Volleyball Reaches NCAA Regional Semifinals

No. 5 national seed Baylor dropped a grueling five-set game to the University of Minnesota, in the 2021 NCAA Volleyball Tournament regional semifinals. It was the sixth consecutive NCAA Tournament for Baylor, which boasted three tournament appearances since the program’s 1978 start prior to the current streak. Baylor also reached at least the regional semifinals (third of six rounds) for the third straight season.

Baylor head coach Ryan McGuyre celebrated a senior class that includes All-Americans Yossiana Pressley and Hannah Sedwick as a group that transformed the program.

“I’m really indebted to them, as well as the other seniors, in trusting me, trusting the experience at Baylor,” McGuyre said. “I’m a big believer that disappointment is part of the journey and not the end. I’m sure this disappointment is going to continue to launch these athletes into greater and bigger and successful endeavors.”

The Bears (22-6) swept Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi and Washington State University in the first and second rounds, respectively. However, Minnesota, the No. 12 national seed, avenged a four-set Baylor victory from the Big Ten-Big 12 Challenge in late August.

Pressley was named first-team American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) All-America for the third consecutive season, while Avery Skinner was an honorable mention selection. Pressley, who was the 2019 AVCA National Player of the Year, was a five-time All-American.

Skinner also earned first-team College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) Academic All-America honors. She joins Kia Young (third team, 1999) as the only Academic All-Americans in program history.