Even with a coaching change in the offseason, the Kansas volleyball program remains one of the most respected programs in the Big 12 Conference, as evident by the Jayhawks No. 2 spot in this year’s preseason poll.
The poll, voted on by the Big 12’s coaches, was released Wednesday as a part of the conference’s first ever volleyball media days, an online event streaming live on ESPN+ and YouTube.
New KU coach Matt Ulmer’s first squad, which features a blend of returning vets and impact newcomers, received 4 first-place votes in the poll and finished with 170 points, second only to preseason favorite BYU, which received 6 first-place votes and 180 points.
The second-place recognition marks the sixth straight season that KU volleyball has been picked fifth or higher in the Big 12’s preseason poll, with the previous five seasons coming under longtime coach Ray Bechard, who retired in the offseason and was replaced by Ulmer.
Coaches were not allowed to vote for their own teams.
In all, five teams received first-place votes, with Arizona State (3rd with 3), Utah (4th with 1) and TCU (5th with 1) rounding out the other early picks to win the league title.
Later in the day Wednesday, KU landed at No. 14 in the American Volleyball Coaches Association preseason poll. Ulmer’s Jayhawks were one of a record six teams in the preseason poll. KU was the second-highest ranked Big 12 school in the poll.
Individually, a pair of newcomers earned preseason all-conference nods, with 6-foot-7 Serbian freshman Jovana Zelenovic and sophomore setter Cristin Cline, a transfer from Oregon, joining reigning Big 12 Freshman of the Year Reese Ptacek as KU’s representatives on the preseason team.
“Any time you get awards, that’s nice,” Ulmer said later during KU’s turn at Big 12 Media Days. “But, for sure, we haven’t done anything to earn that at this moment. So, we’re gonna keep trying to get better each and every day.”
“It’s been a really fun process,” he added. “The group here is awesome and we’re just really excited to go.”
During the Media Days live stream, Ptacek was asked what she thought was the key to this KU team making some noise this season.
“How much we continue to push this roster and push our limits and push this team,” she said. “We have the pieces, but how far are we willing to push ourselves to get to where we want to be?”
Ulmer left nothing unsaid about the Jayhawks’ goals this year, talking about playing deep into December and even mentioning that the Final Four this year is slated to take place just down the road in Kansas City, Missouri.
2025 Big 12 Volleyball Preseason Poll
- BYU (6), 180 points
- Kansas (4), 170 points
- Arizona State (3), 168 points
- Utah (1), 159 points
- TCU (1), 141 points
- Baylor, 137 points
- Arizona, 131 points
- Kansas State, 95 points
- Iowa State, 92 points
- Colorado, 84 points
- Houston, 75 points
- Texas Tech, 46 points
- Cincinnati, 38 points
- UCF, 32 points
- West Virginia, 27 points
First-place votes in parentheses
2025 Big 12 Volleyball Preseason Player of the Year
Claire Little Chambers, BYU, OH, Jr.
2025 Big 12 Volleyball Preseason Freshman of the Year
Suli Davis, BYU, OH
2025 Big 12 Volleyball Preseason Team
Jordan Wilson, Arizona, OH, Sr.* #
Noemie Glover, Arizona State, OH, Jr.
Faith Frame, Arizona State, L, So. !
Victoria Davis, Baylor, MB, Jr.
Gabrielle Essix, Baylor, MB, Gr.
Alex Bower, BYU, S, So. !
Claire Little Chambers, BYU, OH, Jr.* #
Brielle Kemavor, BYU, MB, Jr.* #
Avah Armour, UCF, OH, Jr.
Ana Burilovic, Colorado, PIN, Jr. ^
Maya Duckworth, Iowa State, OH, Sr.
Cristin Cline, Kansas, S, So.
Reese Ptacek, Kansas, MB, So.* #
Jovana Zelenovic, Kansas, PIN, Fr.
Aniya Clinton, Kansas State, OH, R-Jr.
Jalyn Gibson, TCU, OH, Sr.* #
Kamryn Gibadlo, Utah, OH, Jr.* #
Emrie Moea'i, Utah, MB, Sr. ^
Players are listed alphabetically by school.
* indicates unanimous selection.
# - 2024 All-Big 12 First Team
^ - 2024 All-Big 12 Second Team
! - 2024 All-Big 12 Rookie Team
— For tickets to all KU athletic events, visit kuathletics.com
