Volleyball Gets First-Ever Ranking
7/24/2000 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Nov. 2, 1999
WACO, Texas - The Baylor volleyball team received its first-ever Top-25 selection Monday afternoon with the release of the latest AVCA/USA Today rankings which put the Bears at No. 23.
The Bears are now 20-5 on the year, 8-4 in Big 12 play. They beat their third ranked opponent in a month last week when they topped then-No. 20 Colorado, 3-1. That was Baylor's first-ever win over Colorado in nine tries. It also avenged a loss earlier in the year to the Buffaloes when BU had a two games to none lead, but lost three games to two.
This marks the first time in the team's 22-year history that the program has been ranked in the Top-25. The Bears received other votes in the AVCA preseason poll, but the team never garnered the 30 necessary votes to appear in any of the weekly polls from that point until now. Baylor made the largest leap in the poll for any team.
The AVCA also awarded sophomore rightside hitter Tatiana Kenon as the AVCA/Sports Imports Division I National Player of the Week. Kenon was an instrumental part of the team's success last week collecting her first career triple-double (19 kills, 10 digs, 10 blocks) and the first triple-double for a Baylor player this season.
The 19 kills marks the third consecutive match in which Kenon reset her career high. The 10 blocks and 35 attempts were also career highs.
Kenon was also named the Big 12 Player of the Week averaging 4.71 kills, 1.57 digs and 1.57 blocks per game while .448 on the week. She is currently second amongst starters in hitting percentage with a .291 clip and second amongst starters in blocks at 0.55 blocks per game.
Baylor will now try to defend its new ranking when No. 12 Texas comes to Waco Wednesday night at the Ferrell Center. The match is scheduled to start at 7:00 p.m.
