Preston Named Conference Rookie of the Week

NORMAN – For the first time in her career, Oklahoma volleyball freshman Taylor Preston was named the Big 12 Rookie of the Week, the conference announced Tuesday.

She is the fourth Sooner in 2022 to earn a weekly accolade and second Rookie of the Week, joining Morgan Perkins as the only two Sooner freshman to earn conference weekly honors.

The Union, Kentucky native led the offense with a career-high 22 kills against OU's 3-2 upset win at Kansas last Sunday. Preston's kills at Kansas marked the ninth time this season Preston had kills in the double-digits. She also posted back-to-back matches in double-digit kills last week against Baylor (15) and at Kansas (22). Defensively, she also added eight digs apiece against the Jayhawks and Bears.

Preston led the conference last week with 37 kills and was the best freshman in kills per set (4.11), 39.5 total points and points per set (4.39). She's second overall in kills per set and total points, while third in points per set.

OU is coming off their first five-set win on the season at Kansas in Lawrence last Sunday, along with its second conference win in 2022. Last week, the Sooners led the conference with 112 assists, 117 kills and 122 digs. Overall, OU is third this season with 120 service aces and 1.46 service aces per set.

Texas' Molly Phillips was named the Offensive Player of the Week and Iowa State's Brooke Stonestreet earned the Defensive Player of the Week.

Preston and the Sooners kick off the month of November on the road in Morgantown, West Virginia, to face the Mountaineers at noon CT this Saturday.