The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
No. 4 Volleyball's White named Big 12 Freshman of the Year, three more earn honors
11.28.2016 | Volleyball
Freshman Micaya White becomes Texas’ seventh Big 12 Freshman of the Year and ninth all-time.
AUSTIN, Texas – Texas Volleyball freshman Micaya White was named Big 12 Freshman of the Year and an All-Big 12 First Team selection, joining three teammates for additional awards, the Big 12 Conference announced on Monday.
Seniors Chloe Collins and Paulina Prieto Cerame and junior Ebony Nwanebu were also named All-Big 12 First Team.
White's award marks the seventh in the Big 12 Conference and nine all-time. She is the first Texas player to earn the award since 2013.
White was the unanimous selection of Freshman of the Year, finishing her inaugural season ranked third in the Big 12 in points per set (4.64) and fourth in kills per set (3.98).
Collins earns her second First-Team award after posting 1,076 assists (11.33/set), the second-highest mark in the Big 12. She also added 221 digs, 40 kills, 22 aces and 39 blocks.
The honor also marks Prieto Cerame's second as she finished in the top 10 in the conference in kills per set (3.55) and points per set (3.94). Prieto Cerame has 351 kills on the season, hitting .275.
Nwanebu garners her first award after leading the Big 12 in hitting percentage (.372), ranking fifth in kills (3.67) and sixth in points (4.17).
The postseason awards are determined by a vote of the league's head coaches who are not permitted to vote for their own student-athletes. White, Nwanebu and Prieto Cerame were all unanimous selections.
TEXAS FRESHMEN OF THE YEAR
2016 Micaya White
2013 Chiaka Ogbogu
2011 Haley Eckerman
2008 Michelle Kocher
2007 Juliann Faucette
2006 Ashley Engle
2001 Mira Topic
1996 Sarah Butler (SWC)
1995 Demetria Sance (SWC)
2016 ALL-BIG 12 VOLLEYBALL POSTSEASON AWARDS
Coach of the Year: Ray Bechard, Kansas
Player of the Year: Kelsie Payne, Kansas (6-3, Jr., RS, Austin, Texas)
Libero of the Year: Cassie Wait, Kansas (5-8, Sr., Gardner, Kan.)^
Setter of the Year: Ainise Havili, Kansas (5-10, Jr., Fort Worth, Texas/Haltom)
Freshman of the Year: Micaya White, Texas (6-1, OH, Frisco, Texas)^
ALL-BIG 12 FIRST TEAM
Name, School Ht. Yr. Pos. Hometown/Last School
Kelsie Payne, Kansas** 6-3 Jr. OH Austin, Texas/John B. Connally
Katie Staiger, Baylor** 6-1 Jr. OH Lewisville, Texas/Prestonwood Christian Academy
Ebony Nwanebu, Texas** 6-4 Jr. OH Fairview, Texas/Lovejoy
Ainise Havili, Kansas** 5-10 Jr.. S Fort Worth, Texas/Haltom
Micaya White, Texas** 6-1 Fr. OH Frisco, Texas/Centennial
Jessica Schaben, Iowa State 6-2 So. OH Defiance, Iowa/Harlan
Paulina Prieto Cerame, Texas** 6-2 Sr. OH San Juan, Puerto Rico/Palmer Trinity School (Fla.)
Madison Rigdon, Kansas 6-0 Jr. OH Pflugerville, Texas/Pflugerville
Katie Brand, Kansas State 6-1 Sr. S Grand Island, Neb./Central Catholic
Marion Hazelwood, Oklahoma 6-3 Jr. MB Beach City, Texas/Barbers Hill
Cassie Wait, Kansas** 5-8 Sr. L Gardner, Kan./Gardner Edgerton
Natalie Gower, TCU 6-4 Sr. MB St. Louis, Mo./St. Joseph's Academy
Chloe Collins, Texas 5-7 Sr. S Cypress, Texas/Cypress Woods
Payton Caffrey, West Virginia 6-0 Fr. OH Chuluota, Fla./Winter Springs
ALL-BIG 12 SECOND TEAM
Name, School Ht. Yr. Pos. Hometown/Last School
Lauren Douglass, Texas Tech 6-2 Sr. MB Flower Mound, Texas/Mississippi
Bryna Vogel, Kansas State 6-0 Jr. OPP Clearwater, Kan./Clearwater
Tayler Soucie, Kansas 6-1 Sr. MB Osawatomie, Kan./Osawatomie
Grace Lazard, Iowa State 6-2 So. MB London, England/Leaf Academy
Katie Reininger, Kansas State 6-1 Sr. MB Colorado Springs, Colo./Saint Mary's (CA)
Micaela Spann, Oklahoma 6-2 Sr. MB Carrollton, Texas/Hebron
Jana Brusek, Baylor 5-7 Jr. L Chicago, Ill./St. Ignatius
Samara West, Iowa State 6-4 Jr. MB Omaha, Neb./Omaha North
Reyn Akiu, Texas Tech 5-2 So. L Honolulu, Hawaii/Kamehameha Schools-Kapalama Campus
Camryn Freiberg, Baylor 5-11 Jr. MB Allen, Texas/High Point University
ALL-FRESHMAN TEAM
Name, School Ht. Pos. Hometown/Last School
Micaya White, Texas** 6-1 OH Frisco, Texas/Centennial
Payton Caffrey, West Virginia** 6-0 OH Chuluota, Fla./Winter Springs
Hali Hillegas, Iowa State** 5-6 L Charles City, Iowa/Charles City
Jada Burse, Kansas 6-1 OH DeSoto, Texas/DeSoto
Elle Sandbothe, Kansas State 6-0 MB Lee's Summit, Mo./Lee's Summit West
Erin Slinde, West Virginia 6-0 S Rosemount, Minn./Rosemount
