• Young Baylor volleyball squad begins 2022 with No. 16 national ranking

    Baylor volleyball celebrates a point

    When Baylor volleyball begins the 2022 season this weekend in the Big Ten/Big 12 Challenge, they’ll do so with a talented young team poised to build on a foundation of success under head coach Ryan McGuyre.

    On the heels of last year’s regional run, the Bears look to reload with numerous young players stepping into significant roles this season. Despite featuring only three players with more than two years experience in the program, the talented roster has already drawn the respect of their opponents and the volleyball world at large. Baylor begins the season ranked No. 16 nationally and picked by conference coaches to finish second in the Big 12, just seven points behind preseason favorite Texas.

    Returning stars Lauren Harrison and Kara McGhee will be focal points, with both earning spots on the preseason All-Big 12 team. They’ll be joined by the Preseason Big 12 Freshman of the Year, Averi Carlson. The highest ranked recruit in program history (No. 4 nationally by PrepVolleyball.com), Carlson is rated as the top setter in her class and has the added bonus of having spent extra time with the program after enrolling early at Baylor last spring.

    Now in his eighth season with the program, McGuyre has built the Bears into a national powerhouse, earning six straight postseason berths and finishing no worse than second in the Big 12 each of the last five years. That success draws not only talented recruits and top 25 rankings, but TV viewers as well. This year’s squad will play three nationally televised matches (Sept 28 at Iowa State, Oct. 5 vs. Oklahoma and October 30 vs. West Virginia).

    They begin the year with two matchups against top-five opponents in Wisconsin and Minnesota in the Big Ten/Big 12 Challenge in Fort Worth Aug. 26-27, then play three matches in California before their first home match at the Ferrell Center Sept. 8 vs. Colorado State. Season and single-game tickets are available now!

    Sic ’em, Baylor volleyball!