KU volleyball players earn Big 12 honors

photo by: Andrew Rosenthal

Kansas freshman Rachel Langs and junior Jada Burse hug in celebration as Kansas takes down No. 4 Texas in four sets Wednesday, Oct. 10, 2018.

Four Kansas volleyball players netted league honors, the Big 12 conference announced Monday afternoon.

Jada Burse (first), Gabby Simpson (second), Ashley Smith (second) and Rachel Langs (rookie) were all recognized for their play this season.

Burse led Kansas in kills (374), kills per set (3.46) and points (408.5). The junior also finished the regular season ranked eighth in the conference in points scored and sixth in kills per set.

“Jada (Burse) has taken over matches for us with her attack and her physicality has led to her scoring points through blocks,” head coach Ray Bechard said in a team release. “There are times were she has been very dominate and carried us offensively.”

Simpson earned second team honors in her lone season playing at KU. She led the Jayhawks in assists (558) despite a transition to the primary setter role halfway through the season. The senior also finished third on the team in digs (208) and fourth in kills (152), while logging the team’s lone triple-double against K-State on Nov. 14.

“I think teams and the other coaches in the Big 12 see Gabby’s (Simpson) value in that she is willing to contribute whatever is needed,” Bechard stated. “She has had big kills, has taken over the setting role, is a primary passer and is a six-rotation player for us.”

Smith earned her first postseason accolades, as she finished second on the team in kills (321) and kills per set (2.94), while earning the third-highest attack percentage (.242) to earn second-team honors. Langs, meanwhile, led the team in blocks per set (1.36), finishing tied for second en route to being named the rookie team.

2018 ALL-BIG 12 VOLLEYBALL POSTSEASON AWARDS

Coach of the Year: Jerritt Elliott, Texas

Player of the Year: Micaya White, Texas

Libero of the Year: Keyton Kinley, Oklahoma

Setter of the Year: Kylee McLaughlin, Oklahoma & Missy Owens, Texas Tech

Freshman of the Year: Logan Eggleston, Texas

ALL-BIG 12 FIRST TEAM

Shelly Fanning, Baylor

Yossiana Pressley, Baylor

Grace Lazard, Iowa State

Jess Schaben, Iowa State

Jada Burse, Kansas

Alyssa Enneking, Oklahoma

Keyton Kinley, Oklahoma

Kylee McLaughlin, Oklahoma

lan McCall, TCU

Anna Walsh, TCU

Brionne Butler, Texas

Logan Eggleston, Texas

Yaasmeen Bedart-Ghani, Texas

Morgan Johnson, Texas

Micaya White, Texas

Missy Owens, Texas Tech

ALL-BIG 12 SECOND TEAM

Paige Anderson, Oklahoma

Gabby Simpson, Kansas

Ashley Smith, Kansas

Gloria Mutiri, Kansas State

Elle Sandbothe, Kansas State

Tori Dilfer, TCU

Emily Hill, Texas Tech

Brooke Kanas, Texas Tech

Katy Keenan, Texas Tech

ALL-BIG 12 ROOKIE TEAM

Rachel Langs, Kansas

Gloria Mutiri, Kansas State

lan McCall, TCU

Logan Eggleston, Texas

Brionne Butler, Texas

Brooke Kanas, Texas Tech

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