BYU Roundup: Women’s volleyball picked to win Big 12
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- BYU volleyball players celebrate a point during a Big 12 women’s volleyball match against Arizona State at the Smith Fieldhouse on Thursday, Oct. 31, 2024.
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- BYU’s Brinley Cannon (left) approaches the basket in a Big 12 women’s basketball game against UCF in the Marriott Center on Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025.
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- BYU wide receiver Chase Roberts celebrates a catch during a college football game at Wyoming on Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024.
Like Loki in the Avengers, the BYU women’s volleyball team is burdened with glorious purpose.
After finishing third and sixth, respectively, in their first two seasons in the Big 12, the Cougars have been picked to win the conference in the coaches poll, with four of its student-athletes honored.
BYU was selected to win the West Coast Conference just about every season, so the mantle of expectations came naturally. But while the Cougars totaled just 12 losses in eight years under Heather Olmstead in the WCC, they have dropped 11 contests in their first two seasons in the Big 12.
It’s no surprise BYU has caught the eye of the league’s coaches with the amount of talent returning and added for the 2025 season.
Claire Little Chambers was voted the Preseason Player of the Year, with Suli Davis honored as the Preseason Freshman of the Year. Alex Bower, Little Chambers, a unanimous selection, and Brielle Kemavor were also named to the Big 12 Preseason Team. BYU was one of two schools to have three student-athletes named to the team, joining Kansas, who also had three.
As voted on by the Conference’s coaches, the Cougars received 180 points and six first-place votes, just ahead of Kansas’ 170 points and four first-place votes. Arizona State (three votes), Utah (one vote) and TCU (one vote) each garnered votes as well.
With five teams receiving at least one first-place vote and only 12 votes separating the top three schools, 2025 should be an interesting season in the Big 12.
Little Chambers was an AVCA and VolleyballMag All-America Honorable Mention last season, also picking up AVCA All-West Region and All-Big 12 First Team honors. She led BYU in kills in 23 matches and finished third in the Big 12 in kills per set (3.88) and points per set (4.39).
Davis represented the U.S. on the Americans’ U-19 team at this summer’s World Championships, helping the team to a silver medal while being named the tournaments Best Outside Hitter as well. She was named the 2025 PrepVolleyball Player of the Year and MVP of the Under Armour All-America Next game.
Bower was tabbed the AVCA West Region Freshman of the Year last season, also earning Big 12 All-Rookie Team honors with a pair of Big 12 Rookie of the Week awards. She broke the Cougars’ freshman rally-scoring era records for both total assists (1,131) and double-doubles (11).
Kemavor was an AVCA All-West Region Honorable Mention, All-Big 12 First Team honoree and two-time Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week. She finished the 2024 campaign with the most solo blocks (31) in BYU rally-scoring era history and tied the Cougars’ rally-scoring era record for most double-doubles in a single season and career, with three.
BYU kicks off the 2025 campaign hosting the dōTERRA Classic, with game one against Fairleigh Dickinson scheduled for noon on Friday, Aug. 29.
Big 12 Women’s Volleyball Preseason Coaches Poll
Ranking Team Votes (first-place votes)
1. BYU 180 (6)
2. Kansas 170 (4)
3. Arizona State 168 (3)
4. Utah 159 (1)
5. TCU 141 (1)
6. Baylor 137
7. Arizona 131
8. Kansas State 95
9. Iowa State 92
10. Colorado 84
11. Houston 75
12. Texas Tech 46
13. Cincinnati 38
14. UCF 32
15. West Virginia 27
Preseason Player of the Year
Claire Little Chambers, Jr. OH, BYU
Preseason Freshman of the Year
Suli Davis, OH, BYU
Preseason All-Big 12
Jordan Wilson, Sr. OH, Arizona
Noemie Glover, Jr. OH, Arizona State
Faith Frame, So. L, Arizona State
Victoria Davis, Jr. MB, Baylor
Gabrielle Essix, Gr. MB, Baylor
Alex Bower, So. S, BYU
Claire Little Chambers, Jr. OH, BYU
Brielle Kemavor, Jr. MB, BYU
Avah Armour, Jr. OH, UCF
Maya Duckworth, Sr. OH, Iowa State
Cristin Cline, So. S, Kansas
Reese Ptacek, So. MB, Kansas
Aniya Clinton, R-Jr. OH, Kansas State
Jalyn Gibson, Sr. OH, TCU
Kamryn Gibadlo, Jr. OH, UtahEmrie Moea’i, Sr. MB, Utah
Women’s hoops releases non-conference schedule
The Cougars will play a 12-game non-conference slate in Lee Cummard’s first season as head coach, not including an exhibition game against Western Colorado on Oct. 28 to tip things off.
“We are really looking forward to our non-conference season as it gives us a chance to grow and prepare for Big 12 play,” Cummard said. “Our schedule has a great combination of home, neutral site and away games that will test us and give us experience that should pay dividends come conference time.”
Cummard will lead the Cougars into their third season as a member of the Big 12 conference, beginning with a non-conference slate that includes seven home games, two true road contests and three neutral-site games coming in the U.S. Virgin Islands and the Delta Center. BYU looks to improve on last year’s 13-17 record in Cummard’s first season at the helm.
Highlights of the non-conference schedule include the home opener Nov. 5 against Coastal Carolina, at trip to the US Virgin Islands for the Paradise Jam, a game against Washington State at the Delta Center and a neutral site matchup with former West Coast Conference foe Portland in the Chiles Center.
BYU’s lone exhibition matchup will be held on Oct. 28 as the Western Colorado Mountaineers visit the Marriott Center. The Cougars conclude their non-conference slate against the UTEP Miners on Dec. 13, the final tune-up before Big 12 play begins on Dec. 20.
BYU women’s basketball 2025 non-conference schedule
Tuesday, Oct. 28 Western Colorado, 7 p.m. (exhibition)
Wednesday, Nov. 5 Coastal Carolina, 7 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 8 San Jose State, 2 p.m.
Thursday, Nov. 13 Omaha, 7 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 15 Fresno State, 2 p.m.
Wednesday, Nov. 19 at Montana, TBD
Saturday, Nov. 22 Weber State, 2 p.m.
Thursday, Nov. 27 vs. Virginia Tech at Paradise Jam, TBD
Saturday, Nov. 29 vs. Oregon State or Vanderbilt at Paradise Jam, TBD
Wednesday, Dec. 3 vs. Washington State at Delta Center, 3 p.m.
Saturday, Dec. 6 at Portland, 5 p.m.
Thursday, Dec. 11 Idaho State, 7 p.m.
Saturday, Dec. 13 UTEP, 2 p.m.
Roberts tabbed for Biletnikoff Watch List
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — BYU receiver Chase Roberts has been named to the 2025 Biletnikoff Award Preseason Watch List by the Tallahassee Quarterback Club Foundation, the creator and sponsor of the prestigious award.
The Biletnikoff Award annually recognizes college football’s outstanding FBS pass catcher, regardless of position — wide receiver, tight end, slot back and running back.
Roberts, a 6-4, 210-pound senior from Highland, Utah, led BYU in receiving yards with 854 and receptions with 52 in 2024. He also tied for the most receiving touchdowns with four. Following the 2024 season, Roberts was named to the All-Big 12 Third Team by Phil Steele and the College Football Network.
Recently, Roberts was named to the All-Big 12 Preseason Football Team for the upcoming 2025 season by media representatives who cover the league. He was also recognized on the Pro Football Focus 2025 All-Big 12 Preseason Football Team and selected to the All-Big 12 Preseason First Team by both Phil Steele and Athlon Sports.
The Biletnikoff Award semifinalists, finalists and award recipient will be selected by the Biletnikoff Award National Selection Committee, a group of 600 prominent college football journalists, commentators, announcers, Biletnikoff Award winners and other former receivers. The 2025 award winner will be presented the trophy at the Biletnikoff Award Banquet & Celebration in March 2026.
Softball hires new assistant coach
BYU softball head coach Gordon Eakin announced the hiring of assistant coach Alex Mascarenas today.
“Alex will be a great addition to our staff,” Eakin said. “He has extensive experience and connections in the softball world. We look forward to his contribution.”
Mascarenas comes to Provo after four years as the head coach at Hope International, an NAIA program in Fullerton, California. Prior to his time with the Royals, Mascarenas served as the head coach at Marymount California.
He also spent time as the interim head coach, following five seasons as an assistant, at Mt. San Antonio College (SAC), where he was named the California JC Easton/NFCA Assistant Coach of the Year in 2018, helping the Mountied to consecutive CCCAA State Championships in 2018 and 2019.
While serving as head coach of Hope International, Mascarenas led the Royals to three-straight NAIA Opening Round Appearances (2023-25), and a pair of GSAC regular season championships (2023, 2025) to go along with a 2023 GSAC Coach of the Year honor.
A multi-sport athlete, Mascarenas played three seasons of football at UCLA before switching to baseball at Santa Ana College. He earned a bachelor’s degree in history from UCLA and a master’s in kinesiology from California University of Pennsylvania.
Originally from Mission Viejo, California, Mascarenas is married to Bree Maikai. They have two sons, Shepherd and Ranger.
