Three Butler volleyball players earned All-Jayhawk Conference honors on Monday, including Kailee Dudley, who earned Freshman of the Year honors.
Dudley, a 5-11 middle hitter from Lawrence, Kan., was also a first-team all-conference pick. She had 266 kills on the season, an average of 2.18 per set. She led the Grizzlies in hitting percentage at .256 and also was a part of 90 blocks this year, 58 of which were solo blocks. She had 66 digs and 18 assists for Butler.
Dudley was also named first-team All-Region VI District M selection, which means she will be nominated for potential NJCAA All-American honors.
Butler sophomore Kailan Kuzmic, a 5-10 setter/outside hitter from Tonganoxie, Kan., was a second-team all-conference selection. She was second in kills with 297, an average of 2.14 per set. She was also second on the team in assists with 463 and digs with 421 and accounted for 34 blocks for the Grizzlies.
Butler's third honoree was Payton White, a 6-0 sophomore right-side hitter from Liberty, Mo. who was named honorable mention. She was Butler's leader in kills with 310 (2.56 per set). She was third on the team with 68 assists and blocks with 93.
Kuzmic and White both were second-team All-Region VI District M selections.
Butler finished its season with an overall record of 30-9, the second straight year in which the Grizzlies won 30 or more matches and the third time in the past six years under coach Rick Younger.
The Grizzlies were fourth in the Jayhawk East Conference and were ranked 13th nationally at the end of the season. It is the second straight year Butler has finished in the top 15 of the national rankings.
