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<b><span style="font-size:9.0pt;color:#242424">BAYLOR ATHLETICS COMMUNICATIONS – Jan. 21, 2025<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><b><span style="font-size:13.0pt;color:#242424">Baylor VB Adds Experienced Middle Blocker to 2025 Roster<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><b><i><span style="font-size:10.5pt;color:black">Bears add former Gator Gabrielle Essix for next season</span></i></b><b><i><span style="font-size:10.5pt"><o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><b><span style="font-size:9.0pt;color:#242424">For more information contact:
</span></b><span style="font-size:9.0pt;color:#242424">Madelon Allen; 254-252-7168,
</span><span style="font-size:9.0pt;color:blue"><a href="mailto:madelon_allen@baylor.edu">madelon_allen@baylor.edu</a></span><span style="font-size:9.0pt;color:#242424">
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;background:white"><b><span style="color:#242424">WACO, Texas –
</span></b><span style="color:#242424">Baylor volleyball head coach</span><b><span style="color:#242424">
</span></b><span style="color:#242424">Ryan McGuyre has picked up graduate transfer Gabrielle Essix for the 2025 roster, announced Tuesday.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;background:white"><span style="color:#242424"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;background:white"><span style="color:#242424">“Gabbi Essex is an explosive and competitive athlete that loves the Lord and is eager to flourish in every aspect of life,” said McGuyre. “She is an extremely strong
culture fit to Baylor volleyball. Her work ethic and ability to overcome obstacles makes her an incredibly resilient athlete. Gabbi’s experience and physicality brings an immediate impact and force to be reckoned with on the court. Off the court, she is a
woman of character and positive influence with a special gift of bringing out the best in others.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;background:white"><span style="color:#242424"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;background:white"><span style="color:#242424">Essix comes to Waco via Gainesville where she played for the Gators for four years as a middle blocker. She had a career-high 16 kills, hitting .714, against Florida
State in her senior season (9/17) and had a career-high nine blocks twice in her career, both in her junior season. She comes to Baylor with 258 career blocks and 324 kills.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;background:white"><span style="color:#242424"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;background:white"><span style="color:#242424">Over her time with Florida, she led the Gators in blocks in 24 matches and finished second in blocks for the team two seasons in a row. She had at least four blocks
in 31 matches overall and updated her career high in kills each season.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;background:white"><span style="color:#242424"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="color:#242424">To stay up to date all year long on all things Baylor volleyball, follow the team on Facebook, Twitter, TikTok and Instagram: @BaylorVBall.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;background:white"><i><span style="color:#242424">- BaylorBears.com -<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black">__________________________________</span></b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:6.5pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black"> </span></b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#385623">Madelon Allen</span></b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:#385623"> </span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black">| </span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black">Associate
Director of Athletics Communications <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black">A&T, EQ, VB, BaylorBears.com</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black">Department of Athletics | Baylor University<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black">C: 254-252-7168<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><img border="0" width="159" height="44" style="width:1.6562in;height:.4583in" id="Picture_x0020_1" src="cid:image001.png@01DB6C0A.7A292070" alt="signature_1583410629"></span><o:p></o:p></p>
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