KU 2005 Season Wrap-Up

Dec. 21, 2005

LAWRENCE, Kan. –

Despite a depleted roster and a few mid-season setbacks, Kansas volleyball rounded out 2005 with its third consecutive trip the the NCAA Tournament. With two starters out with injuries, the Jayhawks shuffled their lineup and managed to end their season with a winning record and return to the West Coast for their third straight postseason trip.

After starting the season with an 8-1 non-conference mark, the Jayhawks started Big 12 play with a sweep of #15 Texas A&M and went on to post big league victories at Colorado and Kansas State. Despite a 7-13 conference record, KU was extended a postseason bid for the third straight season and was one of seven Big 12 teams to make an appearance in the NCAA Tournament. KU fell to 16th-seeded, #12-ranked UCLA, 3-1, Dec. 3 in the NCAA Tournament first round at Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles.

Three talented seniors — Josi Lima, Paula Caten and Andi Rozum — left huge marks on the KU volleyball program. Lima, a 6-0 middle blocker, is KU’s only four-time All-Big 12 First Team selection and all-time career kills leader. Caten, a 6-3 outside hitter, became KU’s first-ever volleyball Academic All-American after maintaining a 4.0 in her two years at Kansas. Rozum, a 5-10 setter, left KU the all-time career assists and assists per game leader while ranking in the top 10 of many Jayhawk blocking records.

KU IN REVIEW
Kansas finished the 2005 season 15-15 overall and 7-13 in the Big 12 for an eighth-place league finish. The Jayhawks joined Big 12 foes Nebraska, Kansas State, Texas A&M, Texas, Missouri and Colorado in 2005 NCAA Tournament’s 64-team field.

The Jayhawks returned nine letterwinners including four starters in 2005. KU was led by senior middle blocker Josi Lima, a four-time All-Big 12 First Team selection. Postseason awards candidates Paula Caten (senior) and Emily Brown (sophomore) were also in the starting six.

Lima averaged 3.35 kills (.215 hitting efficiency) and a team-high 1.15 blocks per game. Freshman Savannah Noyes, at 6-3, added 1.69 kills and 0.78 blocks per game in the other middle blocker spot.

Caten, a 6-3 outside hitter, contributed 3.17 kills and 2.29 digs per game and Brown, a 6-2 right side hitter, chipped in with 2.99 kills, 2.20 digs and 0.40 aces per game. Junior outside hitter Megan Hill started seven matches and added 1.48 kills per game.

Junior libero Jamie Mathewson paced the defense and ranked ninth in the league with 3.32 digs per game while junior defensive specialist Dani Wittman (1.50 dpg) made seven starts for KU. Senior Andi Rozum (12.87 apg), a four-year starter, suffered a season-ending injury on Nov. 23 but ended her career as one of KU’s best setters.

KU was also without junior outside hitter Jana Correa for most of the season. Correa, who suffered a season-ending injury against #20 Kansas State on Oct. 5, averaged a team-best 3.60 kills to go with 2.29 digs per game in 16 starts.

Season Wrap-Up in PDF Format
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