DALLAS – Utah senior Lauren Jardine was named to the Big 12 Volleyball Preseason Team, the league announced today. The Big 12 preseason poll also was issued today, as voted on by the coaches, and the Utes were projected ninth out of 15 teams, heading into their first season of Big 12 competition.
“We’re not surprised that the Big 12 coaches have chosen Lauren Jardine as a Preseason All-Conference selection,” said head coach Beth Launiere. “She is certainly deserving and I’m pleased others recognize this about Lauren. She is prepared for a great senior season.”
Jardine appeared in 29 of 30 matches during the 2023 season, leading the Utes in kills with 295 and kills per set 3.01. She put down double-digit kills in 12 matches as a junior, with a season-high 23 against Washington. During her time at Utah, Jardine has amassed 563 kills, with back-to-back 250+ kill seasons in 2022 and 2023.
In her first season as a Ute in 2022, she tallied 13 matches with double-digit kills, closing the season with her highest total of 15 on the road at Colorado. Jardine posted her best hitting clip of the 2022 season at home against Washington (.458), putting down 13 kills on 24 attempts with two errors.
Along with Jardine, Utah returns fifth-year senior leaders Allie Olsen, Vanessa Ramirez and Amelia Van Der Werff as it makes the move to the Big 12 along with fellow former Pac-12 members Arizona, Arizona State, and Colorado. Earning 97 points in the preseason poll, the Utes come in ahead of Colorado (75), UCF (65), Arizona (54), Cincinnati (43), West Virginia (33), and Texas Tech (31). Kansas topped the poll with 173 points, including six first-place votes. BYU is tabbed second with 168 points and four first-place votes. Arizona State rounds out the top three with 158 points and three first-place votes.
Utah fans will have their first opportunity to see the team in action on Aug. 24 when the Utes host Utah Valley for an exhibition match. The regular season will open at home on Friday, Aug. 30, when Utah hosts UTEP at 7 p.m. MT at the Jon M. Huntsman Center. This will be the first match of the Utah Classic and will kick off a five-match season-opening homestand for the Utes.
Fans can secure their season tickets for the 2024 campaign and catch all of the action to help Utah Volleyball make the Huntsman Center the best…
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