All Sports Report: School is Back in Session
Cross Country
• XC opens its 2024 season on Friday at the UIW Twilight in San Antonio, Texas.
• Last season, the women’s XC team won out at the UIW Twilight, its first non-dual meet win since 2018.
• Hayden Gold’s silver medal at the UIW Twilight was the best finish from a Baylor woman in a non-dual meet since 2017.
• The men finished third at the 2023 UIW Twilight.
• The 2024 XC roster welcomes 12 newcomers: 11 freshmen and 1 grad transfer.
Football
• Baylor opens its 2024 season on Saturday vs. Tarleton at McLane Stadium at 6 p.m.
• It marks the 10th anniversary of the opening of McLane Stadium, when the Bears routed SMU 45-0 in 2014.
• Baylor hosts six games at McLane in 2024 and following the season lid-lifter will travel to face No. 12/13 Utah in Salt Lake next Saturday.
• The Bears have added six coaches to their staff in 2024, including OC Jake Spavital, RB coach Khenon Hall, DL coach Inoke Breckterfield, ILB coach Jamar Chaney, OL coach Mason Miller and TE coach Jarrett Anderson. Head Coach Dave Aranda is taking over defensive play calling.
• Baylor named sixth-year senior transfer QB Dequan Finn the starting signal caller, with Finn coming to the Bears after winning MAC MVP honors a year ago and leading Toledo to an 11-2 season. He has over 7,000 passing and 1,800 rushing yards in his career.
Soccer
• Wrapped up a 2-0 stint in the Aloha State against Hawaii and Portland with a pair of 1-0 decisions.
• Sophomore Callie Conrad netted both goals over the weekend, the third and fourth of her career, off assists from Tyler Isgrig and Kai Hayes.
• The Bears return home to host the 24th-ranked Texas A&M Aggies at Betty Lou Mays Field on Friday night. The match kicks off at 8 p.m. on ESPN+.
• Wednesday’s victory against the Rainbow Wahine gave Azul Alvarez a new career-high save mark at seven.
• The Bears are on a three-match winning streak after their two-straight shutout victories.
Volleyball
• Ranked No. 23 in AVCA Preseason Poll.
• Start the season with Baylor Classic on Friday, Sunday with ACU, Tulsa and Campbell.
• Bears return 13 from last year’s squad, including five starters.
• McGuyre’s 10th season at the helm.
• Upgraded court surface to Taraflex, a synthetic surface that helps with shock absorption.
• First year sharing Ferrell with A&T, took over the former Women’s Basketball portion of Ferrell for practice gym, offices.
• Added Arizona, Arizona State, Colorado and Utah into the fold for Big 12 opponents.