The setting was familiar, with the pomp and circumstance that typically comes with such an occasion.

There were a few chairs, a banner emblazoned with the logo of a future school as a backdrop, balloons and photos commemorating the guest of honor’s athletic career.

But the path that Cornerstone High School volleyball standout Lauren Briseno took to reach this moment — signing with Baylor on Wednesday — wasn’t a conventional one.

Briseno committed to Baylor in July 2018, a few weeks before the start of her sophomore season at Reagan, and before she had played in a varsity match. At the time, Baylor hadn’t surfaced into the national consciousness, where it now ranks among the country’s bests and is a national-championship contender.

To add to the narrative, Briseno transferred from Reagan, a nationally-ranked program where she was all-district first team in 2018, to attend and play her final two seasons at a private school that has no league affiliation or prospects of playing in a postseason.

“It was totally worth it,” said Briseno, who will graduate from high school a semester early.

Briseno was one of two area volleyball athletes to sign with Baylor, the nation’s No. 3-ranked team and a 2019 national semifinalist. Clark’s Elise McGhee was also a member of the Bears’ eight-player class that is rated the best in the Big 12 Conference and No. 9 nationally by PrepVolleyball.

“I am extremely enthusiastic and excited about our class,” Baylor coach Ryan McGuyre said in a press release. “I truly feel we have hit a home run in every position with this group. Overall, we have incredible depth at every position and I expect several all-conference and All-Americans to come out of this class. I am confident these student-athletes will continue to shine bright for Baylor for many years to come.”

Briseno long envisioned making such an impact. When she was in elementary school, she would come home after class in the afternoon, complete her homework, and hurry outside for what developed into a daily ritual.

With volleyball in tow, and no matter the elements, Briseno tossed the ball off a wall and repeatedly passed it to herself. The constant sound of a ball bouncing off a wall won approval from her parents.

“They knew that I was going to do something I was going to succeed in,” Briseno said. “They were definitely pushing it.”

What began on an outside wall of the family home quickly moved to the club scene and then high school. At each stop, Briseno distinguished herself. She helped Reagan to a co-district championship in 2018 and Cornerstone to a combined 52-12 record over the past two seasons, including a seventh-place finish at the Nike Tournament of Champions in Tampa, Fla, in early October.

Baylor, Briseno said, started expressing interest when she was in eighth grade.

“I knew right from the beginning (that) Baylor was going to be a very suitable program for me,” said Briseno, who totaled 785 digs and 88 aces at Cornerstone. “No matter what had happened throughout my commitment, I wanted to stick with Baylor. Baylor was my No. 1 choice. When I originally committed, they weren’t where they are now. It’s really nice to see the growth and development of the program.
“I love competing. I’m just looking forward to working hard.”

Taylor Anderson, a sophomore outside hitter/setter at Cornerstone, can attest to Briseno’s work ethic and competitive spirit. She saw it firsthand during a simulated contest one day during a practice.

“We were playing a mini-game, and she’s a really hard competitor, and she beat me by one point, and I was so angry that I lost,” Taylor said. “She just moves so effortlessly on the court. It was her actions. She worked really hard. With her being on the team, it’s really super helpful because she always have so much knowledge behind the game. She can help out in anyway, whether it’s hitting or setting. She’s just a good teammate.”

One of Briseno’s biggest assist to Anderson, though, might have come off the court. Among the nation’s top prospects in the Class of 2023, Anderson transferred to Cornerstone after a standout freshman season at Warren in 2019. With an identical large-public-school-to-small-private-school background, the two players amassed a quick chemistry.

“The first time I talked to her, she was super-welcoming,” Anderson said. “I feel like I’ve grown so much being able to play with her. We can always talk about the similar experience we had of going from public school to private. We can bond over that.”

terrence@terrencesports.com
Twitter: @sa_terrence1