Despite the roster losses from graduations and transfers, Tennessee volleyball is reloading for 2013. The recruits head coach Rob Patrick and his staff have brought in have been ranked the #17 class in the nation this year by PrepVolleyball.com. “This group should see playing time and gain valuable match experience immediately upon their arrival on Rocky Top. With three of the five newcomers appearing on the PrepVolleyball.com Senior Aces list along with a high school honorable mention All-American, this group comes in with the experience level necessary to make an immediate impact.”

The team just barely missed out on having the top class in the conference, with Arkansas sneaking ahead of them at #16. Other SEC teams include #18 Missouri, #24 Kentucky, and #27 Florida. Auburn, LSU, Mississippi, Mississippi State, and Texas A&M earned Highest Honorable Mention accolades, while Alabama and South Carolina were named to the High Honorable Mention list. Also of note, four of the teams Tennessee players transferred to also appear on the list: Nebraska, Texas, and Pepperdine in the top 10, and Arizona State just behind at #13. Since transferring players weren’t figured into the rankings, those teams probably have an even better class than the rankings might indicate.

The Lady Vols have been a fixture in the recruiting class rankings, having placed on all but one of the lists since PrepVolleyball began them in 2003.

UT RECRUITING CLASS RANKINGS
2013	#17
2012	High HM
2011	#8
2010	#4
2009	High HM
2008	#13
2007	#24
2006	#8
2005	#30
2004	NR
2003	#24

UPDATE: Tennessee has a lot more info.