The Big 12 set a Conference record with six teams named in the American Volleyball Coaches Association’s (AVCA)/TARAFLEX Preseason Division I Women’s Volleyball Poll. The six teams surpass the previous high of five teams that the Conference had named to the preseason polls in 1999 and 2000.
 
Arizona State, the reigning Big 12 champion, leads the league at No. 13 to begin the season. The Sun Devils finished 2024 with a 30-3 record and 17-1 in league play and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Championship and hosted their first postseason matches since 1995.
 
Kansas is slotted No. 14 in the poll after finishing the 2024 season at No. 12. It is the third time in the last four years that the Jayhawks have begun the year ranked.
 
BYU begins the year at No. 19 after advancing to the NCAA postseason for the 13th consecutive season in 2024. The Cougars have now started the year in the top 20 of the AVCA/Taraflex Poll in all three seasons as a member of the Big 12.
 
Baylor ranks No. 20, after advancing to the national tournament for the ninth consecutive year last season. It is the eighth straight season that the Bears have garnered recognition in the preseason poll.
 
Utah begins the season ranked for the first time since 2022 at No. 23. The Utes finished the year No. 23 with a 25-6 overall record.
 
TCU rounds out the Conference’s rankings at No. 25. The Horned Frogs entered the top 25 in week two of the 2024 season and remained in the poll for the following 14 weeks to close the year.
 
Arizona and Houston received votes. The full AVCA Preseason Poll can be found here.
 
The season begins Aug. 23 with non-conference play while league play commences Tuesday, Sept. 16. The full schedule can be found at Big12Sports.com.