KU’s Ainise Havili is national player of week

By Staff Reports Oct 13, 2015

John Young

Kansas sophomore Ainise Havili (11) makes a set as Iowa State's Monique Harris readies herself to make a block during their volleyball match Saturday afternoon at the Horejsi Center. The Jayhawks swept the Cyclones, 3-0, to remain a perfect 17-0 on the year. The tenth ranked Jayhawks will next face Baylor on Wednesday evening in Waco.

She may be in just her second season of college, but Kansas University setter Ainise Havili already has made quite a name for herself both on the national volleyball circuit and among some of KU’s all-time greats.

Tuesday, Havili was recognized as the Sports Imports/AVCA National Player of the Week, making her the fourth Jayhawk all-time to win the national honor, joining Caroline Jarmoc (2012), Karina Garlington (2008) and Josi Lima (2005).

Havili earned the honor by leading the unbeaten and ninth-ranked Jayhawks (17-0) to sweeps over Texas Tech and Iowa State.

During those matches, Kansas recorded a .326 hitting percentage, with Havili leading the charge with a 12.3 assists-per-set average, tops in the Big 12.

For good measure, the Fort Worth, Texas, native also added four aces and six kills on 14 errorless swings.

Already armed with a pair of Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week honors (Sept. 21 and Oct. 12), Havili is the quarterback of a Kansas offense that leads the nation in kills per set (15.4) and hitting percentage (.323).

The Jayhawks, 5-0 in Big 12 play, will put their unbeaten streak — the longest in school history — on the line at 7 p.m. tonight against Baylor (13-5, 1-3) in Waco, Texas.

KU returns home Oct. 21 for a 6:30 p.m. clash with Oklahoma (7-10, 1-4) at Horejsi Family Athletics Center.