Big 12 coaches pick Texas
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By the Lincoln Journal Star
It’s unanimous.
Big 12 volleyball coaches, voting in their annual preseason poll, agreed that Nebraska is not the favorite to win the conference’s regular-season title.
Instead, it was Texas which claimed all 10 possible first-place votes — coaches are not allowed to vote for thier own team — to earn the nod as the league’s top team entering the season.
The Longhorns, who boast four All-Americans among five returning starters, shared the league title with Nebraska a year ago.
The Huskers, meanwhile, lost four All-Americans off last year’s team.
Nebraska has been the preseason pick to win the league every year since 1997. (Texas was favored in 1996, the league’s initial season.) The only times Nebraska hasn’t won at least a share of the title were 1997 and 2003.
Kansas State, the recipient of Texas coach Jerritt Elliott’s first-place vote, finished third in this year’s preseason poll, one spot behind Nebraska. Rounding out the top five were Texas A&M and Missouri.
Iowa State, which reached the Sweet 16 last season, was sixth.
The coaches also named their preseason all-conference team, a list headlined by preseason co-players of the year Jordan Larson of Nebraska and Juliann Faucette of Texas.
Junior middle blocker Kori Cooper was the lone other Husker selected to the all-conference team. Texas had a total of four picks.
A fifth Longhorn, middle blocker Rachael Adams, was named the league’s preseason freshman of the year.
Sydney Anderson, Nebraska’s sophomore setter, was tabbed preseason newcomer of the year.
— Todd Henrichs
Big 12 volleyball
Preseason coaches' poll
1. Texas (10)
2. Nebraska
3. Kansas State (1)
4. Texas A&M
5. Missouri
6. Iowa State
7. Colorado
8. Baylor
9. Oklahoma
10. Kansas
11. Texas Tech
Preseason all-conference team
S Taylor Barnes, Baylor, jr.
MB Anna Breyfogle, Baylor, jr.
S Kaylee Manns, Iowa State, jr.
MB Natalie Uhart, Kansas, sr.
MB Megan Farr, Kansas State, sr.
OH Rita Lilliom, Kansas State, sr.
OH Nataly Korobkova, Kansas State, sr.
MB Weiwen Wang, Missouri, so.
MB Kori Cooper, Nebraska, jr.
OH Jordan Larson, Nebraska, sr.
MB Francie Ekwerekwu, Oklahoma, so.
S Ashley Engle, Texas, jr.
OH Juliann Faucette, Texas, so.
OH Destinee Hooker, Texas, jr.
MB Lauren Paolini, Texas, sr.
OH Sarah Ammerman, Texas A&M, jr.
OH Mary Batis, Texas A&M, jr.
Co-players of the year — Jordan Larson, Nebraska, and Juliann Faucette, Texas.
Newcomer of the year — Syndey Anderson, Nebraska
Freshman of the year — Rachael Adams, Texas
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