Whitney Bower, Erin Livingston, Whitney McEwan-Llarenas and Mia Lee were each named to All-Big 12 teams, the league announced on Tuesday afternoon.
IRVING, Texas — BYU women’s volleyball had four student-athletes named to All-Big 12 teams, the conference announced on Tuesday afternoon.
Senior setter Whitney Bower, senior outside hitter Erin Livingston and graduate middle blocker Whitney McEwan-Llarenas each earned All-Big 12 First Team honors, with middle blocker Mia Lee named to the Big 12 All-Rookie Team.
The program’s rally scoring era assist leader, Bower has 921 assists this season, averaging 9.12 per set. The Nampa, Idaho native has finished with double-digit assists in all 30 of the Cougars’ games in 2023, posting a team-high six double-doubles. She leads the team in both aces (34) and hitting percentage (.357), tallying 128 kills, 227 digs and 66 total blocks on the year. Bower is a five-time First Team honoree, having been named to the All-WCC First Team each season since 2019.
An unanimous pick to the First Team, Livingston leads BYU with 425 kills, hitting .288 for the season. Hailing from Corona, California, she has been named Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week three times this year, recording double-digit kills in 26 of the Cougars’ 30 games. Livingston averages 4.25 kills per set, which ranks No. 22 in the nation. She is now a two-time First Team honoree after being named to the All-WCC First Team last season.
McEwan-Llarenas is second on the team in kills (209), hitting percentage (.345), total blocks (112) and points (.285). From Bountiful, Utah, she has led the team in blocks in nine games this season. McEwan-Llarenas was named Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week once this season and set career-highs of 17 kills, six digs and three aces during BYU’s series against Texas Tech. She is also now a two-time First Team honoree after earning All-WCC First Team honors last season.
A two-time Big 12 Freshman of the Week, Lee leads the team in total blocks, with 116, to go along with a team-high 12 solo blocks. She averages 1.18 blocks per set, which ranks No. 67 in the country. The Vineyard, Utah product has 137 kills, hitting .323. Lee posted 11 total blocks against Texas Tech, second-most by a freshman in the rally scoring era at BYU.
The full list of 2023 Big 12 postseason award winners and all-conference teams can be found below:
Player of the Year: Madisen Skinner, Texas, OH
Setter of the Year: Camryn Turner, Kansas
Libero of the Year: Kate Georgiades, Houston
Freshman of the Year: Nayeli Gonzalez, Iowa State, OH/RS
Coach of the Year: Ray Bechard, Kansas
All-Big 12 First Team
Elise McGhee, Baylor, OH
Whitney Bower, BYU, S
Erin Livingston, BYU, OH*
Whitney McEwan-Llarenas, BYU, MB
Kate Georgiades, Houston, L
Kenna Sauer, Houston, OH
Nayeli Gonzalez, Iowa State, OH/RS
Reagan Cooper, Kansas, OH/OPP*
Ayah Elnady, Kansas, OH
Camryn Turner, Kansas, S
Aliyah Carter, K-State, OH/OPP*
Melanie Parra, TCU, OH*
Asjia O’Neal, Texas, MB*
Madisen Skinner, Texas, OH*
*Unanimous selection
All-Big 12 Second Team
Manuela Bibinbe, Baylor, MB
Lauren Briseno, Baylor, L/DS
Averi Carlson, Baylor, S
Abbie Jackson, Houston, OH
London Davis, Kansas, OPP
Sydney Bolding, K-State, MB
Mackenzie Morris, K-State, L
Alexis Shelton, Oklahoma, OH
Jalyn Gibson, TCU, OH
Audrey Nalls, TCU, OH
All-Rookie Team
Mia Lee, BYU, MB/OPP
Zeta Washington, Cincinnati, MB
Nayeli Gonzalez, Iowa State, OH/RS*
Raegan Burns, Kansas, L/DS
Aniya Clinton, K-State, OH/OPP
Ella Swindle, Texas, S*
*Unanimous selection
The Cougars open the NCAA Tournament with a First Round matchup at home against Weber State on Friday, Dec. 1 at 7 p.m. MST.