Kelsie Payne

Classroom

Kelsie Payne is majoring in communication studies in the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences at the University of Kansas and is on pace to graduate in May of 2018.

Character

Payne has taken a team-first approach from day one at the University of Kansas. After spending her freshman season at middle blocker, she agreed to the coaching staff’s advice to switch positions to right-side hitter in 2015. The change yielded unprecedented success for Kansas and Payne. That same year, the Jayhawks advanced all the way to the Final Four, while Payne (with teammate, Ainise Havili) became the first-ever first-team AVCA All-American at KU.

Community

Payne’s community service activities with Kansas volleyball have included volunteering for Special Olympics and Habitat for Humanity.

Competition

Payne has been one of the top players in the country on a consistent basis for the last three seasons. She is a two-time AVCA All-America First Team honoree (2015, 2016), KU’s first-ever Big 12 Player of the Year (2016), a two-time All-Big 12 First Team honoree (2015, 2016) and an NCAA Championship All-Tournament Team member (2015). She is on pace to become KU’s career leader in many offensive categories, including hitting percentage and kills.