For a team that lost just one senior, one would think Kansas’ volleyball team would be loaded with returning experience.

Indeed the Jayhawks are, but the one player they lost  Molly LaMere  wasn’t an average senior.

LaMere is KU’s all-time leader in assists per game (10.17) and was an emotional leader as well. LaMere was the only player to have played all four seasons under Ray Bechard, who has a 63-60 record since he took over the Jayhawks prior to the 1998 season.

“Losing Molly is huge,” senior Molly Scavuzzo said. “She was such a huge part of our team. No one will be able to replace her.”

While no one may be able to replace LaMere, a solid group of returnees already seem to be taking over LaMere’s leadership role.

Most of the Jayhawks decided to stay in Lawrence over the summer and work out together.

“I think that definitely showed their willingness to win,” Bechard said. “Playing together in the spring also gives us an upper hand on staying in shape and working on drills.”

The summer workout program, which includes lifting weights four times a week along with scrimmages, appears to have provided additional focus in addition to the obvious strength benefits.

“I think it obviously shows that we’re getting stronger physically, but also helps us work on our confidence,” said Scavuzzo, one of four seniors on the squad.

Confidence hasn’t been a problem at the beginning of the last two seasons. In 2000, KU won nine games in a row to start the season and the Jayhawks opened with 10 straight victories last year. Once Kansas began Big 12 play, however, winning became tougher  especially last season when the league featured seven teams that made it to the NCAA tourney.

“It’s tough because we lost three or four times in the fifth set last year,” Bechard said. “If we can turn those things around, that’ll make a huge difference.”

Sophomore Ashley Bechard, the coach’s daughter, is the leading candidate to replace LaMere at setter. Junior Sarah Rome returns as KU’s leader in kills last season along with junior starter Abbie Jacobson. Jill Dorsey, Ashley Michaels and Lindsey Morris saw action as freshmen last year and figure to play more of a role on this year’s squad.

Bechard is expecting big things from incoming freshmen Andi Rozum and Josiane Lima, and red-shirt freshman Renita Davidson should also contribute. In addition to Scavuzzo, the Jayhawks’ senior class consists of Jamie Morningstar, Kylie Thomas and Jennifer Kraft.

“We have a solid base of experience to lean on,” Rome said. “Everyone’s a year stronger and more experienced, so we’re looking to come back and having a great year.”

The past three seasons have been over .500, the first time a KU team had posted a winning record in three straight seasons since 1991-93.

Bechard said the Jayhawks could be even stronger despite the loss of one of the program’s top players.

“She’ll definitely be missed,” Bechard said of LaMere. “She had aspects about her that are irreplaceable. But this team’s very talented and if they learned anything from her, it’s how to compete.”