We're counting down to the start of the 2017 NCAA beach volleyball season by previewing one of the nation's top programs every day leading up to opening weekend.

So far, we've highlighted Loyola Marymount, Georgia State, and Louisiana State, and Long Beach State, and today it's time to get to know the Wildcats of the University of Arizona. 

In Short

One more season remains for the impressive Witt twins at the University of Arizona. As a whole, the Wildcats will be looking to continue the rapid improvement the program has experience since forming a team in 2014.

Last Season

20-7 overall
Second in 2016 Pac-12 Championship
Sixth in Final 2016 AVCA Poll
Fifth at 2016 NCAA Beach Volleyball Championships

The Players

Returning Stars

Madison Witt | 6-0 | Senior | Glendale, Arizona
McKenna Witt | 5-11 | Senior | Glendale, Arizona
Samantha Manley | 5-10 | Sophomore | San Diego, California
Olivia Macdonald | 6-0 | Junior | Piopio, New Zealand
Mia Mason | 5-11 | Sophomore | Manhattan Beach, California
Hailey Devlin | 6-2 | Junior | San Diego, California

Key Newcomers

Natalie Anselmo | 5-6 | Freshman | Los Angeles, California
Brooke Burling | 5-10 | Freshman | Naperville, Illinois
Caroline Cordes | 5-11 | Freshman | Naperville, Illinois

Biggest Losses

Jianna Bonomi | 5-6 | Huntington Beach, California
Katarina Schulz | 6-1 | Phoenix, Arizona
Mackenzie Kleespies | 5-10 | Lincoln University, Pennsylvania
Kalei Mau | 6-1 | Kahalulu, Hawaii
Sara Pantovic | 6-0 | Kikinda, Serbia
Tyler Lucas | 5-9 | Aledo, Texas

Opening Weekend Matches

March 3

2 PM MT vs. Jacksonville
6 PM MT vs. Hawaii

March 4

11 AM MT vs. Arizona State

Outlook

All-American twins Madison and McKenna Witt will once again to star on the Arizona beach volleyball team for head coach Steve Walker. They went 24-4 during the 2016 season, and then gained a bit of international experience over the summer, competing in the World University Games, where they lost to USC's Sara Hughes and Kelly Claes in the gold-medal match.

The Wildcats beach squad also returns 2016 starters Samantha Manley, Olivia Macdonald, Mia Mason, and Hailey Devlin, in addition to bringing on a pair of AVCA High School Beach All-American freshman, Natalie Anselmo and Brooke Burling.

Los Angeles native Anselmo is the daughter of former AVP player John Anselmo and a USA Volleyball High Performance U17 bronze medalist. First Team All-American Burling hails from Naperville, Illinois, but her northern roots didn't stop her from becoming an AAU beach volleyball champion in 2014 and placing third at USAV HP championships in 2015.