Baylor’s Ksenia Rakhmanchik (offensive), BYU’s Kelli Jo Burgess (defensive) and Kansas’ Reese Messer (setter) and Taylor Stanley (rookie) were recognized as the Big 12 Volleyball weekly award winners for the third week of the 2026 season.
 
Rakhmanchik helped Baylor post a 2-1 record at the Ameritas Challenge, totaling 54 kills across three matches and a nation-leading 6.00 kills per set. The sophomore outside hitter recorded 18 kills against No. 1 Nebraska and helped Baylor become the only team this season to score 20 or more points in multiple sets against the Huskers. Rakhmanchik finished the weekend with 16 digs, three service aces and 57.5 points while continuing to lead the Big 12 in kills per set (4.78).
 
Burgess anchored the BYU defense with 14 total blocks, averaging 1.75 blocks per set during a 2-0 week for the Cougars. The 14 blocks tied for the most among Big 12 players for the week and were highlighted by a 10-block performance in BYU’s five-set victory over UCLA. The performance marked the second-most blocks in a single match this season by a Big 12 player. Burgess also contributed offensively with 12 kills while hitting .417 across the two wins.
 
Messer guided Kansas to a perfect 3-0 week in three consecutive sweeps. The sophomore setter directed a Jayhawk offense that hit .365 as a team, totaling 105 assists. Messer averaged 11.67 assists per set, the second-most in the Big 12 for the week. She also recorded at least 34 assists in all three matches while adding 15 digs.
 
Stanley led the nation with 7.1 points per set in Kansas’ perfect week. The freshman outside hitter totaled 51 kills while hitting .465 and became the fastest Kansas freshman to reach 100 career kills in the modern 25-point rally era. Stanley produced double-digit kills in all three matches, including a 20-kill performance against Tulsa, where she hit .531. The Overland Park, Kansas native also added 22 digs and nine blocks over the course of the week.
 
Joining Rakhmanchik, Burgess, Messer and Stanley on the Big 12 Starting Seven, which honors strong performances across the league, are Isabela Haggard of Baylor, Jenna Ylivainio of Colorado and Alice Volpe of TCU. Haggard recorded 119 assists and averaged 10.11 assists at the Ameritas Challenge. Ylivainio helped Colorado improve to 8-0, totaling 65 assists, 12 digs and seven blocks while leading the Buffaloes to a ranked road win over No. 16 USC. Volpe paced TCU’s back row with 43 digs, averaging 4.30 digs per set, and recorded a career-high 27 digs in a win over Michigan.

A full list of weekly award winners can be found here.

Big 12 Players of the Week
Offensive Player of the Week – Ksenia Rakhmanchik, Baylor, OH, So.
Defensive Player of the Week – Kelli Jo Burgess, BYU, MB, Sr.
Setter of the Week – Reese Messer, Kansas, So.
Rookie of the Week – Taylor Stanley, Kansas, PIN
 
Big 12 Starting Seven
Isabela Haggard, Baylor, S, So.
Ksenia Rakhmanchik, Baylor, OH, So. (offensive)
Kelli Jo Burgess, BYU, MB, Sr. (defensive)
Jenna Ylivainio, Colorado, S, Sr.
Reese Messer, Kansas, So. (setter)
Taylor Stanley, Kansas, PH (rookie)
Alice Volpe, TCU, L, Jr.