Texas Tech Roundup: Kenna Sauer, Karrington Jones earn All-Big 12 preseason volleyball honors
Texas Tech volleyball players Kenna Sauer and Karrington Jones were each named to the All-Big 12 Preseason Team, the league announced on Wednesday.
The power-hitting duo are set to return for another season after helping the Red Raiders advance to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2001.
Sauer was a unanimous selection to the preseason honor squad after she was a first-team All-Big 12 selection a season ago. In her first year at Texas Tech, the Missouri transfer led the Red Raiders in several offensive categories, including kills (364), points (424.5) and aces (24). Sauer was twice named the conference's Offensive Player of the Week.
Jones, who is currently competing in the USA Volleyball Women's Collegiate National Team camp, was a second-team All-Big 12 selection last season. She was fourth in the conference in hitting percentage (.358) and tallied 221 kills and 90 blocks.
Texas' Logan Eggleston was the unanimous choice for Preseason Player of the Year. Avery Carlson of Baylor was chosen as Preseason Freshman of the Year.
Texas Tech is slated to host North Texas for an exhibition on Aug. 18 at 4 p.m. and the Red & Black Scrimmage is scheduled for 6 p.m. on Aug. 20. The Red Raiders will begin the 2022 season on Aug. 26 in the Notre Dame Tournament.
The Red Raiders will make their official home debut Sept. 15-17 for the Red Raider Classic.
Men's Basketball
The Air Raiders are officially in The Basketball Tournament.
The team comprised mostly of former Texas Tech men's basketball players will be competing in the 64-team field of TBT. The Air Raiders will compete in the Wichita Regional with games to be played at Koch Arena July 22-25.
More: Former Texas Tech standouts fill out Air Raiders roster for The Basketball Tournament
Luke Adams will serve as the head coach of the the Air Raiders, who are seeded fifth in the Wichita Regional. They will take on the fourth-seeded Stillwater Stars, a team of mostly former Oklahoma State players.
The winner of the Wichita Region will take on the winner of the Omaha Region in the quarterfinals, also in Wichita, on July 27. The semifinals are slated for July 30 and the $1-million winner-take-all championship game on Aug. 2 in Dayton, Ohio.
Tickets for TBT can be purchased at TheTournament.com.
Women's Basketball
The Texas Tech women's basketball team announced on Wednesday Emilia "JoJo" Nworie has signed her National Letter of Intent to play for the Lady Raiders.
Nworie will be transferring from the College of Southern Idaho and is considered the top-ranked junior college player in the country.
This past season, the Lagos, Nigeria, native averaged 12.6 points, 8.1 rebounds and 1.9 blocks per game. She also shot just under 50% from the field and tallied nine double-doubles. She was an honorable mention JUCO all-American.
"JoJo is the perfect piece to complete our roster," Lady Raider head coach Krista Gerlich said in the release. "She has great size, length and athleticism. She can really run the floor, protect the rim and her footwork is elite. We love her work ethic and goals that she has set for herself. JoJo is a great addition to our post unit and a huge sign for us. We are excited to coach her and for Lady Raider Nation to meet her."
The 6-foot-5 post has three years of eligibility remaining and is expected to join the Lady Raiders this summer.
This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Texas Tech Roundup: Kenna Sauer, Karrington Jones earn All-Big 12 preseason volleyball honors
