Cassie Wait

Classroom

With a business degree in-hand, Cassie Wait has started the progress of earning her juris doctorate degree from KU’s School of Law this fall, all while balancing her role as a starter and senior leader for the top-10 ranked Jayhawks. Wait earned her undergraduate business degree in just three years (May 2016) from The University of Kansas with a 3.9 GPA. She is a two-time Academic All-Big 12 First Team honoree and member of the University of Kansas Honors Program.

Character

Wait brings a consistent effort and coachable attitude, which has produced successes in many areas of her life. During high school, she earned Under Armour All-America honors as an outside hitter, only to quickly adjust to a different position (libero) at KU and still excel as a three-year starter at the highest level. Kansas Head Coach Ray Bechard said, “Wait has been all that we’ve hoped for and a lot more. She is representative of who our university looks for in bright young people who are very goal-driven and who create a lot of great opportunities for themselves and others around them.”

Community

Wait has been generous of her time in many ways throughout her collegiate career. As a member of the Kansas Athletics Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), Wait has been instrumental in organizing and carrying-out community service efforts to benefit the Soles for Soles Campaign, personally raising over 150 pairs of shoes for repair to be sent to homeless shelters; LINK Kitchen in downtown Lawrence, serving food to the homeless; and the Fun and Fitness campaign. In addition to her role on the SAAC, Wait helped lead a grassroots bone marrow donation drive that collected over 1,500 samples on KU’s campus. Other Kansas volleyball team community service activities include volunteering for Special Olympics and Habitat for Humanity.

Competition

USA Volleyball would agree, Wait is one of the top liberos in the country. She was one of three collegiate liberos selected to try out for the Pan American Cup roster during the summer of 2016 at the USA Volleyball training facility in Anaheim, Calif. During the 2015 season she cemented her reputation as an elite back-row defender after leading Kansas to a win over No. 1 USC in the NCAA Tournament regional final, giving Kansas its first-ever appearance in the Final Four. She is living up to her high expectations as a senior. At the time of nomination, Wait leads the Big 12 Conference with over five digs per set and has steadily moved up the Kansas career digs record book, currently sitting at No. 2 with over 1,700 digs.