Missouri Tiger volleyball player Paola Ampudia was named the unanimous Big 12 Newcomer of the Year by the league’s 11 head coaches. She also landed on the All-Big 12 First Team as well, marking the first Tiger to appear on this list since Jessica Vander Kooi did so back in 2006. Ampudia was also one of three finalists for Big 12 Player of the Year this season.
Ampudia averaged 5.21 points, 4.69 kills and 2.20 digs per set in her first season of Big 12 play. The transfer from Miami-Dade had more kills (281) than any other Big 12 player over their last 16 matches. That total was 21 more than UT’s Destinee Hooker, who was named Big 12 Player of the Year. Ampudia also ranked second in points and kills during Big 12 play behind Hooker. She also became just the ninth Tiger to post at least 400 kills in a single-season.
