WACO, Texas – Sophomore setter Taylor Barnes was selected to the preseason All-Big 12 team as voted on by the league’s 11 head coaches it was announced on Tuesday. The Lady Bears were picked to finish eighth in the conference standings.

Barnes (Arlington, Texas) started all 33 matches for Baylor as a true freshman. In her rookie campaign, Barnes recorded 1,353 set assists on the season, the fifth-highest single season total in Baylor history. She led the Big 12 with 61 service aces, including a Baylor and Big 12 record 11 aces against Missouri. Barnes recorded triple-doubles against Kansas State (11 kills-52 assists-15 digs) and Missouri (10 kills-61 assists-13 digs), accounting for the only two triple-doubles in Big 12 play.

Nebraska was picked to win the conference, receiving all 10 first-place votes. The Huskers also placed a Big 12 record five players on the preseason All-Big 12 team. Texas had three players selected to the all-conference team, while Iowa State and Missouri each had two players selected. One player from Colorado was voted to the preseason all-league squad.

Baylor begins its fall workouts on Thursday with a morning and afternoon practice scheduled. The Lady Bears open the season on August 24 at the University at Buffalo Classic. Baylor returns home on August 31 as the Lady Bears host the Clarion Invitational in their home opener.

PRESEASON COACHES POLL

Rank Team (First-place Votes) Points

1. Nebraska (10) 100

2. Texas (1) 91

3. Missouri 68

4. Texas A&M 66

5. Colorado 62

6. Iowa State 57

7. Kansas State 54

8. Baylor 42

9. Oklahoma 31

10. Kansas 23

11. Texas Tech 11

Preseason Player of the Year: Sarah Pavan, Nebraska, RS, Sr., 6-5, Kitchener, Ontario/Forest Heights Collegiate Institute

Preseason Newcomer of the Year: Nataly Korobkova, Kansas State Jr., OH, 6-3, Krasnoyarsk, Russia/State Siberian Technological

Preseason Freshman of the Year: Juliann Faucette, Texas, OH, 6-2, San Diego, Calif./Westview

PRESEASON ALL-BIG 12 TEAM

Name, School Pos. Cl. Ht. Hometown/Previous School

Taylor Barnes, Baylor S So. 5-11 Arlington, Texas/Martin

Amber Sutherland, Colorado OH Sr. 5-10 Glenwood Springs, Colo./Glenwood Springs

Erin Boeve, Iowa State OH/RS Sr. 6-2 Steen, Minn./Hills-Beaver Creek

Kaylee Manns, Iowa State S So. 5-10 Topeka, Kan./Washburn Rural

Tatum Ailes, Missouri L Sr. 5-6 Bellevue, Neb./Bellevue West

Na Yang, Missouri OH Sr. 6-3 Shan Dong, China/Shan Dong Sports

Rachel Holloway, Nebraska S So. 5-10 Franklin, Tenn./Smoky Hill (Colo.)

Christina Houghtelling, Nebraska OH Sr. 6-2 Cambridge, Neb./Cambridge

Jordan Larson, Nebraska OH Jr. 6-2 Hooper, Neb./Logan View

Sarah Pavan, Nebraska RS Sr. 6-5 Kitchener, Ontario/Forest Heights Collegiate Institute

Tracy Stalls, Nebraska MB Sr. 6-3 Denver, Colo./Lakewood

Ashley Engle, Texas S/RS So. 6-3 Yorba Linda, Calif./Esperanza

Destinee Hooker, Texas OH So. 6-4 San Antonio, Texas/Southwest

Michelle Moriarty, Texas S Sr. 5-10 Houston, Texas/Stratford