KU volleyball players earn Big 12 honors
photo by: Andrew Rosenthal
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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