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SPORTS
KANSAN.COM
KANSAN FILE PHOTO
After scoring a point, junior Ainise Havili celebrates with her teammates during their game against North Texas, Sept. 12, 2014.
Kansas volleyball gains experience with Collegiate National Team
DEREK JOHNSON
@DJohnson1510
Three Kansas women's volleyball players honed their skills for the upcoming season while participating in the U.S. Collegiate National Team Program.
The program took place in New Orleans at the end of June and lasted for nine days. On the final day, senior Tiana Dockery and sophomore Kelsie Payne led their team to a championship game victory.
Dockery led her team in kills, totaling 38 kills in three matches. After receiving 2014 All-Big 12 Honorable Mention honors, the 5-foot-10 outside hitter from Richmond, Texas, was looking to use the CNT
program as a springboard for next season.
"She was taking some good heavy swings, setting a little bit out of the back row which is good to see. She was a good six-rotation player, which is what we expect," coach Ray Bechard said. "We hope that correlates to a big senior year for her."
The program involved 35 different athletes who were split into three teams: the CNT Blue, Red and White teams. The third Jayhawk in the program was sophomore Anise Havili, a setter who received an American Volleyball Coaches Association All-America Honorable Mention as a freshman in 2014. Havili competed for the CNT White team.
"Knowing that I can play with some of the best, and not only hang but actually beat them, makes me very excited for this upcoming season," Havili said.
The program was structured in a round-robin format. The CNT Blue Team won both of its games in pool play to advance to the championship game. They defeated the CNT Red Team in four sets. Dockery led the team with 12 kills and was supplanted by Payne's 10 kills.
Dockery said she was excited for what winning the championship against high-level competition could do for her team.
"Playing at such a high level auto-
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