Burilovic And Payne Named To 2026 Big 12 Preseason Team, Colorado Ranked Fifth In The Conference

IRVING, Texas — Colorado volleyball senior pin attacker Ana Burilovic and senior middle blocker Cayla Payne were named to the 19-player 2026 Big 12 Volleyball Preseason Team, as announced by the Big 12 on Tuesday morning.

Burilovic started and played in all 32 matches and appeared in all 120 sets in the 2025 season. She led Colorado with 565 kills and reached double-digit kills in 27 matches during her junior campaign. Burilovic earned AVCA Player of the Week and Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week honors (Sept. 30) after leading the Buffs in a weekend road sweep of No. 14 BYU and No. 23 Utah, totaling 41 kills, 15 digs, seven aces and two blocks between the two matches. She reached a career-high 32 kills and six blocks against UCF (Oct. 25) and was ranked first in the Big 12 in both kills per set (4.71) and points per set (5.47).

Payne started and played in all 32 matches and saw action in 119 sets last season. She reached a career-high five solo blocks at Northern Colorado (Oct. 28) and a season-high 16 kills at UC Irvine (Sept. 6). Payne recorded her 500th career kill against Iowa State (Oct. 25). She was also named MVP of the Buffs Invitational and to the All-Big 12 Second Team. She ranked eighth in the Big 12 in hitting percentage at .338 at the conclusion of the season.

Colorado was picked to finish fifth in the 2026 Big 12 Volleyball Preseason Poll, which matches the highest conference preseason ranking the Buffs have received. This projection was last reached in 2018 while competing in the Pac-12.

The poll and preseason honors were determined by the Big 12 head coaches, who were not permitted to vote for their own teams or players. This year's preseason team features 19 student-athletes from 11 schools. Arizona State and TCU lead, each with three players selected. Arizona State's senior opposite hitter Noemie Glover was voted the 2026 Big 12 Volleyball Preseason Player of the Year. Kansas received the 2026 Big 12 Volleyball Preseason Freshman of the Year vote in pin hitter Taylor Stanley.

To preview the season, Colorado volleyball will join the rest of the Big 12 for virtual media day, "Opening Set," on Tuesday, Aug. 11. The representatives for the Buffs will be head coach Jesse Mahoney and senior pin attackers Lily Dwinell and Sydney Jordan.

Coverage of Colorado during Big 12 Volleyball Virtual Media Days can be found on ESPN+ and Big 12 Studios on Aug. 11 from 1:35-1:55 p.m. MT (2:35-2:55 p.m. CT). It will be hosted by BYUtv's Spencer Linton with Amy Gant, Alex Jean Glover and Sophie Smith also joining the show.

Colorado opens its 2026 season at the Buffs Classic to compete against CSUN (Aug. 28), Central Arkansas (Aug. 29) and Denver (Aug. 30) at CU Events Center.

Fans can purchase their tickets for home CU volleyball matches at CU Events Center here and view the full schedule here.

2026 Big 12 Volleyball Preseason Poll

Arizona State (12), 194 points
TCU (3), 177 points
Kansas, 159 points
Baylor, 152 points
Colorado, 143 points
Iowa State, 131 points
BYU, 122 points
Utah, 118 points
UCF, 84 points
Arizona, 77 points
Kansas State, 65 points
Cincinnati, 60 points
West Virginia, 39 points
Houston, 35 points
Texas Tech, 19 points

2026 Big 12 Volleyball Preseason Player of the Year

Noemie Glover, Arizona State

2026 Big 12 Volleyball Preseason Freshman of the Year

Taylor Stanley, Kansas

2026 Big 12 Volleyball Preseason Team
Carlie Cisneros, Arizona, OH, Jr. ^

Aniya Clinton, Arizona State , OH, Sr. ^

Noemie Glover, Arizona State, RS, Sr.*#

Una Vajagic, Arizona State, OH, Jr.

Ksenia Rakhmanchik, Baylor, OH, So.*#!

Alex Bower, BYU, S, Jr. #

Brielle Kemavor, BYU, MB, Sr.*#

Claire Little Chambers, BYU, OH, Sr.^

Avah Armour, UCF, OH, Sr.*#

Sydney Nolan, Cincinnati, OH, Sr.#

Ana Burilovic, Colorado, OH, Sr.*#

Cayla Payne, Colorado, MB, Sr.^

Rachel Van Gorp, Iowa State, L, Jr.*#

Reese Messer, Kansas, S, So.

Reese Ptacek, Kansas, MB, Jr.*#

Jalyn Gibson, TCU, OPP, Gr.

Evan Hendrix, TCU, OH, Jr.*#

Becca Kelley, TCU, OH, Sr. ^

Kamryn Gibadlo, Utah, OH, Sr. #

Players are listed alphabetically by school.
* indicates unanimous selection.
# - 2025 All-Big 12 First Team
^ - 2025 All-Big 12 Second Team
! – 2025 All-Big 12 Rookie Team

For more information on the Colorado women's volleyball team, a complete schedule and results, please visit CUBuffs.com. Fans of the Buffs can follow the team on Instagram and on Twitter @CUBuffsVB.