Baylor VB Heads to Minnesota for Big Ten/Big 12 Challenge

[Allen, Madelon]

BU VB MEDIA MATERIALS FOLDER<https://baylor.box.com/s/69uadxyf8kd8n6jjvx8okg8lvl7f7e1a>

BAYLOR ATHLETICS COMMUNICATIONS – Aug. 24, 2023

Baylor VB Heads to Minnesota for Big Ten/Big 12 Challenge
Bears face Wisconsin on Friday and Minnesota on Saturday

For more information contact: Madelon Allen; 254-252-7168, madelon_allen at baylor.edu<mailto:madelon_allen at baylor.edu>


MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – The 15th-ranked Baylor volleyball squad starts its 2023 season on the road with the third installment of the Big Ten/Big 12 Challenge on Friday when the Bears face second-ranked Wisconsin, then BU will play No. 7 Minnesota on Saturday.



Both matches will be broadcast on the Big Ten Network. The match with the Badgers begins at 4:30 p.m. CT, while the match with the Golden Gophers is slated for 7 p.m. CT. All matches will be played in the Maturi Pavilion in Minneapolis, Minn.



Overall, the Bears are 23-22 in season openers and 13-8 when starting on neutral ground. Baylor has opened its season on the road for the last five seasons.



BU split the Big Ten/Big 12 Challenge in the first two years, winning against Minnesota in 2021 and against Wisconsin in 2022.  This year, there is a new coach on the block, with Minnesota tapping Washington’s Keegan Cook for the head job. In his tenure, Ryan McGuyre is 3-2 against Wisconsin and 1-2 against Minnesota.



Heading into their sophomore season, Baylor’s Averi Carlson and Allie Sczech were both named Preseason All-Big 12 while Kyndal Stowers was tabbed Big 12 Preseason Freshman of the Year. BU was picked to finish third in the conference behind Texas and BYU.



In the AVCA/Teraflex Preseason Coaches Poll, the Bears have eight opponents ranked and four others receiving votes.



BU closed its preseason with a 3-1 exhibition match win against Texas A&M on August 19th, with Stowers collecting 24 kills, Lauren Briseño had 15 digs, Carlson with 51 assists and five blocks, while Sczech and Manuela Bibinbe each had four.



There are no seniors on the squad, a first for McGuyre and the first time since 2004 for the Baylor program. The freshman class is made up of six student-athletes, with three ranked in the top-25. Bibinbe is a JUCO transfer from Missouri State West Plains, originally from Cameroon. The class as a whole was ranked No. 7 by PrepVolleyball.com.



To stay up to date all year long on all things Baylor volleyball, follow the team on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram: @BaylorVBall.



- BaylorBears<http://www.BaylorBears>.com -





__________________________________

Madelon Allen | Associate Director of Athletics Communications
VB, A&T, BaylorBears.com
Department of Athletics | Baylor University
C: 254-252-7168

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