photo by: John Young

Kansas sophomore Kelsie Payne (8) sends the ball flying past a pair of Kansas State blockers during their volleyball match Wednesday, Nov. 25, 2015, at Ahearn Field House.

The Kansas volleyball team, which set program records during the 2015 season and postseason, will carry its streak of firsts into 2016.

Junior right-side hitter Kelsie Payne became KU’s first Big 12 preseason player of the year in a vote of the league’s coaches, announced Wednesday. The preseason award has been given out since 1996.

“It’s insane and I am honored,” Payne said in a news release. “With everything that we accomplished, I have to thank my teammates for any individual accolades I receive. I couldn’t do it without my setter, libero, hitters and everyone who took part in helping me get where I am.”

Payne earned All-America and All-Big 12 honors last season as the Jayhawks had their best start (19-0), best finish (30-3) and advanced to their first NCAA Final Four, where Payne was named to the All-Tournament Team. She set a KU single-season record for total kills (496) and led the league in kills per set (4.4).

For the second year in a row, Payne is joined on the preseason All-Big 12 Team by junior setter Ainise Havili and senior middle blocker Tayler Soucie. Payne and Havili are unanimous selections on the 2016 team. All three earned first-team honors at the end of the 2015 season.

The Jayhawks return five starters for the 2016 season, which opens Aug. 26 at Mississippi State.

“Last year we had great team chemistry,” Payne said, “and it is important for us to focus in on everyone finding their new role — whatever that might be. The best thing we can do now is to build on what we did last year, but at the same time move on from that and realize that we are starting with a blank slate this season.”