Kansas Volleyball: Motivation for 2017
By Stan Unruh
The Kansas volleyball team is set to defend their Big 12 conference championship. The preseason poll out should provide some incentive.
Kansas basketball players know they provide excitement entertainment for fans. Where does the basketball team go for excitement? Many of the players attend the Kansas volleyball games. Tune in to any of the televised Kansas volleyball games and you will see members of the Kansas men’s basketball team. Coach Ray Bechard’s Jayhawks are one of the most exciting teams anywhere.
Bechard’s team is the defending Big 12 conference champions. As a matter of fact, they deserve some respect. In my opinion, they didn’t get much in the poll out this week. After knocking off Texas last season, the Jayhawks are ranked behind them again. On the other hand, Bechard may be thankful. The master motivator will use this to fire up his team.
The Kansas volleyball team did get three first-place votes in the poll. That is an accomplishment too. It is the most first place vote in program history. The 59 total points in the poll are three short of the Horns. I can almost feel the tension and excitement building. As you might expect, Coach Bechard issued a polite statement on the poll.
"“We are highly thought of in these rankings – that is a reflection of the careers our players have had to this point and the respect that other coaches have for them,”"
More from Through the Phog
- Kansas basketball: Esteemed recruit Jalil Bethea to announce college decision tomorrow
- Kansas football: Lassiter brothers exchange good-natured banter on social media
- Kansas basketball: Liam McNeeley cuts list to two, includes Jayhawks and Indiana
- Kansas football: Reviewing Jayhawks PFF grades, snap counts from win over Nevada
- Kansas football: JB Brown emerging as star for Jayhawks defense
I always pay attention to college football and basketball. Over the past three years, I also always find a way to get the latest details or watch the Kansas volleyball team too. If you don’t know about Kansas Volleyball, why not? Bechard has three returning All-American seniors: Kelsie Payne, Ainise Havili and Madison Rigdon. Kansas is now one of the nation’s best volleyball programs. I look forward to their season opener August 25 in Raleigh, North Carolina.