Power Rankings: Big 12 volleyball

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Photo: Riley Eveleth/Iowa State Daily

Freshman Ciara CapezioCQ finished the game leading the team with 11 kills against Kansas State on Wednesday, Oct. 9, at Hilton Coliseum.

Harrison March

As Big 12 volleyball gets underway, here are our conference power rankings:

1. Texas (9-0, 1-0 Big 12): The No. 2 Longhorns are a perennial powerhouse in the Big 12. With two road victories over top-10 teams this year, Texas sits comfortably in first place.

2. Oklahoma (10-4, 1-0 Big 12): Three of the Sooners’ four losses have come against ranked teams on the road. Oklahoma has a balanced offensive attack, with four players with more than 115 kills on the season.

3. Kansas (12-3, 0-1 Big 12): The Jayhawks looked to be strong in the preseason, but were rolled by defending champions Penn State on a neutral court. Kansas and Oklahoma could have been 2a and 2b, but Oklahoma’s victory in the head-to-head matchup gives the Sooners the edge.

4. Kansas State (13-2, 0-1 Big 12): The Wildcats are off to a good start, with one of their losses at the hands of No. 14 Arizona. They’ll have a lot to prove in the conference after falling to Baylor in their conference opener.

5. West Virginia (11-4, 1-1) Big 12: The Mountaineers ripped off 10 wins in a row during non-conference play and all four of their losses have been to ranked opponents. The WVU offense relies heavily on Jordan Anderson, so if she has an off-night West Virginia could be in trouble.

6. Iowa State (7-4, 0-1 Big 12): Iowa State has been a fringe team, performing well against lesser teams and getting exposed by quality opponents. Two losses against top-5 teams are expected, but an loss at Texas Christian keeps Iowa State out of the No. 5 spot.

7. Texas Tech (13-1, 1-1 Big 12): The Red Raiders started the year hot with 13 consecutive wins but all were against weak competition. It could be a big season for the traditional bottom feeders, but they still have a lot prove.

8. Baylor (10-5, 1-0 Big 12): The Bears faced a lackluster non-conference slate. Baylor hasn’t shown much of anything yet, but a road win at Kansas State keeps them of last place.

9. Texas Christian (11-5, 1-1 Big 12): The Horned Frogs have dropped a couple of matches against teams they should have beaten and winning against mostly poor opponents. A win against the Cyclones is a promising start for a team that had eight conference wins in two years with the Big 12.

10. Oklahoma State (0-0, 0-0 Big 12): The Cowgirls do not compete in NCAA volleyball. Good news for Cowgirl fans, though — the women’s equestrian team is off to a 1-0 start after shellacking the South Dakota State Jackrabbits, 16-4.