Mack-led team should still be pretty good.
10. Lakewood Ranch: Last season paved the way for the Mustangs, who made their first state tournament appearance in program history. Head coach Perri Hankins has helped turn the program around, and now will lean on 6-foot senior Ashlyn Falahee to lead the way.