The Big 12 announced the Starting Seven and monthly awards for the Big 12 Volleyball In-Season Challenge. The team consists of Arizona State’s Noemie Glover, Baylor’s Ksenia Rakhmanchik (offensive), BYU’s duo of Kelli Jo Burgess (defensive) and Elli Mortensen, Iowa State’s Rachel Van Gorp (libero) and the Kansas pair of Reese Messer (setter) and Taylor Stanley (rookie).
Rakhmanchik led Baylor's offense and the Big 12 with 159 kills across eight matches, averaging 4.97 kills per set, while hitting .298. The sophomore outside hitter accounted for 36.7% of the Bears' kills during the challenge and totaled 174 points, averaging 5.44 per set for the most in the Conference. She recorded at least 20 kills in five matches, including a 25-kill performance against nationally-ranked Kansas, while adding 63 digs, 15 blocks and seven service aces.
Burgess anchored BYU's defense during an undefeated 9-0 run through the In-Season Challenge, totaling a league-leading 60 blocks across 31 sets for an average of 1.94 per set. The senior middle blocker helped the Cougars limit opponents to a .158 hitting percentage, holding four teams below .150 and two below .095. Burgess also contributed offensively with 39 kills on .358 hitting. She recorded 10 blocks against Kansas State to open the challenge and added at least five blocks in each of BYU's nine matches.
Van Gorp collected 164 digs across nine matches to lead the Conference for the month. The junior libero averaged 4.82 digs per set while adding 46 assists and 11 service aces. She registered double-digit digs in every match, highlighted by a 25-dig performance against Utah, and recorded at least 20 digs in three contests. Van Gorp also handled 128 reception attempts without an error during the In-Season Challenge.
Messer directed Kansas' offense with a league-leading 363 assists across nine matches, averaging 11.00 assists per set. The sophomore setter helped guide the Jayhawks to a 7-2 record during the challenge while contributing 89 digs, 23 kills and eight blocks. Messer recorded an October-high of 54 assists in Kansas' four-set victory at Iowa State to close the In-Season Challenge and added 11 digs against Utah in the Jayhawks' opening match.
Stanley joined Messer for the Jayhawks on the Starting Seven after accumulating 125 kills, 56 digs, 30 blocks and 14 service aces across nine matches. The Kansas freshman averaged 3.79 kills and 4.68 points per set (fourth in the Big 12) while helping the Jayhawks secure seven victories. Stanley recorded 21 kills twice, including a 21-kill, five-ace performance in a four-set victory at UCF.
Glover helped Arizona State finish 8-1 during the challenge, totaling 138 kills and averaging 4.06 per set. The 2025 Big 12 Player of the Year surpassed 1,000 career kills during October and recorded three matches with at least 20 kills, including a season-high 25 in a five-set victory at Kansas. The senior opposite hitter was the lone Big 12 player to record multiple matches with at least 23 kills in four-set matches.
Mortensen led the Big 12 Volleyball In-Season Challenge champions with 120 kills, averaging 3.87 per set on .281 hitting, while adding 78 digs and 25 blocks. The junior outside hitter recorded four double-doubles and finished above .300 in four matches. She added 10 assists and eight service aces to help the Cougars finish the In-Season Challenge undefeated.
Big 12 Volleyball In-Season Challenge Awards
Offensive Player of the Month – Ksenia Rakhmanchik, Baylor
Defensive Player of the Month – Kelli Jo Burgess, BYU
Libero of the Month – Rachel Van Gorp, Iowa State
Setter of the Month – Reese Messer, Kansas
Rookie of the Month– Taylor Stanley, Kansas
Big 12 Starting Seven:
Noemie Glover, Arizona State
Ksenia Rakhmanchik, Baylor (offensive)
Kelli Jo Burgess, BYU (defensive)
Elli Mortensen, BYU
Rachel Van Gorp, Iowa State (libero)
Reese Messer, Kansas (setter)
Taylor Stanley, Kansas (rookie)