Soucie Earns KU’s 11th Big 12 Weekly Honor in 2013

LAWRENCE, Kan. – After nine kills and nine blocks to power the top-25 Kansas volleyball team to its fourth-straight win over rival Kansas State, freshman middle blocker Tayler Soucie was named the Big 12 Conference Rookie of the Week, the league announced Monday.
 
Sitting in third place in the Big 12 standings, with a meeting at second-place Iowa State scheduled for Wednesday, Kansas (20-6, 10-3) rang up its 11th weekly award of the season – a KU record and tied for fifth-most in conference history.  Seven different Jayhawks have been recognized this season, a league record, and this marks the fourth time for Soucie. She has earned three Big 12 Rookie of the Week honors and was tabbed once as the league’s Defensive Player of the Week. Only teammate and mentor Caroline Jarmoc has earned more Big 12 weekly awards (five) in her career at Kansas.
 
“She didn’t get off to a great start against Kansas State, but her response was incredible. That’s her, she’s the kind of player that moves on to the next play,” head coach Ray Bechard said. “She went on to be great in the last two sets. Typically, freshmen hit a wall at some point, but she refuses to do that.”
 
Soucie was a vital piece of the Jayhawks’ fourth-straight victory over rival Kansas State on Saturday. The Osawatomie, Kan., native drilled nine kills against the Wildcats but it was her nine blocks that really set the tone. Facing the top-ranked blocking team in the Big 12, Soucie’s effort at the net helped the Jayhawks double up Kansas State in the blocking column (13.0-6.5).  KU played just one match this past week, giving Soucie an outstanding 2.25 blocking average for the week.
 
Soucie is tied for third in the Big 12 rankings with a .348 hitting percentage on the season, behind Oklahoma All-American senior Sallie McLaurin and Texas freshman Chiaka Ogbogu – a likely campaign mate for Soucie in the Big 12 Freshman of the Year candidacy – and tied with Texas’ Molly McCage. Aside from attack percentage, Soucie also ranks fourth in the league in blocks per set (1.24).
 
2013 Kansas Big 12 Players of the Week
Sept. 9 – Caroline Jarmoc (Defensive)
Sept. 16 – Brianne Riley (Defensive)
Sept. 23 – Erin McNorton (Offensive); Tayler Soucie (Rookie)
Sept. 30 – Tiana Dockery (Offensive); Caroline Jarmoc (Defensive)
Oct. 7 – Sara McClinton (Offensive); Tayler Soucie (Defensive)
Oct. 21 – Chelsea Albers (Defensive)
Nov. 4 – Tayler Soucie (Rookie)
Nov. 18 – Tayler Soucie (Rookie)
 
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