Bower, Livingston named to Preseason All-Big 12 Team

IRVING, Texas — BYU women’s volleyball seniors Whitney Bower and Erin Livingston were named to the Preseason All-Big 12 Team, the league announced on Tuesday.

The pair joined 14 others on the 16-player team voted on by the conference's 13 coaches, with the Cougars among nine schools that had at least one student-athlete recognized. View the full Big 12 release at the league's website.

*Unanimous selection

Bower is a four-time All-WCC First Team honoree, two-time AVCA All-America Honorable Mention, two-time WCC Setter of the Year and the 2020-21 WCC Player of the Year.

The Nampa, Idaho native totaled 763 assists a season ago, including a career-high 56 at Gonzaga. She also recorded 189 digs, 78 kills on a .304 clip, 36 total blocks and 13 service aces.

Livingston was one of four unanimous selections on the preseason team. An outside hitter from Corona, California, she was both an AVCA and VolleyballMag All-America Honorable Mention as well as an AVCA Pacific South All-Region and All-WCC First Team honoree.

Leading the team with 437 kills last season, Livingston averaged 4.46 kills per set, which ranked No. 15 nationally. She hit .304 for the season and also recorded 20 service aces.

BYU was picked to finish second in conference by the league's coaches on Monday. The Cougars begin their 2023 campaign against Pittsburgh on Aug. 25, and will host Houston to open Big 12 conference play on Sept. 20.