Each of the three Kansas University volleyball players on the Preseason All-Big 12 Team are accustomed to the spotlight. Junior Tayler Soucie and sophomores Ainise Havili and Kelsie Payne — all of whom were all-conference selections in 2014 — were recognized Thursday.
Kansas will open its 2015 season on August 28 against Army in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The Jayhawks are coming off of a 22-9 campaign in 2014 and their second-straight second-place finish in the Big 12.
“Those three represent a lot of talent that we have coming back,” head coach Ray Bechard said. “Beyond that, it speaks to the balance that I think our team will have. It’s relevant that these three received this recognition, but it will be much more relevant when the season is over and the votes are taken then. We have a roster where there could be others added to that list also.”
Soucie led the Big 12 in blocks per set (1.40) in 2014 just one year after breaking the KU record for total blocks in a freshman season (135). Not just a defensive standout, Soucie starts the 2015 season with the Jayhawks’ best all-time career attack percentage (.333). The Osawatomie native was named to the All-Big 12 First Team last year and has now made the Preseason All-Big 12 Team in each of the last two seasons.
Bechard and his staff made the decision to move sophomore Payne from middle blocker to right side in 2015. Payne was a vital piece of the Jayhawks’ success in 2014, hitting .341 for the year with more than two kills (2.05) and one block (1.06) per set.
Havili earned AVCA All-America Honorable Mention honors in 2014 along with Big 12 All-Freshman Team recognition after playing every set of her rookie campaign. She broke the KU freshman record for assists (1,332), which also happened to lead every setter in the conference. Still going, she averaged more than 2.5 digs per set, totaled 50 blocks and led the team in service aces (33). The Fort Worth, Texas, native was named All-Big 12 Honorable Mention and to the Big 12 All-Freshman Team. She was also the 2014 Big 12 Preseason Player of the Year.
