RCW: Faces in the Crowd 4.6

Each week in Rock Chalk Weekly, the top Kansas Jayhawk performances are recognized as Faces in the Crowd. Get to know last week’s stars, including information on their latest accomplishments and a link to their full bio.

 

AVERY HALE
Cross Country | So.-1L
Full Bio

Following in his idol’s footsteps, Hale came to Kansas to run for the Jayhawks just like Billy Mills had done. In just his sophomore campaign, Hale is off to a fast start with a pair of top-5 finishes – three for his career.  Saturday at the Rim Rock Classic, Hale was the second Jayhawk to cross the line in the men’s race, finishing in fifth among collegiate competitors at 25:06.4. 
  

 

MICHAEL MELGARES
Cross Country | Jr.-2L
Full Bio

Melgares notched his highest collegiate finish when his second-place effort to lead the Jayhawks at the Rim Rock Classic Saturday morning. The Kansas junior made a great display of his finishing kick to squeeze past UMKC’s Quinlan Moll in the closing meters of the 8K race to earn his top finish. Neck-and-neck in the final straightaway, Melgares was able to cross the line two-tenths of a second earlier than Moll, posting a time of 24:52.4.
  

 

ISABELLA CAVALCANTE
Defender | 5-7 | Fr.-HS
Full Bio

The Jayhawk freshman picked a perfect moment to post her first collegiate goal, as Cavalcante launched a long-range strike in the 84th minute to break a 1-1 tie at Iowa State. The victory was Kansas’ first in the Big 12 Conference this season. After gaining possession near midfield, the Glen Ellyn, Illinois native charged toward the ISU end and sent in a shot from just under 30 yards from the mouth of the Cyclone goal. The high-arching shot snuck under the crossbar and just out of the reach of ISU goalkeeper Antonia Reyes.
  

 

AINISE HAVILI
Setter | 5-10 | Sr.-3L
Full Bio

The Jayhawks extended their Big 12 Conference winning streak to 17 games after Havili guided the KU offense to wins over Iowa State and TCU. The senior setter reached the 60-assist mark for the third time in her All-America career, as she led KU back from a two-set deficit to a five-set victory over No. 18 Iowa State. Against the seventh-best defense in the nation, Havili guided the Jayhawk offense to a .263 hitting percentage and 70 kills, both highs allowed by the Cyclones this season.