Kansas volleyball blends new talent, high expectation for 2025 season

LAWRENCE (KSNT) – Excitement is starting to build in Lawrence as Kansas volleyball gets set for the 2025 season.

The Jayhawks held its annual media day on Monday, coming in with high expectations after being picked to finish second in the Big 12 preseason coaches poll.

A lot has changed since KU’s second-round NCAA Tournament exit in 2024. The program said goodbye to five seniors, along with a couple of transfers.

Those departures left plenty of open roles on the court, but also created some opportunities for new leaders to step forward.

"I'm not close to making a lineup, which is very scary. At this point, you genuinely have an idea, but I don't yet," Kansas head coach Matt Ulmer said. "This is a great problem to have as they're all pushing hard for positions. Everyone is doing a great job."

Ulmer joined KU's staff in the offseason after eight years with the University of Oregon.

Matt Ulmer has reloaded the roster with four freshmen — international players Selena Leban, Jovana Zelenovic, and Aurora Papac, plus Indiana Gatorade Player of the Year Logan Bell — along with experienced transfers setter Cristin Cline (Oregon) and pin hitter Audra Wilmes (Washington).

Cline was named to the conference preseason team along with Reese Ptacek, Zelenovic, and Aniya Clinton.

"The decision to join KU was pretty easy," Cline said. "I loved Ulmer and the staff, and they told me they'd love to have me at KU. It was a quick decision."

With so much new talent, one of KU’s biggest early-season challenges will be finding the right mix on the floor.

"The pieces are coming together, and everyone has stepped up and gelled together," sophomore pin hitter Grace Nelson said. "Ulmer has high expectations of us, and we learned that really quickly."

The Jayhawks open the 2025 season at the AVCA First Serve in Lincoln, Nebraska, against Vanderbilt on Aug. 23.