Aug. 12, 2008
WACO, Texas -
The 2008 Baylor volleyball team opened its fall practice over the weekend with two sessions at Marrs McLean Gym. The Bears look to improve on their 2007 season that ended with a 14-17 record, 6-14 in Big 12 conference action. Along with the start of fall practice, the Bears welcome seven newcomers to campus.
The entire squad was on campus for the second session of summer school, but the weekend marked the first official practices for the seven freshmen.
Krista Brenner - Before Baylor: Originally signed with Tennessee, competing in one game before suffering a season-ending injury...Transferred to Baylor in June...Retains freshman eligibility. High School: Five-year letterwinner at Jim Elliot Christian School for head coach John Hawthorn...Rated No. 52 among all high school seniors by PrepVolleyball.com...Played club volleyball on the 18-Blue team for the Delta Valley Volleyball Club which earned a bronze medal at the 2007 Junior Olympics in Atlanta, Ga...After claiming MVP honors as a freshman, guided her team to the playoffs in each of the next three seasons, being named all-league in 2004 and to the all-tournament team in 2005...Member of the honor roll in high school...Performed community service work at local retirement homes and homeless shelters. Personal: Full name is Krista Lena Brenner...Born Aug. 3, 1988, in Stockton, Calif...Daughter of Wayne and Linda Brenner...Has two brothers, Luke (27) and Eric (21)...Undecided on major.
Evin Cotton - High School: Three-year letterwinner at Salinas High School for head coach Josh Gentle...Led team to a 26-8 record, a third-place finish in the Tri County Athletic League and a semifinal berth in the California Interscholastic Federation Central Coast Section...Named the team's Most Valuable Player as a senior and chosen as a TCAL All-League selection...Named to the All-Monterrey County first-team as a senior...Named the Salinas Californian Athlete of the Week on Oct. 30...As a junior, led her team to a 25-7 record and a TCAL championship...Was a three-time TCAL All-League selection...Played club volleyball for the Main Beach VBC, earning a 2008 Junior Olympic Bid at the SCVA Regional Qualifier in Anaheim, Calif....Her team finished 11th in the American Division at the 2007 Junior Olympics...Four-year member of the honor roll...Member of the Athletic Service Board and president of the AP Club...Volunteered with the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society's Team in Training and the annual "Salinas Reads" program. Personal: Full name is Evin Catherine Cotton...Born May 17, 1990, in San Jose, Calif....Daughter of Bill and Kourey Cotton...Has two sisters, Jordan (15) and Shannon (13)...Undecided on major.
Allison King - High School: Four-year letterwinner at Hebron High School for head coach Karin Keeney...Led team to bi-district championship as a senior and junior...Team won the 4A state title as a freshman...As a senior, selected to the District 6-5A all-district first-team...Earned Denton Ryan All-Tournament team and Dallas Morning News honorable mention honors...Selected as team MVP and top offensive player...Earned AAU National All-American team honors...Named all-district as a junior and named team MVP...Helped team to a state runner-up finish as a sophomore as she was named the District 9-4A Newcomer of the Year...Also lettered four years in basketball, helping her team to a bi-district championship as a senior...Two-time all-district selection in basketball...Letterwinner in track and field, finishing fourth in the high jump and fifth in the discus at the district meet...Volunteered as an elementary school mentor and served on church mission trips...A member of the Peer Assistance Leadership and Student Council...Selected as the 2007 Homecoming Queen. Personal: Full name is Katherine Allison King...Born March 14, 1990, in Carrolton, Texas...Daughter of Jeff and Kathy King...Has a sister Kate (14)...Grandfather Bobby Joe Benge played football and baseball at Baylor from 1950-1954, earning All-America honors in baseball...Uncle Pat King played basketball at Butler from 1975-1979...Cousin Ashley Ready played softball at Texas Tech from 1999-2003, earning first-team Academic All-Big 12 honors...Undecided on major.
Jordan Rice - High School: Two-year letterwinner at Midway High School for head coaches Janet Angell and Ryan Porter...Led high school team to a 47-1 record as a senior, claiming the 4A state title...Named the 2007 4A State Tournament Most Valuable Player...2007 PrepVolleyball.com Academic All-American...2007 first-team all-district...Also selected to the Super CenTex first-team as a senior...As a junior, led team to state semi-finals...Selected as the district Newcomer of the Year as a junior...Played club volleyball with Waco Juniors, finishing second at the national tournament in Salt Lake City in 2005...Named to the all-tournament team...Team qualified for nationals in 2007...Member of the National Honor Society and the Spanish Club...Won the Midway All-Academic Award and finished in the top 10 percent of her graduating class...Volunteered with Mission Waco and the Providence Hospital. Personal: Full name is Jordan Jeanne Rice...Born Jan. 24, 1990, in Houston, Texas...Daughter of Jeff and Jannifer Rice...Has two brothers, Jonathan (16) and Jarron (14)...Undecided on major.
Brittany Ridenour - High School: Four-year letterwinner at Abraham Lincoln High School for head coach Troy Gilb...Named the 2007 Iowa Player of the Year as a senior...Also earned Gatorade Player of the Year and All-American honors as a senior...Led her team to a conference championship and a third-place finish at the state tournament in 2007...The four-year starter was a three-time All-Western Iowa selection and three-time all-conference selection...Earned the Nebraska Team Camp Most Valuable Player Award in 2006...Also earned four letters in basketball as a three-year varsity starter...Was a two-time state qualifier in the hurdles and competed on season on the tennis team...Was a member of the honor roll and a Missouri River Conference All-Academic Team selection...Volunteered at a nursing home and was active in church activities...Winter Dance Court nominee and the school representative for "Enjoy Reading." Personal: Full name is Brittany Ann Ridenour...Born Nov. 29, 1989, in Council Bluffs, Iowa...Daughter of John and Carolyn Ridenour...Has a brother Gil (26) and sister Minette (22)...Gil ran track at Iowa State and Minette played volleyball at San Diego State...Undecided on major.
Briana Tolbert - High School: Two-year letterwinner at Cypress Springs High School for head coach Ashley Hardin...Rated as the No. 62 recruit from the class of 2008 according to PrepVolleyball.com...Also ranked as the nation's No. 19 middle blocker and the fifth-best middle blocker in Texas...District 17-5A kill leader in 2007 with 334 kills...Also added 74 total blocks (34 solo) en route to earning all-district honors for the second-straight season...Selected to the Texas Girls Coaches Association All-Star team and an academic all-district selection...Also lettered one year in basketball, earning all-district honors. Personal: Full name is Briana Lynette Tolbert...Born Nov. 6, 1990, in Houston, Texas...Daughter of Lorenzo and Deuanna Tolbert....Has two brothers, Brandon (11) and Terel (6), and a sister Tia (7)...Undecided on major.
Qian Zhang - High School: Standout at outside hitter for head coach Wang Du at Yi Jia Gao Ji in the Hai Dian District in Beijing, China...Helped her team to the 2007 National Youth Championship...In 2007 she was selected as the Most Valuable Player of her league...Selected as the league's top attacking player in 2006 and 2007...Off the court, likes to listen to music and play badminton. Personal: Chinese structure of name is Zhang Qian...Born Feb. 1, 1991, in Kai Feng City, China...Daughter of Zhang Yong Zhi and Liu Jing....Undecided on major.
Baylor will host its intrasquad scrimmage and Meet the Bears session on Saturday, Aug. 23 at 11 a.m. at the Ferrell Center. Fans are encouraged to come watch the scrimmage and stay for an autograph session immediately following.
