LAWRENCE, Kan. – Coming off a strong 2024 campaign, Kansas Volleyball has been picked to finish second in the 2025 Big 12 Preseason Coaches' Poll, as announced by the conference on today.
The Jayhawks earned 170 points and received four first-place votes, trailing only BYU (180 points, six first-place votes) in a tightly contested poll. The 2025 second-place prediction marks the sixth-straight season Kansas has been fifth or higher in the Big 12 Preseason Coaches' Poll. Conference coaches were not allowed to vote for their own team in the preseason poll.
In addition to the team recognition, Kansas placed three standout student-athletes on the 2025 Preseason All-Big 12 Team, tying for the second-most selections of any school in the conference.
Sophomore
Cristin Cline (S), sophomore
Reese Ptacek (MB), and freshman
Jovana Zelenovic (PIN) all earned preseason honors. Ptacek, a 2025 All-Big 12 First Team honoree and unanimous preseason selection, returns as a force at the net. Cline, who emerged as a dynamic playmaker during her freshman season, looks to build on her success as the team's primary setter. Zelenovic, a highly touted newcomer, is one of only three freshmen named to the preseason squad.
"This conference is deep with talent and is very well coached," said Kansas Head Coach
Matt Ulmer. "Our group is excited to compete against some of the best teams in the country."
Kansas will open its 2025 season on August 23 with a match against Vanderbilt in the AVCA First Serve Tournament in Lincoln, Nebraska. KU will then face reigning national champion Penn State two days later, August 25, in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The Jayhawks will make their home debut in Horejsi Family Volleyball Arena on September 25, against last year's Big 12 champion Arizona State.
2025 Big 12 Volleyball Preseason Poll
- BYU- 180 points (6 first-place votes)
- Kansas- 170 points (4 first-place votes)
- Arizona State- 168 points (3 first-place votes)
- Utah- 159 points (1 first-place vote)
- TCU- 141 points (1 first-place vote)
- Baylor- 137 points
- Arizona- 131 points
- Kansas State- 95 points
- Iowa State- 92 points
- Colorado- 84 points
- Houston- 75 points
- Texas Tech- 46 points
- Cincinnati- 38 points
- UCF- 32 points
- West Virginia- 27 points
2025 Big 12 Volleyball Preseason Player of the Year
Claire Little, BYU, OH, Jr.
2025 Big 12 Volleyball Preseason Freshman of the Year
Suli Davis, BYU, OH
2025 Big 12 Volleyball Preseason Team
Jordan Wilson, Arizona, OH, Sr.* #
Noemie Glover, Arizona State, OH, Jr.
Faith Frame, Arizona State, L, So. !
Victoria Davis, Baylor, MB, Jr.
Gabrielle Essix, Baylor, MB, Gr.
Alex Bower, BYU, S, So. !
Claire Little, BYU, OH, Jr.* #
Brielle Kemavor, BYU, MB, Jr.* #
Avah Armour, UCF, OH, Jr.
Ana Burilovic, Colorado, PIN, Jr. ^
Maya Duckworth, Iowa State, OH, Sr.
Cristin Cline, Kansas, S, So.
Reese Ptacek, Kansas, MB, So.* #
Jovana Zelenovic, Kansas, PIN, Fr.
Aniya Clinton, Kansas State, OH, R-So.
Jalyn Gibson, TCU, OH, Sr.* #
Kamryn Gibaldo, Utah, OH, Jr.* #
Emrie Satuala, Utah, MB, Sr. ^
Players are listed alphabetically by school.
* indicates unanimous selection.
# - 2024 All-Big 12 First Team
^ - 2024 All-Big 12 Second Team
! – 2024 All-Big 12 Rookie Team