Baylor Volleyball Adds Eight To 2021 Roster

[Calderone, Max]

BAYLOR ATHLETICS COMMUNICATIONS – November 11, 2020

Volleyball Adds Eight To 2021 Roster
BU brings in Big 12’s highest-ranked recruiting class, ninth-best in the nation
For more information contact: Max Calderone, 254-265-1639, Max_Calderone at Baylor.edu<mailto:Max_Calderone at Baylor.edu>

WACO, Texas – Baylor volleyball added eight players to its roster for the 2021 season, as announced by head coach Ryan McGuyre on Wednesday. BU’s recruiting class is the highest-ranked in the Big 12, and ninth in the nation according to PrepVolleyball.com.

The class includes four 2020 Under Armour Girls High School All-Americans in Riley Simpson (second team), Molly Kipp (honorable mention), Elise McGhee (honorable mention) and Keagan Polk (honorable mention). Baylor is tied for the most honorees in the Big 12.

The Bears picked up seven freshmen and one graduate transfer on national signing day, five of whom will enroll in January. Preslie Anderson, Kipp, Faith Lynch, Polk and Kaitlyn Riley will join the Bears in the spring, with Alicia Andrew, McGhee and Simpson coming to Waco in the fall of 2021.

“I am extremely enthusiastic and excited about our 2021 class,” said McGuyre. “I truly feel we have hit a home run in every position with this group. Overall, we have incredible depth at every position and I expect several all-conference and All-Americans to come out of this class. I am confident these student-athletes will continue to shine bright for Baylor for many years to come.”

Preslie Anderson | MB | 6-2 | Chandler, Ariz. | Hamilton HS | Cal
Played three seasons at Cal before coming to Baylor as a graduate transfer … Named All-Pac-12 as a junior in 2019, leading the conference with a .402 hitting percentage … Tallied career-high 98 blocks in junior season … Honorable Mention All-Pac-12 in 2018 … Hit .365 with 94 total blocks as a sophomore … Led team with 58 blocks as a freshman in 2017 … Three-time Prep Volleyball All-American … Two-time All-Arizona selection … Two-time CUSD Player of the Year … Led Hamilton to state title match in back-to-back seasons … Her father, Michael, was a two-time All-American wrestler at Arizona State.

Coach McGuyre on Anderson: “Preslie brings high-level experience from the Pac-12 and will be an immediate scorer for Baylor out of the middle. Her tenacious attitude will continue to bring the level of competition up in practices and in matches.”

Alicia Andrew | MB | 6-4 | Ridgefield, Wash. | Ridgefield HS
Two-time state champion at Ridgefield HS … Named first-team all-league and all-state … Earned sportsmanship medal at 2019 state tournament … Played for Excel volleyball club based out of Vancouver, Wash. … Her mother, Rachel, was a collegiate fencer at Notre Dame and father, Dan, played college basketball at Illinois … Member of National Honor Society and an AP scholar.

Coach McGuyre on Andrew: “Allie is a strong athlete in every regard. She has a strong arm and athletic build and inside she possesses strong character. She is never rattled and enjoys being a go-to hitter for her team, while also being an incredibly strong encourager and one who is quick to see and help those in need around her.”

Molly Kipp | S | 6-0 | Phoenix, Ariz. | Northwest Christian School
Four-year letterwinner and two-time state champion at Northwest Christian School … 2020 Under Armour Honorable Mention All-American … 2019 Prep Volleyball All-American Honorable Mention … Named Arizona 3A Conference Offensive Player of the Year in 2018 and 2019 … Earned First-Team All-Conference honors in 2018 and 2019 … Named to Arizona Republic’s “10 High School Girls Volleyball Players to Watch in 2019” … Holds Northwest Christian’s all-time record for assists … Currently leading team to first-place 15-0 record with state championships set for Nov. 21 … Member of FCA … Her father, Michael, played baseball at Grand Canyon University.

Coach McGuyre on Kipp: “Molly is a proven winner and leader. She brings a strong work ethic and desire to be at Baylor. I expect her skills and personality to be exciting for all the incoming and returning attackers.”

Faith Lynch | S/DS | 5-7 | Magnolia, Texas | Magnolia HS
Four-year starter at Magnolia HS … Tallied 1,720 assists, 515 digs, 170 aces and 56 kills throughout prep career … 2020 AVCA All-Region team member … Nominated for VYPE Houston Preseason Setter of the Year in 2019 and 2020 … 2019 GHVCA Preseason Team honoree … Nominated for VYPE Houston Top Volleyball Prospect in 2019 … As a sophomore, earned HP Regional Team honors, first-team Montgomery County selection, TAVC All-State member and was named All-District Setter of the Year … Four-time Academic All-District selection … National Honor Society member … Parents Graham and Honey Lynch are Baylor graduates.

Coach McGuyre on Lynch: “Faith has overcome the disappointment and pain of injury, and brings great resolve and determination.”

Elise McGhee | OPP | 6-4 | San Antonio, Texas | Clark HS
Three-time district champion and two-time regional finalist at Clark HS … 2020 Under Armour Honorable Mention All-American … Ranked No. 100 overall recruit by PrepVolleyball.com … Tallied 903 kills and 369 blocks in three seasons as a Cougar … Named 2019 district MVP … First-Team All-Academic honoree in 2018 and 2019 … Sister is Kara McGhee, a sophomore MB on Baylor’s roster … Brother Luke plays basketball at Texas A&M, uncle Daniel Neil played professional football for the Denver Broncos.

Coach McGuyre on McGhee: “Elise brings a healthy balance of power and grace to our front line. She is physically strong and already naturally a good blocker and attacker. Her heart creates smiles and she competes with a contagious joy.”

Keagan Polk | L/DS | 5-8 | Southlake, Texas | Southlake Carroll HS
Four-year letterwinner at Southlake Carroll HS … 2020 Under Armour Honorable Mention All-American … 2019 area champions, 2018 regional finalists, 2017 regional semifinalists … Recorded over 1,500 digs as a Dragon … Previously named DFW Defensive Player of the Year … Collected first-team all-district and all-state honors … Placed 2nd at 2018 open nationals and 3rd at 2019 open nationals with club team, Dallas Skyline … Academic All-State selection with a 4.0 GPA … Member of FCA.

Coach McGuyre on Polk: “Keagan simply captures the Baylor spirit. She is a relentless defensive warrior with a humble and competitive drive.”

Kaitlyn Riley | MB | 6-1 | Delafield, Wis. | Catholic Memorial HS
Two-time first-team all-conference selection (2018 and 2020) at Catholic Memorial HS … Ranked No. 99 overall recruit by PrepVolleyball.com … Led state of Wisconsin in blocking in 2020 … Second-team all-conference selection in 2019 … Recorded 362 total blocks throughout high school career, including 114 solo blocks … Tallied 57 aces and 582 kills on .287 efficiency … Member of National Honor Society.

Coach McGuyre on Riley: “Kaitlyn is a high-flying competitive warrior whose versatility and speed in the middle will make her very fun to work with and difficult for opponents to stop.”

Riley Simpson | OH/OPP | 6-4 | Colorado Springs, Colo. | Rampart HS
Three-time all-state honorable mention for Rampart HS … 2020 Under Armour Second Team All-American … Named No. 51 on Prep Volleyball’s 2021 Top 150 List … 2019-20 5A Regional Champions and Colorado State Metro League Champions … Earned first team all-league and all-area honors in 2019-20 … Prep Volleyball All-American Special Mention … Tallied 4.4 kills per set with 417 total as a junior in 2019-20 season, sixth in the state, with 289 digs and 40 aces … First Team Academic All-State honoree … Awaiting senior season in March of 2021 (postponed due to COVID-19 pandemic) … Sisters Taylor, Cierra and Gabby all played collegiate volleyball … Parents Rick and Serena both played collegiate basketball.

Coach McGuyre on Simpson: “Riley brings great length and athleticism. She already has a high volleyball IQ and comes from a strong volleyball family. She understands servant leadership, she is a woman of influence, and I expect her to be a strong force at the pin for us.”

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

-BaylorBears.com-


__________________________________

Max Calderone | Associate Director of Athletics Communications (VB, MTEN, EQ)
Department of Athletics | Baylor University
O: 254-710-3073 | C: 254-265-1639

[signature_481714152]<http://baylorbears.com/>

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://mailman.baylor.edu/pipermail/localmedia/attachments/20201112/5c7b80d7/attachment-0001.html>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: image001.png
Type: image/png
Size: 11691 bytes
Desc: image001.png
URL: <http://mailman.baylor.edu/pipermail/localmedia/attachments/20201112/5c7b80d7/attachment-0001.png>