The Big 12 Conference has announced the 2017 Preseason All-Big 12 Volleyball team and individual awards, as voted on by league coaches.
The preseason team, made up of 13 student-athletes across all nine league institutions, is led by 2016 Big 12 Champion Kansas and the 2016 national runner-up Texas with three honorees apiece. Six members were chosen unanimously: Katie Staiger (BU), 2016 Big 12 Setter of the Year Ainise Havili (KU), 2016 Big 12 Player of the Year Kelsie Payne (KU), Madison Rigdon (KU), Ebony Nwanebu (UT) and 2016 Big 12 Freshman of the Year Micaya White (UT).
Payne was awarded her second straight Preseason Player of the Year nod. Payne led the Jayhawks to the Big 12 title a year ago and is the only KU student-athlete to recieve the honor. During 2016 conference action, she averaged 4.07 kills per set and 4.77 points per set.
Texas outside hitter Lexi Sun recorded Preseason Freshman of the Year, marking the 10th Longhorn to earn the title.
The 2017 Big 12 volleyball preseason poll will be announced on Thursday, August 3. The season starts on Friday, August 25, with the first conference match scheduled for Wednesday, September 20.
PRESEASON AWARDS
Preseason Player of the Year: Kelsie Payne, Kansas, Sr., RS, Austin, Texas
Preseason Freshman of the Year: Lexi Sun, Texas, Fr., OH, Solana Beach, Calif.
PRESEASON TEAM
| Name |
School |
Pos. |
Ht. |
Class |
Hometown |
| Katie Staiger^* |
Baylor |
OH |
6-1 |
Sr. |
Lewisville, Texas |
| Jess Schaben* |
Iowa State |
OH |
6-2 |
Jr. |
Defiance, Iowa |
| Ainise Havili^* |
Kansas |
S |
5-10 |
Sr. |
Fort Worth, Texas |
| Kelsie Payne^* |
Kansas |
RS |
6-3 |
Sr. |
Austin, Texas |
| Madison Rigdon^* |
Kansas |
OH |
6-0 |
Sr. |
Pflugerville, Texas |
| Bryna Vogel |
Kansas State |
OPP |
6-0 |
Sr. |
Clearwater, Kan. |
| Madison Drescher |
Oklahoma |
OH |
6-2 |
Jr. |
Southlake, Texas |
| Anna Walsh |
TCU |
MB |
6-2 |
Jr. |
Grapevine, Texas |
| Ebony Nwanebu^* |
Texas |
OH |
6-4 |
Sr. |
Fairview, Texas |
| Chiaka Ogbogu |
Texas |
MB |
6-2 |
Sr. |
Coppell, Texas |
| Micaya White^* |
Texas |
OH |
6-1 |
So. |
Frisco, Texas |
| Reyn Akiu~ |
Texas Tech |
L/DS |
5-2 |
Jr. |
Honolulu, Hawaii |
| Payton Caffrey* |
West Virginia |
OH |
6-0 |
So. |
Chuluota, Fla. |
^ - Unanimous Selection
* - 2016 All-Big 12 First Team honoree
~ - 2016 All-Big 12 Second Team honoree
Ties in voting created a 13-member team. Coaches were not allowed to vote for their own players.