Rebeca Fuentes/BYU Photo

BYU women’s volleyball already has the full attention of the Big 12.

The Cougars earned it by being a Top 10 program for the past decade, reaching the NCAA championship game in 2014 and the Final Four in 2018. BYU was picked second in the Big 12 preseason coaches poll, right behind defending national champion Texas.

Recognition is nice, but what’s happening on the court on a daily basis inside the Smith Fieldhouse is even more important.

“Practices are a dogfight every day,” senior setter Whitney Bower said. “That the coolest thing is we play against the best players because our second or third string, everyone is trying to fight. It’s super competitive every single practice and we push each other to get better. Everyone has a fire in their eyes and everyone wants to win. We’re firing from all cylinders. So many players are fighting for position and everyone wants it.”

Where were we?

There were plenty of challenges for the Cougars (22-7 overall, 14-3 WCC) in 2022. The situation with Duke volleyball player Rachel Richardson (where Richardson accused BYU fans of racial slurs) was a huge distraction. The Cougars lost three matches in the row in the preseason (to No. 10 Pitt, No. 5 Georgia Tech and No. 8 Ohio State), the first time the program had dropped even consecutive matches since 2011. In addition, Bower suffered an injury that caused her to miss eight matches late in the season.

Rebeca Fuentes/BYU Photo

The Cougars finished second in their final West Coast Conference season as San Diego won the league and advanced all the way to the Final Four. BYU won its NCAA opener by sweeping James Madison but fell to Pitt again 3-0 in the second round.

Experience and youth

Bower begins her fifth season as the starting setter and is approaching the school career record for assists in the rally scoring era. She has 3,603 assists and should break the mark held by Lauren Richards Evans (4,056) around midseason.

“I think Whitney is doing a great job distributing the offense and continuing to grow her knowledge of the game,” BYU coach Heather Olmstead said. “She’s continuing to work on honing her craft as far as her location and her ability to get her hitters in rhythm and to connect with her hitters.”

The Cougars picked up a valuable backup for Bower in the transfer portal with former Wyoming setter Kalia Thunstrom, a junior, and freshman Silina Damuni finished her high school career as the all-time assist leader in the state of Utah.

Senior outside hitter Erin Livingston (437 kills in 2022) was an honorable mention All-American in 2022 and joined teammate Kate Prior on the U.S. College National team this summer, training against the senior national team.

Courtesy BYU Photo

Prior, a 6-foot-4 sophomore, came on strong near the end of her freshman season and has star potential at either opposite hitter or middle blocker. Junior Elyse Stowell (131 kills last season) likely has the inside track playing the other outside position but will be challenged by talented freshmen Claire Little (1,437 career kills at Vista Murrieta High School in California) and Addie Benson, as well as returners Eden Bower and Alyssa Erickson.

Middle blocker Heather Gneiting was a four-year starter and has graduated so Olmstead is looking for someone to fill that role. Fifth-year senior Whitney Llarenas (212 kills, .386) had a breakout season in 2022 and returns at one middle position. The other middle spot could be filled by impressive 6-5 freshman Brielle Kemavor, who had 256 career blocks in high school and was a member of Volleyball Magazine’s Fab 50. Freshman Mia Lee has as much athleticism as any middle BYU has every had on the roster.

Graduate senior Aria McComber returns at libero/defensive specialist after posting 343 digs last season and will be challenged by Arizona transfer Kamiele Hiapo, who posted 1,655 career digs in the Pac-12. True freshman Brielle Miller and redshirt freshman Hannah Billeter are also pushing for playing time.

The Cougars spent 15 days in this summer playing in France, Egypt, Turkey and Greece, a great opportunity to create chemistry between the veterans and the rookies.

“We did everything together,” Whitney Bower said. “At the core, it feels like we’re all just meshing. We’re just bonding that way. Everything’s just kind of flowing. And it just feels really smooth on the court.”

Off and running

BYU will start off the season in Montana, opening the Ellesyn Invitational with No. 5 Pittsburgh. The preseason schedule also includes matches against former WCC foe Loyola Marymount, Washington State, Utah, Utah Valley and Utah State before the Big 12 opener against Houston in the Smith Fieldhouse on September 20.

“We knew what we were doing when we were scheduling Pitt and our players are excited to have another opportunity to play against one of the best teams in the country,” Olmstead said. “I think it’s going to be a great matchup for us against a former Final Four team and a team that is trained well and has good coaching. We’re going to have our hands full all preseason, which keeps us focused before we even get to the Big 12 which I think is good for our group.”

BYU earned a No. 17 national ranking to start the 2023 season. The move to the Big 12 is a challenge but one Olmstead thinks her team can handle.

“We just keep our expectations with our own team as far as just our effort, what we bring into the gym every day at practice and competing on the court,” she said.

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