Eight Jayhawks named to Academic All-Big 12 Volleyball Team

PDF Academic All-Big 12 Team (.pdf)

LAWRENCE, Kan. – Eight University of Kansas student-athletes are listed on the 2016 Academic All-Big 12 Conference Volleyball Team released on Tuesday.

Included in the eight Jayhawks recognized for academic achievement are five first-team honorees – senior Maggie Anderson, junior Kayla Cheadle, redshirt freshman Patricia Montero, senior Tayler Soucie and senior Cassie Wait.

Juniors Ainise Havili, Tori Miller and Madison Rigdon are listed on the second team.

“This represents a commitment our student-athletes make to performing on the highest level on the court while creating opportunities, from a time management standpoint, to excel in the classroom,” Kansas head coach Ray Bechard said. “We also owe a great deal of gratitude to Dr. Scott ‘Scooter’ Ward and his academic support team for all the work they do to ensure that our student-athletes clarify goals, prioritize and execute with success.”

It is the third-straight year that KU’s trio of seniors – Anderson, Soucie and Wait – have been recognized with Academic All-Big 12 distinction.

“As we begin to look at finishing three great volleyball careers for our seniors, this is a fitting way for them to end the academic side of things,” Bechard said. “All three have been exemplary student-athletes in our program and have incredibly bright futures ahead of them – Maggie has a full-time job lined up after she graduates in December, Tayler is finalizing plans to enroll in a post-graduate physician assistant program, and Cassie began her first year in KU’s School of Law this fall.”

It is the second-straight year Havili and Rigdon have been listed on the Academic All-Big 12 Volleyball Team. Cheadle, Montero and Miller earn the honor for the first time.

To qualify, student-athletes must maintain a 3.00 GPA or higher either cumulative or the two previous semesters and must have participated in 60 percent of their team’s scheduled contests. Freshmen and transfers are not eligible in their first year of academic residence. Senior student-athletes who have participated for a minimum of two years and meet all the criteria except percent of participation are also eligible.

First team members consist of those who have maintained a 3.20 or better GPA while the second team selections hold a 3.00 to 3.19 GPA.

A total of 60 Big 12 student-athletes are on the 2016 Academic All-Big 12 Volleyball Team, including 49 first-team selections.

Academic All-Big 12 Volleyball Team – KANSAS

First Team
Maggie Anderson – Sr.; Supply Chain Management; Lincoln, Neb.
Kayla Cheadle – Jr.; Sport Management; Columbia, Mo.
Patricia Montero – R-Fr.; Sport Management; Ponce, Puerto Rico
Tayler Soucie – Sr.; Exercise Science; Osawatomie, Kan.
Cassie Wait – Sr.; Law; Gardner, Kan.

Second Team
Madison Rigdon – Jr.; Exercise Science; Pflugerville, Texas
Tori Miller – Jr.; Exercise Science; Derby, Kan.
Ainise Havili – Jr.; Sport Management; Fort Worth, Texas

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