IRVING, Texas -- Baylor volleyball has been picked to finish second in the 2019 Big 12 Preseason Coaches' Poll, announced Thursday by the conference office.
For the third-straight year, the Bears received a program-high preseason finish. Last year, BU was also predicted to finish second and did so with an 11-5 record.
In the 23-year history of the poll, BU has been picked to finish in the top three on three occasions (2017, 2018, 2019). Before that, the Bears not been picked any higher than fifth which happened on two occasions (2009, 2012).
With eight first-place votes, Texas has been picked as the favorite for the eighth consecutive year, followed by BU with one first-place vote. Following Baylor is TCU and Iowa State, picked to finish third and fourth.
Kansas State and Oklahoma have been picked fifth and sixth, followed by Kansas, Texas Tech and West Virginia in the seventh thru ninth spots.
Picked to finish second in last year's preseason poll, Baylor captured the team's third-straight NCAA Tournament bid and third consecutive second round appearance.
Baylor has taken massive strides since the arrival of McGuyre, and the Bears have finished in the top-four of the conference standings in three straight seasons for the first time in program history. In the last three years, BU has either matched or surpassed its Big 12 preseason poll prediction.
The Bears kick off the 2019 season at the Husker Invitational, facing UCLA and Creighton on Aug. 30-31 in Lincoln, Neb. BU begins its home schedule on Sept. 12 and 14 against Houston and Tennessee at the Hampton Inn & Suites Waco North Baylor Invitational.
2019 BIG 12 VOLLEYBALL PRESEASON COACHES' POLL
1. Texas (8) 64
2. Baylor (1) 57
3. TCU 42
4. Iowa State 40
5. Kansas State 34
6. Oklahoma 33
7. Kansas 31
8. Texas Tech 14
9. West Virginia 9
First-place votes in parentheses. Coaches are not allowed to vote for their own team.
