Wait Named Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week

IRVING, Texas – For the fourth consecutive week, Kansas volleyball has earned a Big 12 weekly award as junior libero Cassie Wait was named Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week on Monday. It is the first weekly award for Wait this season and the third of her career. Sophomore right-side hitter Kelsie Payne earned Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week honors the previous three weeks.

Wait led the Big 12 in digs per set (5.7) last week while guiding KU to a three-set victory at West Virginia on Saturday. Wait was the driving force in holding the Mountaineers to a .053 hitting percentage on the match, including a .025 hitting percentage in the last two sets.

This season, Wait ranks third in the Big 12 in digs per set (4.8), while owning the only double-double by a Big 12 libero (21 digs and 10 assists vs TCU last week). The Gardner, Kansas native now has 1,209 career digs to remain in fifth-place on KU’s all-time digs list.

UPDATED RANKINGS
Kansas remained at No. 9 in this week’s AVCA Coaches Poll released on Monday. Kansas has been ranked in the top-25 for a program-record 12 consecutive weeks, including eight consecutive weeks in the top-10. KU reached program-high No. 7 ranking on Oct. 19.

In the latest NCAA RPI rankings, also released on Monday, the Jayhawks are ranked No. 8.

NEXT UP
Part two of the Dillons Sunflower Showdown between Kansas and Kansas State is Wednesday in Manhattan. The Jayhawks won the first meeting with K-State in four sets during the Big 12 opener on Sept. 23 in Lawrence.

Kansas 2015 Big 12 Players of the Week
Kelsie Payne (Offensive) – Sept. 7
Ainise Havili (Offensive) – Sept. 21
Madison Rigdon (Offensive) – Oct. 5
Ainise Havili (Offensive) – Oct. 12
Kelsie Payne (Offensive) – Nov. 2
Kelsie Payne (Offensive) – Nov. 9
Kelsie Payne (Offensive) – Nov. 16
Cassie Wait (Defensive) – Nov 23