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Briseño, a San Antonio native, joined the team as a walk-on last year, and went onto become the only freshman who played every match for the Baylor Bears in 2021, according to a university spokeswoman.

In her sophomore season, Briseño is the team's starting libero, a key defensive position, according to the NCAA.

Briseño said in a post-match press conference Thursday night that she is still \"speechless\" over the surprise.

\"PHOTO:
Courtesy Baylor Athletics
PHOTO: Lauren Briseño is a sophomore volleyball player at Baylor University.
>

\"I was not expecting it whatsoever,\" she said. \"Lo and behold, I get this mystery box and I had no idea what it entailed and I opened it up and sure enough it's a scholarship and I just burst into tears.\"

Undergraduate tuition at Baylor, a four-year private university, runs upward of $50,000 per year, according to the school's website.

\"PHOTO:
Courtesy Baylor Athletics
PHOTO: Lauren Briseño is a sophomore volleyball player at Baylor University.
>

Briseño was awarded the full-ride scholarship by the university's volleyball coaches, who have a limited number of scholarships they can award to players, according to the Baylor spokeswoman.

\"I truly was just left with so much joy,\" said Briseño. \"I'm so grateful to be here, playing with this team, playing with these coaches and just not letting scholarship, not scholarship, not letting it define who I am as a player, but just being eternally grateful for what I have.\"

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