Kansas Recognizes Unprecedented Volleyball Season
LAWRENCE, Kan. – The most successful season in Kansas Volleyball history was recognized on Sunday afternoon at the annual team banquet held in Horejsi Family Athletics Center.
Big 12 Coach of the Year Ray Bechard summarized the Jayhawks’ unprecedented season at the podium and showed appreciation for all the support that staff members, family and boosters showed throughout the year.
Kansas Director of Athletics Sheahon Zenger took to the podium to speak praises of the 2015 Jayhawks and recounted one of the greatest moments in Kansas Athletics history – the Jayhawks rallying from down 13-9 in the fifth set against No. 1-seed USC by scoring six consecutive points to clinch the program’s first-ever berth in the NCAA Final Four.
“For the rest of my career, I will use set five as an example of being fundamentally sound, assignment correct, and mentally tough. That is exactly what it looks like,” Dr. Zenger said to the crowd of student-athletes, parents, coaches, and boosters.
Prominent members in attendance included Bechard’s wife, Pam, and their family; Max Falkenstien and Dr. Zenger. In addition to Bechard and Dr. Zenger taking the podium to address the crowd, Associate Athletics Director and volleyball sport administrator Jim Marchiony commemorated the season.
After the meal, the group watched the yearly highlight video, the team received the class gifts and posed for photos. Each student-athlete received NCAA Championship Semifinalist participation trophy in addition to freshmen receiving letter jackets, sophomores receiving a fancy blanket, juniors receiving a commemorative watch, and seniors receiving a ‘K’ ring.
2015 TEAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS
• Highest winning percentage in program history (.909; 30-3)
• Highest ranking in program history (No. 4)
• Best postseason finish in program history (advanced to the Elite Eight and Final Four for the first time)
• Program’s first AVCA All-America First Team selections (Ainise Havili and Kelsie Payne)
• Program-record four consecutive seasons of hosting the NCAA Championship First & Second Rounds
• Best start to a season in program history (19-0)
• Longest winning streak in program history (W19)
• Became the program’s fastest team to 20 wins (21 matches) and 30 wins (32 matches)
• Program-record .299 hitting percentage ranked fourth nationally (KU’s previous record for hitting percentage in a season was .254 in 2013)
• KU’s 15.4 kills per set ranked second nationally (it also sets a program record for kills per set during the 25-point set era)
• KU’s 14.2 assists per set ranked second nationally
• Only three losses of the season were against the two teams that played for the NCAA title (Texas, Nebraska)
INDIVIDUAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Head Coach Ray Bechard
• PrepVolleyball.com National Coach of the Year
• Hero Sports National Coach of the Year
• Big 12 Coach of the Year
• AVCA Midwest Region Coach of the Year
• Reached 300 wins at Kansas
Associate Head Coach Laura Kuhn (a.k.a. Bird)
• AVCA National Assistant Coach of the Year
Junior L Cassie Wait
• PrepVolleyball.com All-America Second Team
• Hero Sports National Libero of the Year
• NCAA San Diego Regional All-Tournament Team
• Kansas Invitational MVP
• Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week (11/23/15)
• Jayhawk Classic All-Tournament Team
• Academic All-Big 12 First Team
• Reached 1,000 career digs and currently ranks third on KU’s all-time digs list
Senior OH Tiana Dockery
• Jayhawk Classic MVP
• Arkansas Invitational All-Tournament Team
• First Jayhawk play on four NCAA tournament teams during all four years of her collegiate career
Sophomore RS Kelsie Payne
• AVCA All-America First Team
• PrepVolleyball.com All-America First Team
• NCAA Championship All-Tournament Team
• Hero Sports National Outside/Right-Side Hitter of the Year
• AVCA All-Midwest Region First Team
• All-Big 12 First Team
• NCAA San Diego Regional All-Tournament Team
• Preseason All-Big 12 Team
• Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week (9/7/15, 11/2/15, 11/9/15, 11/16/15)
• Jayhawk Classic All-Tournament Team
• Kansas Invitational All-Tournament Team
• Arkansas Invitational All-Tournament Team
• Led the Big 12 in kills per set (4.4) and total kills (496)
• Set a KU record with 496 total kills
Junior MB Tayler Soucie
• AVCA All-Midwest Region First Team
• All-Big 12 First Team
• Kansas Invitational All-Tournament Team
• Pistol Pete’s Showdown All-Tournament Team
• Academic All-Big First Team
• Preseason All-Big 12 Team
Sophomore S Ainise Havili
• AVCA All-America First Team
• NCAA San Diego Region MVP
• PrepVolleyball.com All-America First Team
• Hero Sports National Setter of the Year
• Big 12 Setter of the Year
• AVCA All-Midwest Region First Team
• All-Big 12 First Team
• AVCA National Player of the Week (10/13/15)
• Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week (9/21/15, 10/12/15)
• Arkansas Invitational MVP
• Pistol Pete’s Showdown All-Tournament Team
• Academic All-Big 12 Second Team
• Preseason All-Big 12 Team
• Led the Big 12 in assists per set (12.1) and total assists (1,371).
• Ranked third nationally in assists per set (12.1)
Sophomore OH Madison Rigdon
• All-Big 12 Second Team
• Pistol Pete’s Showdown MVP
• Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week (10/6/15)
• Academic All-Big 12 First Team
Junior MB Janae Hall
• Academic All-Big 12 First Team
• NCAA Elite 90 Award
Junior S/DS Maggie Anderson
• Academic All-Big 12 First Team
KUAthletics.com: The official online source for Kansas Athletics, Williams Education Fund contributions, tickets, merchandise, multimedia, photos and much, much more.
