Colorado University Athletics
Colorado Volleyball’s Taylor Simpson Named to Big 12 Preseason Team
August 07, 2024 | Volleyball
IRVING, Texas – Colorado volleyball senior setter Taylor Simpson (Calabasas, Calif./Sierra Canyon HS) was named to the 18-player 2024 Big 12 Volleyball Preseason Team, the Big 12 Conference announced on Wednesday, Aug. 7.
As a team, the Buffs were chosen to finish in 10th place in the 2024 Big 12 Preseason Volleyball Poll. Colorado will play its first season back in the Big 12 Conference after it was announced July 2023 that Colorado would return to the Big 12 in 2024.
The poll and awards were determined by Big 12 volleyball head coaches who could not vote for their team. This year's preseason team was expanded to 18 members and includes student-athletes from 11 schools. Kansas leads with three selections, including Big 12 Preseason Freshman of the Year middle blocker Zoey Burgess, and TCU notched Big 12 Preseason Player of the Year in senior outside hitter Melanie Parra.
Simpson played and started in 30 matches in the 2023 season, making 112 set appearances. Averaging 9.54 assists per set on the season, she totaled 1068 assists, 170 digs (1.52 dps), 63 blocks (0.56 bps) and 10 aces. Not only did she record double-digit assists in every match played, Simpson also recorded 30 or more assists in 21 matches and four double doubles with double-digit digs. She notched a new career-high 54 assists against Colorado State (Sept. 15) and a season-high 13 digs. Simpson notched a career-high six blocks against Denver (Sept. 17) and was named to the 2023 Pac-12 Fall Academic Honor Roll.
The Buffs open on the road at North Texas against the hosting team (Aug. 30), Miami (Aug. 31) and Rutgers (Sept. 1). Colorado will play its first home matches as host of the Buffs Classic at CU Events Center (Sept. 6-8) when Georgia, Fresno State and Washington come to visit. The Buffs will play Northern Colorado (Sept. 11) at CU Events Center before hosting Buffs Invitational (Sept. 13-15). Colorado volleyball will conclude its non-conference schedule with a home-and-home against rival Colorado State (Sept. 19-20). The Buffs will open Big 12 play with a meeting at BYU in Provo, Utah on Sept. 26.
2024 Big 12 Volleyball Preseason Team
Jaelyn Hodge, Arizona, OH, Fifth Year
Claire Jeter, Arizona State, MB, Gr.
Argentina Ung, Arizona State, S, Gr.
Lauren Briseño, Baylor, L/DS, Sr. ^
Elise McGhee, Baylor, OH, Sr. #
Mia Lee, BYU, MB/OPP, So. !
Kate Prior, BYU, OPP/MB, Jr.
Taylor Simpson, Colorado, S, Sr.
Kate Georgiades, Houston, L, Gr.* #
Nayeli Gonzalez, Iowa State, OH, So.* # !
London Davis, Kansas, OPP, Jr. ^
Ayah Elnady, Kansas, OH, Jr. #
Camryn Turner, Kansas, S, Jr.* #
Aliyah Carter, K-State, OH, Gr. #
Izzi Szulczewski, K-State, S, Sr.
Jalyn Gibson, TCU, OH, Jr. ^
Melanie Parra, TCU, OH, Sr.* #
Lauren Jardine, Utah, OH, Sr.
Players are listed alphabetically by school.
* indicates unanimous selection.
# - 2023 All-Big 12 First Team
^ - 2023 All-Big 12 Second Team
! – 2023 All-Big 12 Rookie Team
2024 PRESEASON PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Melanie Parra, TCU
2024 PRESEASON FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR
Zoey Burgess, Kansas
2024 PRESEASON BIG 12 POLL
Under ninth-year head coach Jesse Mahoney, Colorado earned a winning record in the 2023 season (16-15) and went 8-12 against Pac-12 opponents. A significant win for the Buffs took place against 17th-ranked Arizona State last year. The Buffs took down the Sun Devils in three sets, completing the sweep and earning CU's only win against a ranked opponent in the 2023 season. Colorado also swept Arizona (Oct. 20) and Washington (Nov. 19) and finished seventh in the Pac-12.
For more information on the Colorado women's volleyball team, please visit cubuffs.com/vb. Fans of the Buffs can follow @cubuffsvb on Instagram, X, and Facebook.
As a team, the Buffs were chosen to finish in 10th place in the 2024 Big 12 Preseason Volleyball Poll. Colorado will play its first season back in the Big 12 Conference after it was announced July 2023 that Colorado would return to the Big 12 in 2024.
The poll and awards were determined by Big 12 volleyball head coaches who could not vote for their team. This year's preseason team was expanded to 18 members and includes student-athletes from 11 schools. Kansas leads with three selections, including Big 12 Preseason Freshman of the Year middle blocker Zoey Burgess, and TCU notched Big 12 Preseason Player of the Year in senior outside hitter Melanie Parra.
Simpson played and started in 30 matches in the 2023 season, making 112 set appearances. Averaging 9.54 assists per set on the season, she totaled 1068 assists, 170 digs (1.52 dps), 63 blocks (0.56 bps) and 10 aces. Not only did she record double-digit assists in every match played, Simpson also recorded 30 or more assists in 21 matches and four double doubles with double-digit digs. She notched a new career-high 54 assists against Colorado State (Sept. 15) and a season-high 13 digs. Simpson notched a career-high six blocks against Denver (Sept. 17) and was named to the 2023 Pac-12 Fall Academic Honor Roll.
The Buffs open on the road at North Texas against the hosting team (Aug. 30), Miami (Aug. 31) and Rutgers (Sept. 1). Colorado will play its first home matches as host of the Buffs Classic at CU Events Center (Sept. 6-8) when Georgia, Fresno State and Washington come to visit. The Buffs will play Northern Colorado (Sept. 11) at CU Events Center before hosting Buffs Invitational (Sept. 13-15). Colorado volleyball will conclude its non-conference schedule with a home-and-home against rival Colorado State (Sept. 19-20). The Buffs will open Big 12 play with a meeting at BYU in Provo, Utah on Sept. 26.
2024 Big 12 Volleyball Preseason Team
Jaelyn Hodge, Arizona, OH, Fifth Year
Claire Jeter, Arizona State, MB, Gr.
Argentina Ung, Arizona State, S, Gr.
Lauren Briseño, Baylor, L/DS, Sr. ^
Elise McGhee, Baylor, OH, Sr. #
Mia Lee, BYU, MB/OPP, So. !
Kate Prior, BYU, OPP/MB, Jr.
Taylor Simpson, Colorado, S, Sr.
Kate Georgiades, Houston, L, Gr.* #
Nayeli Gonzalez, Iowa State, OH, So.* # !
London Davis, Kansas, OPP, Jr. ^
Ayah Elnady, Kansas, OH, Jr. #
Camryn Turner, Kansas, S, Jr.* #
Aliyah Carter, K-State, OH, Gr. #
Izzi Szulczewski, K-State, S, Sr.
Jalyn Gibson, TCU, OH, Jr. ^
Melanie Parra, TCU, OH, Sr.* #
Lauren Jardine, Utah, OH, Sr.
Players are listed alphabetically by school.
* indicates unanimous selection.
# - 2023 All-Big 12 First Team
^ - 2023 All-Big 12 Second Team
! – 2023 All-Big 12 Rookie Team
2024 PRESEASON PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Melanie Parra, TCU
2024 PRESEASON FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR
Zoey Burgess, Kansas
2024 PRESEASON BIG 12 POLL
- Kansas (6), 173 points
- BYU (4), 168 points
- Arizona State (3), 158 points
- TCU (1), 146 points
- Baylor, 144 points
- Iowa State, 142 points
- K-State (1), 141 points
- Houston, 105 points
- Utah, 97 points
- Colorado, 75 points
- UCF, 65 points
- Arizona, 54 points
- Cincinnati, 43 points
- West Virginia, 33 points
- Texas Tech, 31 points
Under ninth-year head coach Jesse Mahoney, Colorado earned a winning record in the 2023 season (16-15) and went 8-12 against Pac-12 opponents. A significant win for the Buffs took place against 17th-ranked Arizona State last year. The Buffs took down the Sun Devils in three sets, completing the sweep and earning CU's only win against a ranked opponent in the 2023 season. Colorado also swept Arizona (Oct. 20) and Washington (Nov. 19) and finished seventh in the Pac-12.
For more information on the Colorado women's volleyball team, please visit cubuffs.com/vb. Fans of the Buffs can follow @cubuffsvb on Instagram, X, and Facebook.
Players Mentioned
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