Washburn University Athletics

2007 Washburn Ichabod Volleyball Team Highlights

• Head Coach: Chris Herron (MIAA Coach of the Year, 2007)
• Assistant Coach: Trent Jones
• Overall Record: 38–4, one of the best in school history
• Final Ranking: #3 in NCAA Division II
• NCAA Tournament: Advanced to the Final Four after a dramatic upset of No. 1 Tampa in the Elite Eight (3–2 comeback win)
• Set multiple school records:
  • 38 wins (fourth most in school history)
  • .905 winning percentage (second highest)
  • 29 straight game wins
  • 24 sweeps
  • 2,527 kills in a season
  • .265 team hitting percentage (one of the highest in program history)

Individual Standouts

• Tessa Jones (RS/OH, Senior)
  • AVCA First Team All-American
  • CoSIDA Second Team Academic All-American
  • AVCA National Player of the Week
  • MIAA MVP (2007)
  • Set single-match school record with 30 kills vs. No. 1 Tampa
  • Career ranks: 2nd in points per game, 3rd in total points, 4th in kills and kills per game
• Mandi Cox (MH, Senior)
  • Finished career as Washburn’s all-time leader in hitting percentage (.326)
  • Led 2007 team with .329 hitting (4th best in school history)
• Erica Cowhick (L/DS, Senior)
  • Became Washburn’s all-time leader in digs (2,464; 2nd in MIAA history)
  • Set school record with 108 career double-figure dig matches

Key NCAA Tournament Moments

• Quarterfinal vs. No. 1 Tampa:
  • Lost first two sets, then rallied for a 3–2 win (24–30, 22–30, 30–18, 31–29, 15–8).
  • Tessa Jones: 30 kills, 25 digs, career-defining match.
• Semifinal vs. Western Washington:
  • Advanced to national title match after 3–1 win.
• Final Four Finish:
  • Concluded season with a third-place national finish — the best in program history at the time.

Roster (2007)

• Ashley Shepard – OH – So.
• Molly Smith – L/DS – Fr.
• Anna Simpson-Mills – OH/RH – Fr.
• Monica Miesner – OH – Jr.
• Stephanie Holub – L/DS – Jr.
• Ali Ward – H – Fr.
• Erica Cowhick – L/DS – Sr.
• Joanna Alfers – OH/RH – So.
• Caitlin Conley – H – Fr.
• Carolyn Raynes – S – Jr.
• Tessa Jones – RH – Sr.
• Stephanie Nitz – MH – Jr.
• Shannon Bechard – MH – So.
• Mandi Cox – MH – Sr.
• Kelci Wigger – MH – Fr.
• Kate Hampson – S – So.

Summary
The 2007 Washburn Volleyball team was one of the greatest in program history, finishing 38–4, reaching the NCAA Final Four, upsetting the No. 1 team in the nation, and producing record-setting performances. Led by All-American Tessa Jones, record-holders Mandi Cox and Erica Cowhick, and Coach of the Year Chris Herron, the squad set a new standard for success in Ichabod athletics.