MANHATTAN, Kan. (kstatesports.com) – Senior setter Katie Brand has been named to the Preseason All-Big 12 Team, the conference office announced on Wednesday afternoon.
The Preseason All-Big 12 nod is the third of Brand’s career and fourth overall preseason honor from the conference as she was named the Preseason Co-Freshman of the Year in 2013. She is the second Wildcat ever to earn three Preseason All-Big 12 accolades (Kaitlynn Pelger,2011-13).
Brand enters the season as the Big 12’s active leader in career assists and is also sixth in K-State history. The two-time AVCA All-America Honorable Mention selection finished third in the Big 12 last season in assists per set for overall matches – with a career-high 11.10 – and was just one of three Division I setters to notch 20 or more double-doubles.
The senior had 20 double-doubles over the course of last year’s 29 matches, helped by a total of 332 digs – the most ever by a K-State setter.
The preseason team and awards are chosen by league coaches, who are not allowed to vote for their own student-athletes.
K-State opens its season with the Wahine Invitational in Honolulu, Hawaii, August 26-28. The 15-match home slate starts on September 2 against Michigan in Bramlage Coliseum.