By Nathan Keil | Sports Editor
Baylor outside hitter Yossiana Pressley’s remarkable year continues.
Pressley, who was the Big 12 Freshman of the Year, a unanimous First Team all Big 12 member and an American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Honorable Mention All-American selection, just earned a spot on the 2018 U.S. Women’s Collegiate National Team-Detroit roster.
Pressley earned her spot after participating in the U.S. Women’s National Team Tryouts March 2-4 at the U.S. Olympic Training center in Colorado Springs, Colo.
Pressley said she was excited to be selected and hopes that this opportunity will continue to develop her game.
“It is an honor to be selected to represent my country and bring my talents to the U.S. Collegiate National Team. I would like to thank my coaches and teammates for preparing me for this moment,” Pressley said in a statement. “I look to get better and have an opportunity to learn new things that could benefit me as a Baylor Bear. This allows me to show what great joy it is to play for God. I am beyond excited to have fun, play hard for the Lord and start the path to the podium. Sic ’em!”
Pressley was a key player for the Baylor volleyball team last fall. She led the team with 391 kills, good for 3.62 per set and hit at a .243 clip. She helped lead the Lady Bears to a 24-7 record, including a 13-3 record in the Big 12, good for second in the conference behind Texas.
Baylor also hosted the first two rounds of the NCAA Tournament for the first time in program history after earning the No. 12 national seed. The Bears then knocked off Miami, Oh. in three sets before losing to Colorado in straight sets.
Baylor head coach Ryan McGuyre said he was not at all surprised that Pressley was selected.
“It’s no surprise that our Big 12 Freshman of the Year has made the Collegiate National Team,” McGuyre said. “Yossi has already made a huge jump this spring and will continue to improve. Her work ethic and ‘coachability’ will allow her to flourish and enjoy competing with other top athletes from around the country. We are proud of her and know she will represent Baylor well this summer.”
Pressley continues the strong Baylor pipeline into the women’s national team, as she is the fourth Bear selected in the last five years. Redshirt junior Shelly Fanning was the last to be selected back in 2016.
Pressley will join players from 19 other Division I Schools including Clemson, the University of San Diego, Loyola Marymount, Wisconsin, Arizona, Minnesota and Washington state.
Familiar Big 12 rivals, Oklahoma freshman outside hitter Sarah Sanders and Kansas State junior libero Reilly Killeen will also join Pressley on the Detroit roster.
Pressley will train with the CNT-Detroit team June 22-26 at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. After the tryouts, the 24-member team will be split into two 12 player rosters, who will play three exhibition matches against one another at the Cobo Center June 27, 28 and 30.
