Gabby Simpson joins Kansas volleyball

Gabby Simpson was a three-year starter at Colorado.
Simpson, a lefty, has experience as a right-side hitter and a setter.
The two-time All-Pac 12 honoree has one remaining year of eligibility.Gabby SimpsonGabby Simpson

LAWRENCE, Kan. – Gabby Simpson, a versatile 6-foot-3 hitter and setter, has chosen to transfer to the University of Kansas, head coach Ray Bechard announced on Tuesday. Entering her senior season, Simpson will have one year of eligibility to play for the reigning Big 12 champions.

Simpson was a three-year starter at Colorado, where she totaled 818 kills (2.4 kills per set) and 1,216 assists (3.6 assists per set) as both a right-side hitter and a setter. The two-time All-Pac 12 honorable mention selection recorded 16 double-doubles and a CU-record seven triple-doubles during an injury-shortened 2016 season, in which she started all 22 matches she played in.

“After Gabby got her release and reached out to us, we were thrilled,” Bechard said. “We feel Kansas is a great fit for her. She has one year of eligibility left at this point, and there is an opportunity for her to impact our team from both a physical and a skill-level perspective immediately.”

The left-handed Simpson guided Colorado to a number of quality wins over ranked opponents during the 2016 season, including victories over No. 13 Penn State, No. 17 Illinois, No. 13 Washington State and No. 12 UCLA.

Simpson is a Colorado Springs native who attended Doherty High School before she elected to begin her collegiate career with her two sisters, Cierra and Taylor, at CU.

Simpson will arrive on KU’s campus in July for the second summer school session.

2017 Kansas Volleyball Newcomers

Name (Class; Position; Height; Hometown)
Taylor Alexander (Sr.; MB; 6-4; Breaux Bridge, La.)
Annika Carlson (Fr.; S; 5-11; Olathe, Kan.)
Mmachi Nwoke (So.; MB; 6-1; Grand Prairie, Texas)
Gabby Simpson (Sr.; RS/S; 6-3; Colorado Springs, Colo.)

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