photo by: Mike Gunnoe/Special to the Journal-World

Kansas pin hitter Grace Nelson celebrates with pin hitter Jovana Zelenovic after getting a point against TCU in Horejsi Family Volleyball Arena Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2025.

Seven Kansas volleyball players received All-Big 12 honors on Tuesday afternoon as part of a poll of league head coaches.

Freshman opposite hitter Jovana Zelenović was the Jayhawks’ most decorated player, as she received both a first-team all-league selection and a unanimous spot on the all-rookie team.

Sophomore middle blocker Reese Ptacek, last season’s freshman of the year, joined Zelenović on the first team, while a trio of seniors — setter Katie Dalton, outside hitter Rhian Swanson and libero Ryan White — and sophomore outside hitter Grace Nelson earned second-team selections.

Middle blocker Aurora Papac, another offseason acquisition from the international ranks, made the all-rookie team along with Zelenović.

The honors follow a season in which KU, under first-year head coach Matt Ulmer, finished second in the conference with a 13-5 league record and went 22-10 overall. The Jayhawks earned the right to host NCAA Tournament matches at Horejsi Family Volleyball Arena as a No. 4 seed and will face off against High Point in the first round on Thursday at 6:30 p.m.

Zelenović, a 6-foot-7 freshman from Novi Sad, Serbia, joined KU over the summer after previously having competed for Serbia internationally and in her home country at the club level. She is a potent player in several phases of the game who averages 2.93 kills per set on .286 hitting and 0.98 blocks, and has established herself as the Jayhawks’ most dangerous server with 43 aces.

Papac was another summertime addition who hails from Požega, Croatia. Her primary value has been on defense, as she is second in the Big 12 with 1.37 blocks per set. She has played less frequently in the month of November as junior Aisha Aiono’s role has increased.

Ptacek continued her excellent early-career form throughout 2025 as one of KU’s most consistent players with 2.55 kills and 1.06 blocks per set.

Dalton experienced her first extensive playing time this season after sitting behind Camryn Turner for much of her career. While she has given way to fellow setter Cristin Cline, who came with Ulmer from Oregon, on several occasions, Dalton has largely excelled in her new role and is averaging 8.88 assists per set.

Swanson is another holdover from the Ray Bechard era who has been at times KU’s most dangerous option on the left side. The outside hitter from McPherson leads the Jayhawks with 3.10 kills per set.

White is an Oregon State transfer who was originally committed to join Ulmer at Oregon before he made the move to KU. A team captain, she earned the starting libero role in the offseason and averaged 3.93 digs per set, which ranked fourth in the conference.

Nelson is another two-way standout. Just a sophomore who saw sparse playing time during her first year, she ranks second to White with 2.71 digs per set from her outside hitter spot and also chips in 2.69 kills.

Arizona State received a pair of significant honors after winning the conference, including coach of the year for JJ Van Niel and player of the year for Noemie Glover (who previously played for Ulmer at Oregon). Iowa State had the libero of the year in Rachel Van Gorp and setter of the year in Morgan Brandt, while BYU’s Suli Davis won freshman of the year. UCF’s Avah Armour was the scholar-athlete of the year.