Position Breakdown: Middle Blockers

LAWRENCE, Kan. – The Jayhawks return two middle blockers from the 2018 squad with each earning preseason All-Big 12 honors.

"We don’t have much depth but we have two quality middle blockers in Zoe Hill and Rachel Langs with Gracie Van Driel having the option to slide from outside hitter into the middle. We need to stay healthy but we have experience and two very different middles who both do different things for us. If we can keep those two healthy it will be a strength for us this season. "

Ray Bechard

RETURNING JAYHAWKS

Zoe Hill

Hill is entering her fourth year with the program and played in 27 matches with 21 starts last season. Hill led KU in blocks (125.0) and was named Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week twice in 2018. The Houston, Texas native was named to the 2019 All-Big 12 Volleyball Preseason Team earlier this summer.

Rachel Langs

Langs returns to the Jayhawks for her sophomore season with high expectations after the Fairview, Texas native was named to the 2018 Big 12 All-Rookie Team and the 2019 All-Big 12 Volleyball Preseason Team. Langs played in 25 matches last season with 18 starts while earning 128 kills and 10 blocks.

NEWCOMER

Gracie Van Driel

Van Driel is a four-year letterwinner at Rose Hill High School in Rose Hill, Kansas, and was also a three-time letterwinner in track & field. She led the Rose Hill Rockets to 2016 and 2017 Kansas 4A State Championships. Van Driel joined Kansas prior to the 2019 spring semester and will split time between the outside hitter and middle blocker roles.