Ulmer lands his program changing recruit. Reese Messer is HOME and Kansas steps up with the ELITE

The rumors all had her wearing red, white and blue when she announced her transfer from USC, but not many had picked Kansas as the lucky recipient for the most talented player in the Spring portal.  In a crazy 15 minute span Friday night two setters made portal announcements and both left the volleyball world a little or lot caught of guard for a moment.  

First, SMU Setter Ava Sarafa name is in the official portal report and that leads the rumor mill to start swirling that she is leaving because Reese Messer must be coming to SMU!  Literally minutes later up pops a the picture above of the smiling Messer, but not in SMU red, white and blue instead wearing her home state KANSAS on her chest?

For over a year people have been saying that new Jayhawk HC Matt Ulmer needed to make a statement and land a big time recruit to get his program rolling and get momentum in Lawrence.  He had brought in some good players and had brought some very good players with him from his last class at Oregon, but still there just hadn't been THAT ULMER TYPE COMMIT yet that really signified what he had talked about in his introductory presser about why he chose KU and part of why he left the B1G and Oregon, "Kansas is going ALL IN and making the commitment to be a volleyball school and take that next step.  Do everything to compete."  Well going out and doing what it takes to bring in the All-American caliber Messer (who will soon have 4 years remaining) took a special kind of commitment only a few elite programs could offer (she visited upwards of 10 programs including defending National Champion Texas A+M).

Plus, this is a Matt Ulmer CULTURE kid.  I've been very outspoken on Messer for years now, that she was overshadowed in her class like when Messer AND Logan Parks were passed over for the National Team the same year.

Messer will be amazing for the locker room and overall culture at KU and she brings the hometown kid vibe, not to mention the potential for an All-American type setter every year for the next 4.  This is your star to cheer for Jayhawk Nation.  This is your Diamond Recruit and the sign that this administration is ALL IN on KU Volleyball.  Welcome HOME REESE MESSER and welcome to the Big Time KU VOLLEYBALL.