Junior Katie Clark named to the Preseason All-Big 12 Volleyball team

While everyone is seemingly focused on football returning, it’s not the only college sport anxious to get back to some sense of normalcy. TCU Volleyball is also hoping for a fall start and a full schedule, and with a talented returning core and promising new comers, they have a good reason to want to get back to Rocking the Rickel.

Among those talented players in rising junior Katie Clark, who announced her presence as a player to watch with a unanimous selection to the preseason all-conference team. Clark was named to the 2019 All-Big 12 second team and all NIVC first-team at the conclusion of last season.

According to head coach Jill Kramer, Clark’s versatility and development are key to her success. “Katie has continued to develop in multiple positions over the past couple of years. “Last season she played right side, left side and ended up proving to be one of the most dominating middle blockers in our league. We are excited for her continued development and contributions to our team this upcoming season.”

Go Frogs has more information on the rising star:

After starting the year on the right side, Clark would play multiple roles for the Horned Frogs, including starting the final 14 matches of the season in the middle. She finished with a team-best 289 kills (2.73 kills/set) on .224 hitting while playing in all 30 matches.

She saved her best performances for the biggest moments, posting 2.95 kills/set in conference play, ninth best in the Big 12, while setting a career-high with 21 kills in TCU’s five-set victory over Texas Tech (Oct. 6). She would end up securing double-digit kills in over half of her matches (16) and delivered career-bests in kills, kills/set, blocks, blocks/set, digs, assists, aces and points.

Her athleticism and competitive spirit were on full display in the NIVC, when Clark provided 3.13 kills/set and 1.93 blocks/set in four matches, earning first-team all-tournament honors. She tied a program record with 12.0 blocks against Miami (OH) (Dec. 5) leading to her first-career double-double (12 kills, 12 blocks).

Clark embraced her role on the defensive side after being moved to middle blocker. She delivered at least three blocks each in the 14 matches she played in the middle. Leading to 1.33 blocks/set, the third best mark in the conference over that span.

The entire Big 12 Preseason Awards list can be seen below:

2020 Big 12 Volleyball Preseason Awards

Preseason Player of the Year: Yossiana Pressley, Baylor, OH, Sr.

Preseason Freshman of the Year: Caroline Crawford, Kansas, MB

2020 All-Big 12 Volleyball Preseason Team

Yossiana Pressley, Baylor OH

Hannah (Lockin) Sedwick S

Marieke van der Mark, Baylor OPP

Candelaria Herrera, Iowa State MB

Eleanor Holthaus, Iowa State RS

Keyton Kinlee, Oklahoma DS

Kylee McLaughlin, Oklahoma S

Sarah Sanders, Oklahoma OH

Katie Clark, TCU MB

Brionne Butler, Texas MB

Logan Eggleston, Texas OH

Skylar Fields, Texas OPP

Brooke Kanas, Texas Tech OH/RS

Brianna Lynch, West Virginia MB