Aug. 23, 2012

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LAWRENCE, Kan. - In the final piece of the four-part series, the Kansas volleyball season outlook wraps up with one of the strongest assets to the team, the middle blockers.

Middle Blockers
Returned: Jr. Jessie Allen, RS Jr. Caroline Jarmoc, Sr., Tayler Tolefree
Gained: Fr. Janae Hall
Lost: None

One of the most experienced positions on the roster, the middle blocking crew will be asked to step up in several ways in 2012. Alongside head coach Ray Bechard, assistant coach Laura "Bird" Kuhn works primarily with the middles and wasted no time making her mark as the Jayhawk defense elevated to a new level in 2011. As a unit, KU ranked third in the Big 12 with 2.57 blocks per set, good for 36th in the NCAA. The Jayhawks recorded nearly 100 more block assists than they did in 2010 and handily out-blocked their opponents (2.6 bps/2.0 bps).

Led by All-Big 12 Preseason Team member Caroline Jarmoc, the Jayhawks bring back senior Tayler Tolefree and junior Jessie Allen while welcoming incoming freshman Janae Hall to form a potent front line.

With an impressive 1.25 blocks per set, Jarmoc ranked second in the league in blocking at the conclusion of the 2011 season. What's more, the Calgary, Alberta, Canada, native appeared on several of the Big 12's top-10 lists last season, including attack percentage (.311), kills (2.92 kills per set), points (3.93 points per set) and checked in at second in service aces (0.28 aces per set) - proving her value both defensively and offensively.

Jarmoc is only a piece of the puzzle, however, as Tolefree sets her sights on an explosive senior year. Like Jarmoc, Tolefree was also a Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week honoree a year ago and finished in the top-five in the conference in blocks per set (1.14, 5th). A Lawrence native, Tolefree tends to lead by example and was the only Jayhawk last year to post a double-double comprised of kills and blocks (17 kills/11 blocks vs. Valparaiso).

Not merely a defensive unit, Jarmoc and Tolefree lead the team's returning offense with 324 and 224 kills in 2011, respectively. Only one Jayhawk in program history owns a better career attack percentage than Jarmoc's .289 (Ashley Michaels, .314).

Playing behind two of the strongest middle blockers in the league has helped junior Jessie Allen ready herself to step in when needed, while freshman Janae Hall is quickly adapting to the pace of the college game. According to Bechard, the middle blocking position is one of the hardest for players to transition speeds from high school to the collegiate level.

Nevertheless, Hall shows signs of making a smooth transition. The Centennial, Colo., native was named to the 2011 USA Girls Youth National Team that competed at the World Youth Championships in Anarka, Turkey and was listed by ESPN Rise as one of the top 25 players in the incoming 2012 class.

Head coach Ray Bechard
On Caroline Jarmoc and Co. in the middle:
"That could be one of the strengths of our team in terms of overall experience and depth so we are excited about that group. (Caroline) can score points with her blocking and attacking. She's been our middle that serves so the expectation is for her to build on a really solid year last year. We need to bring along the rest of that group in the middle, I know Tayler Tolefree will obviously look forward to her senior season, we'll be excited about Jessie Allen now moving in to her junior year playing a more prominent role, and we've got a pretty talented freshman, Janae Hall, in that group so we've got a core group right there."

On the strengths of the middle blockers:
"We have four this year and only had three last year so I like our depth. I like our size and our offensive ability in that group. That tandem of (Caroline) Jarmoc and (Tayler) Tolefree blocked very well last year. They will provide the statistical support we need to be successful in our league."

UP NEXT
Kansas opens the season on Friday against Northwestern State at 4:30 p.m. in its first match of the Arkansas Tournament in Fayetteville, Ark. The Jayhawks will also take on Tennessee-Martin and tournament-host Arkansas in their debut weekend.