IRVING, Texas – Baylor volleyball seniors Lauren Harrison and Kara McGhee have been named to the 2022 Preseason All-Big 12 Team with Averi Carlson named Preseason Freshman of the Year, as voted by the league’s head coaches and announced Wednesday by the conference office.
This marks the fifth-consecutive year that the Bears have had at least two preseason all-conference members.
“We have a lot of incredible freshmen this season and our returners are strong and determined,” said eighth-year head coach Ryan McGuyre. “Our chemistry is already very fun and exciting. Averi, Lauren, and Kara are sure to make an incredible impact. They are all loved immensely by their teammates. We can be sure to see many more Baylor athletes win awards and make significant contributions as well. I’m looking forward to the growth of this young team.”
Harrison was unanimously selected to the preseason team following a stellar junior season that earned her Honorable Mention All-Region honors and had her finish 16th in the conference for kills per set (2.65). The Stone Mountain, Ga., native also was a 2021 All-Big 12 First Team selection. McGhee is also coming off a successful junior season, finishing it off as the No. 5 player in the conference for blocks per set at 1.17 while also being ranked 70th in the nation. The San Antonio native led the team in blocks with a grand total of 89 for the season, 14 of them being solo, the most on the squad.
Carlson is Baylor’s first Preseason Freshman of the Year in program history. A native of Lucas, Texas, Carlson was named 2021 Gatorade National and Texas Player of the Year and was an early-enrollee at Baylor, playing in spring matches for the Bears. She is just the third BU player to earn a preseason award overall for the program and came in as the highest-ranked recruit for the Bears, ranked No. 4 by PrepVolleyball.com. The top setter of the 2022 class, Carlson won three-straight state championships with Lovejoy High School and finished her career with 4,416 assists (9 assists/set), 1,121 digs, 479 kills and 206 aces.
