🏐 Kansas Adds Six to 2020-21 Roster

LAWRENCE, Kan. – Kansas volleyball head coach Ray Bechard announced six additions to the 2020-21 roster. Caroline Crawford (Lansing, Kan.), Elise McGhie (Kansas City, Mo.), Kaiti Parks (Olathe, Kan.), Karli Schmidt (Lansing, Kan.), Molly Schultz (Rockford, Minn.) and Kim Whetstone (Kansas City, Kan.) will all don the Crimson and Blue next season.

"We are very excited about the versatility of this class. We addressed our needs in that we are adding some high-level competitors that we think can be contributors as middle blockers and outside attackers, along with making quality additions at our setting and libero position. It is a big class and were excited with the type of work ethic and character that they are going to add to our returning group."

Kansas Volleyball Head Coach Ray Bechard
NAME POSITION // HOMETOWN
Caroline Crawford Middle Blocker/Outside Hitter // Lansing, Kan.
Elise McGhie Setter // Kansas City, Mo.
Kaiti Parks Middle Blocker // Olathe, Kan.
Karli Schmidt Outside Hitter // Lansing, Kan.
Molly Schultz Defensive Specialist/Libero // Rockford, Minn.
Kim Whetstone Middle Blocker // Kansas City, Kan.

Caroline Crawford | MB/OH | Lansing, Kan. | Lansing HS

  • Three-time 1st Team All Conference
  • Three-time 1st Team All District
  • Three-time All Academic State
  • Two-time All State selection
  • Evelyn Gates Award Finalist
  • PrepVolleyball Top 50 Junior Recruits
  • 2019 United Kansas Conference 1st Team All Conference
  • 2019 United Kansas Conference Player of the Year
  • 2019 State All Tournament Team
  • MOKAN All Star Team
  • Ranked No. 22 on PrepVolleyball Top Seniors
  • AVCA 1st Team Under Armour All-American
  • Competed on the U.S. Youth National Team, winning the gold medal at the 2018 NORCECA Women’s U18 Continental Championship in Honduras  and winning the gold medal at the 2019 Women’s U18 World Championships in Egypt
  • Father, Lynn Crawford, competed in track & field at Kansas

"Caroline is a middle blocker who has extensive club, high school and USA volleyball experience, having success at all those levels. Caroline is equipped to compete at a high level right away. She will be a physical blocker and can be a terminal attacker both in front of and behind the setter. We are very excited about Caroline joining us."

Bechard on Crawford

Elise McGhie | Setter | Kansas City, Mo. | St. Teresa's Academy

  • Academic All-State, 2018 volleyball, All-District Honors, 2018
  • Prepvolleyball.com All-American Highest Honorable Mention, 2018
  • AVCA Under Armour All-American Honorable Mention, 2019
  • AVCA All-Region Team, 2019
  • MO-KAN All-Star, 2019
  • 1,816 career assists (3rd most in school history)
  • St. Teresa’s assists per season record holder (933)
  • Career 10.5 assists per set

"Elise attends St. Teresa’s Academy where her team was one of the top teams in the state. She is going to be a high-level setter. She has great feet, a solid delivery and is very cerebral in her approach to the game. Elise is a student of the game and is going of having a great career helping run our offense."

Bechard on McGhie

Kaiti Parks | MB | Olathe, Kan. | Olathe Northwest HS

  • 2018 Kansas 6A first team all state and state tournament team selection
  • 2018 Sunflower League first team selection
  • 2017 Kansas 6A honorable mention all state, Sunflower League second team selection
  • 2017 Kansas 6A Volleyball State Champion
  • 2017 Sunflower League Champion with Olathe Northwest HS
  • 2017 Sunflower League honorable mention

"Kaiti is a very capable middle with an unmatched work ethic that will allow her to have a high level of success at this level. She is an outstanding teammate and has played a number of roles for her high school and club team. Her very best volleyball is ahead of her and we are thrilled she has decided to join our program."

Bechard on Parks

Karli Schmidt | OH | Lansing, Kan. | Lansing HS

  • Four-time Kansas first team all state
  • Three-time KSHAA All-State Tournament team
  • MVP of the EKL league
  • Four-time United Kansas Conference First Team selection
  • PrepVolleyball.com Top 50 Senior Aces
  • Kansas 5A Player of the Year
  • Under Armour All-American Third Team honoree

"Karli has the ability to be a six-rotation outside attacker which will create a lot of offensive flexibility for our program. She will add immediate value with her attacking, blocking, primary passing and her ability to attack out of the back-row. She will score points for us in many ways and we look forward to her joining us."

Bechard on Schmidt

Molly Schultz | DS/L | Rockford, Minn. | Rockford HS

  • Six year starter for Rockford Volleyball
  • Holds high school single season ace record with 114 aces
  • Holds Minnesota state high school record for aces in a single match with 21 (senior year)
  • Posted 1,628 assists, 324 aces, 1,080 digs and 792 kills in high school career
  • Holds four school records for track and field: open 400, long jump, 4×200, 4×400
  • Volleyball All-Conference 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019
  • 2018 Class AA Minnesota Volleyball Honorable Mention All-State
  • 2019 Class AA Minnesota Volleyball First Team All-State
  • 2019 Prep Volleyball Senior Aces / Dandy Lions
  • Member of the 2019 AVCA High School Region 7 All-Region Team

"Molly is a high-level communicator with great energy. She inspires those around her to play harder and be a teammate the right way. Molly has great platform skills and her range will allow her to be a dynamic contributor. We are excited about the enthusiasm and competitive culture she will bring to the team."

Bechard on Schultz

Kim Whetstone | MB | Kansas City, Kan. | Bonner Springs HS

  • Three-time Frontier League First Team selection
  • 2019 All Region
  • 2019 Under Armour All American Nominee
  • Four-time PrepVolleyball.com All American Honors
  • Two-time all-tournament at nationals
  • Competed in basketball, track & field and powerlifting at Bonner Springs High School
  • 2019 KSHAA State Champion in clean, squat and overall powerlifting state champion

"Kim is a unique talent in that we think she can play a number of attacker positions for us. She can play fast or hit a high ball which will allow for offensive versatility. Kim is another potential six-rotation player who because of her outstanding athleticism will also be a shut-down blocker. She’s a great addition to our program."

Bechard on Whetstone