SportsBriefs

ACROBATICS and TUMBLING

Baylor Acrobatics and Tumbling begins their fourth year of competition, returning 22 of 24 letter winners. The 2014 season will feature the first graduating senior class in the program's brief history. They return three All-Americans, Hailey Cowan, Stephanie Bohmler and Keegan Johnson.

BASEBALL

Baylor Baseball will be tested with one of the most challenging schedules in the nation. Their 2014 slate includes nine opponents who played in last year's NCAA tournament and nine conference champions. The Bears return an impressive pitching staff, anchored by senior right-hander Dillon Newman.

EQUESTRIAN

Baylor Equestrian went 5-2 in the fall semester to earn a No. 3 national ranking after beginning the season ranked seventh. Baylor will host the Big 12 Equestrian Championships in March and the NCEA National Championships in April.

GOLF

Baylor Men's Golf highlighted a competitive fall season with two second place finishes in tournaments in Minnesota and North Carolina. They return four of their top five players from a squad that made its 16th consecutive NCAA regional appearance last year, led by junior Kyle Jones.

The youthful Women's Golf squad features only two upperclassmen, and no seniors, yet completed one of the nation's toughest fall schedules with a No. 61 national ranking, paced by sophomore Laura Lonardi.

SOFTBALL

Baylor Softball returns one of the top pitchers in Big 12 history as Whitney Canion begins her sixth season in green and gold after receiving two medical redshirts. The Lady Bears have reached the postseason seven of the last nine years, with World Series appearances in 2007 and 2011.

TENNIS

Baylor Men's Tennis began the season ranked eighth nationally. The Bears return sophomore Julian Lenz, the second-ranked player in the nation and the reigning Big 12 Newcomer of the Year and ITA Texas Region Rookie of the Year.

Baylor Women's Tennis started the new year with a No. 19 preseason ranking. The team will receive a boost later in the season when the reigning Big 12 Player of the Year, junior Ema Burgic, returns from injury.

TRACK and FIELD

Baylor Track and Field returns the nation's second-ranked men's triple-jumper, sophomore Felix Obi, and the top woman in the 60 hurdles nationally, senior Tiffani McReynolds.

Track and Field will host only one home meet on the season, the Michael Johnson Classic on April 19 at Hart-Patterson Track and Field Complex before returning to the Drake Relays after a one-year absence.