KU tabs volleyball team with Outstanding Women Students in Athletics honor

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LAWRENCE, Kan. – For a maintained standard of excellence on the court and off, the University of Kansas named its entire volleyball team with the Outstanding Women Students in Athletics honor on Tuesday night during the KU Women’s Recognition Banquet on campus.

The award goes to women student(s) who, through their overall excellence as athletes and team members in KU athletics organizations, have contributed to the advancement of their sport and women’s athletics.

The Jayhawks finished the 2016 season as Big 12 Champions for the first time in program history with a 27-3 overall record and 15-1 mark during conference play. After advancing to the NCAA Final Four in 2015, Kansas followed-up with another flourishing campaign featuring two winning streaks longer than 10 matches, a top-10 ranking throughout the regular season (peaking at No. 4), and the program’s highest seed in the NCAA Tournament (No. 5).

The squad was led by four AVCA All-Americans in junior right-side hitter Kelsie Payne (first team), junior setter Ainise Havili (third team), senior libero Cassie Wait (honorable mention) and junior outside hitter Madison Rigdon (honorable mention). Kansas also nearly swept the Big 12 postseason awards, earning the league’s Player of the Year (Payne), Setter of the Year (Havili), Libero of the Year (Wait) and Coach of the Year (Ray Bechard).

The Women’s Recognition Banquet, a tradition on campus since the mid-1960s, honors KU women who have made notable contributions to the campus and community. The banquet recognizes women students, faculty, staff and alumnae who have enriched and improved the campus community through their service, teaching, or involvement.

Additional honorees from Tuesday night’s banquet can be found here.

KU’s 2016 OUTSTANDING WOMEN STUDENTS IN ATHLETICS: KANSAS VOLLEYBALL

Name, class, major
Allie Nelson, freshman, undecided
Tori Miller, junior, exercise science
Kayla Cheadle, junior, sport management
Jada Burse, freshman, undecided
Cassie Wait, senior, finance and law
Zoe Hill, freshman, accounting
Jacqui Mostrom, freshman, chemical engineering
Kelsie Payne, junior, communication studies
Tayler Soucie, senior, exercise science
Ainise Havili, junior, sport management
Ashley Smith, freshman, community health
Patricia Montero, freshman, sport management
Madison Rigdon, junior, exercise science
Maggie Anderson, senior, supply chain management
Addison Barry, junior, community health

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