Five Jayhawks listed on All-Big 12 Volleyball Teams
IRVING, Texas – A record-setting third-straight Big 12 Setter of the Year award for senior Ainise Havili highlights a total of five Jayhawks honored in the All-Big 12 awards released on Monday by the conference.
Havili, senior right-side hitter Kelsie Payne and senior outside hitter Madison Rigdon each were named to the All-Big 12 First Team. Havili and Payne become three-time first-team honorees, while Rigdon earns her second-straight first-team honor. Sophomore middle blocker Zoe Hill and sophomore outside hitter Jada Burse earned All-Big 12 Second Team honors.
Havili extends her mark in the Big 12 record books as the only setter to be named Setter of the Year three times. Previously, no setter has ever earned the status more than once. The Fort Worth, Texas, native led the Big 12 in assists per set (11.47) and led Kansas to the second-highest hitting percentage in program history (.258). Havili has 12 50-assist matches this season, including the most assists recorded by a Big 12 player this season with 63 at NC State.
Payne’s third All-Big 12 First Team honor comes fresh off breaking KU’s all-time record for career kills in the final match of the regular season last Saturday; she enters postseason play with 1,500 career kills. The Austin Texas, native ranks third in Big 12 in kills per set (3.73) and fourth in points per set (4.17). The two-time AVCA first-team All-American features five 20-kill matches this season.
Rigdon earns All-Big 12 First Team for the second-straight season after ranking third in the Big 12 in points per set (4.20) and second in aces per set (0.27). The six-rotation player and two-time Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week has led Kansas in kill-dig double-doubles for three-straight seasons, including 12 in 2017.
Hill led Big 12 in hitting percentage during conference play (.406) and finished regular season with 104 total blocks. The Houston, Texas, native averaged 2.16 points per set and 0.99 blocks per set during her sophomore campaign. After posting a .708 hitting percentage in a span of two matches, Hill earned her first in Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week honor on Oct. 9 this season.
Burse averaged the third-most kills per set (2.48) for the Jayhawks during the regular season and has reached double-figure kills in 13 matches entering the postseason. The DeSoto, Texas, native was a Big 12 All-Freshman Team honoree in 2016.
The All-Big 12 awards are voted by the league’s head coaches.
Kansas (22-7) begins its sixth-straight appearance in the NCAA Tournament on Friday against Missouri. First serve from Charles Koch Arena in Wichita is scheduled for 6 p.m. Central.
ALL-BIG 12 AWARDS
| Award | Name | School |
|---|---|---|
| Coach of the Year | Ryan McGuyre | Baylor |
| Player of the Year | Chiaka Ogbogu | Texas |
| Libero of the Year | Hali Hillegas | Iowa State |
| Setter of the Year | Ainise Havili | Kansas |
| Freshman of the Year | Yossiana Pressley | Baylor |
| Name | School | Cl. | Pos. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shelly Fanning | Baylor | So. | MB |
| Yossiana Pressley | Baylor | Fr. | OH |
| Katie Staiger | Baylor | Sr. | OH |
| Hali Hillegas | Iowa State | So. | L |
| Jess Schaben | Iowa State | Jr. | OH |
| Samara West | Iowa State | Sr. | RS |
| Ainise Havili | Kansas | Sr. | S |
| Kelsie Payne | Kansas | Sr. | RS |
| Madison Rigdon | Kansas | Sr. | OH |
| Alyssa Enneking | Oklahoma | Jr. | OH |
| Chiaka Ogbogu | Texas | Sr. | MB |
| Ebony Nwanebu | Texas | Sr. | OH |
| Lexi Sun | Texas | Fr. | OH |
| Micaya White | Texas | So. | OH |
| Payton Caffrey | West Virginia | So. | OH |
| Name | School | Cl. | Pos. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hannah Lockin | Baylor | Fr. | S |
| Aniah Philo | Baylor | Jr. | OH |
| Jada Burse | Kansas | So. | OH |
| Zoe Hill | Kansas | So. | MB |
| Bryna Vogel | Kansas State | Sr. | OH/OPP |
| Anna Walsh | TCU | Jr. | MB |
| Cat McCoy | Texas | Sr. | L |
| Ashley Shook | Texas | Fr. | S |
| Missy Owens | Texas Tech | Jr. | S |
| Mia Swanegan | West Virginia | Sr. | MB |
| Name | School | Pos. |
|---|---|---|
| Hannah Lockin | Baylor | S |
| Yossiana Pressley | Baylor | OH |
| Avery Rhodes | Iowa State | MB |
| Peyton Williams | Kansas State | MB |
| Ashley Shook | Texas | S |
| Lexi Sun | Texas | OH |
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