VB’s Pressley Named AVCA National Player of the Year

By Jerry Hill
Baylor Bear Insider
            PITTSBURGH – Even when assistant coach Jason Williams tried to motivate her during Thursday's national semifinal by saying, "You're the National Player of the Year, we need you to play like it," Yossiana Pressley didn't know.
            Until she was introduced as the AVCA Division I National Player of the Year at Friday's AVCA All-America banquet.
            "I had no idea," said the Baylor junior outside hitter from Cypress, Texas.
            Ranked second nationally with 5.41 kills per set, Pressley recorded her eighth double-double of the year with 25 kills and 16 digs in the top-ranked Bears' 3-1 loss to Wisconsin in Thursday night's semifinal at PPG Paints Arena.
            Ryan McGuyre, named the AVCA National Coach of the Year the day before, said Pressley was "an unstoppable force for us offensively and deeply committed to defense all season long."
            "Her ability to elevate and dominate has given the Baylor family so much to celebrate," McGuyre said. "I am so very proud of Yossi for not only being named the National Player of the Year this season, but also for being one of the most determined servant-leaders on our team. This is another history-making moment for Baylor and a testament to Yossi's drive and determination."
            While Pressley always seems to know what's coming on the court, Friday's announcement caught her off-guard. The Player of the Year honor came after she was named to the AVCA All-America first team on Wednesday along with teammates Shelly Stafford and Hannah Lockin.
            "Honestly, this award is because of them," Pressley said of her teammates. "They push me every single day to just work hard to be a better person and volleyball player. I truly owe it all to them. I have 19 other National Players of the Year sitting over there.
            "I wouldn't be here without Hannah Lockin's awesome sets or the digs from Tara (Wulf) and Shanel (Bramschreiber), and just my teammates opening me up so that I can get kills."
            After earning honorable mention All-America honors the previous two years, Pressley took her game to another level this season with more kills (546), digs (245) and service aces (16) than she had last year while committing fewer errors and hitting at a .276 clip.
            The question now: Can she take it even higher?
            "Oh, definitely," she said, "because I feel like every player, even USA players, get better and are able to learn and improve their level of play. It's such a mind game. Although it may seem so simple, it's so complex. There are people who are better than you out there and there are people that aren't better than you but can teach you things as well. It's just a game that you have to keep improving."
            Following Thursday's season-ending loss to Wisconsin, which plays third-seeded Stanford in Saturday's 7 p.m. championship game, Pressley promised that Baylor "will be back" in the Final Four next season. The Bears (29-2) return Pressley, Lockin, Bramschreiber, sophomore right-side hitter Marieke van der Mark and freshman middle blocker Kara McGhee, but lose Wulf, middle blocker Shelly Stafford and defensive specialist Braya Hunt.
            "I meant it," she said. "It will take a lot of grit, just synergy, because we're going to add people, we're going to lose people, and you've got to find your identity on the court and off the court."
            In addition to the AVCA award, the 6-foot outside hitter was named the ESPNW National Player of the Year and will be presented the honor in January at a Baylor men's or women's basketball game.

PITTSBURGH – Baylor volleyball junior Yossiana Pressley is the TeamSnap/AVCA Division I National Player of the Year, announced by the organization Friday afternoon.

Pressley is the first national player of the year honoree in program history after leading the Bears in a historic season to the NCAA National Semifinals.

"Yossi was an unstoppable force for us offensively and deeply committed to defense all season long," head coach Ryan McGuyre said. "Her ability to elevate and dominate has given the Baylor family so much to celebrate. I am so very proud of Yossi for not only being named the National Player of the Year this season, but also for being one of our most determined servant-leaders on our team. This is another history making moment for Baylor and a testament to Yossi's drive and determination and the many, many support staff, coaches and teammates unique to Baylor that have guided her on along the way."

The Cypress, Texas native posted 5.41 kills per set, 5.82 points per set and 546 total kills in her junior season.

She ranked top-five nationally in kills and points per set on her way to Big 12 and Southwest Regional Player of the Year honors.

"What an exceptional season we have had this year," McGuyre said. "The contributions from everyone on this team has been significant. Our goal has been to serve one another and help bring out the best version of our teammates. As a result, we have been incredibly blessed to witness first hand one of the most beautiful, hardest working and talented athletes to ever compete at Baylor and across the country, Yossiana Pressley."

Pressley was also named the ESPNW National Player of the Year and a First Team All-American this week. She will be presented with the honor by the publication at a later date.

Fans can follow all year long with the team's Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts: @BaylorVBall.

VB’s Pressley Named AVCA National Player of the Year

Players Mentioned

Braya Hunt

Kara McGhee

Yossiana Pressley

Hannah Sedwick

Shelly Stafford

Marieke van der Mark

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