Texas has gone to the championship tournament every year since 2001, making quarterfinals or better the past three seasons. The team graduated a number of its top playmakers from last year, including Callahan winner Cara Crouch and handler Amanda Berens. These are big shoes to fill, but Texas has built itself a solid program over the past five years and the team has the confidence and experience to perform well this year too. The team likely retains its psychological advantage over regional rivals and should defend its regional title. Watch for Lorig Hawkins to take the lead as one of the few seniors on the squad.

Despite Texas' recent dominance of the South region, Texas A&M is a team on the rise that could give Texas a run for its money. Withstanding its game against Texas in the finals, Texas A&M was largely unchallenged at 2005 Regionals and played close games against northeastern teams Brown, MIT, and Rutgers at the UPA Championships. This year, SkyU returns almost its entire roster and has made a commitment to traveling to more competitive tournaments. Despite graduating Christina Choffel, the team picked-up a valuable addition in April Neigut. As an indicator that this is a team to take seriously, SkyU went 3-2 in pool play at this fall's C.C.C. before losing in quarterfinals.

While Texas and Texas A&M may be the heavy hitters of the region this season, there is a lot of parity among the next tier and one of those teams could prove to be a spoiler. Teams that should not be dismissed include Washington University, Kansas, Rice, and Oklahoma. Washington University made it to the game-to-go at Regionals last year and has been steadily building its program. Kansas beat WashU in a barn-burner during pool play at Regionals 2005 and made it to the semis of the frontdoor bracket before losing in the backdoor. Rice was the team that eliminated Kansas from Regionals last season, although that was the team's only win of the tournament. Unfortunately, after Oklahoma took second in its pool on Saturday of Regionals, the team forfeited its games once it was knocked down to the backdoor bracket. Over the past few seasons, Texas has worked hard to earn the respect the region deserved. Hopefully the hard work that so many players put in has established traditions that will ensure the trend of competitive teams emerging from the South will continue.