TOPEKA, Kan. --- Washburn volleyball will wrap the 2017 regular season this week with a pair of matches on the road as it faces Pittsburg State on Thursday (7 pm) before heading to Central Oklahoma Friday (6 pm) for the season finale.
TOURNAMENT OUTLOOK
Washburn began the week sitting at seventh in the MIAA standings at 7-9 record would face Missouri Western (14-2) in the first round of the MIAA Tournament if the standings hold. The Griffons close their season at home with Fort Hays State and Nebraska-Kearney who currently top the table at 15-1. Central Oklahoma open the week third in the standings (13-3) and also face Emporia State to close our its schedule.
THEY GOT HISTORY
Thursday's match with Pitt State will be the 85th meeting all-time. The Ichabods lead the series 63-21 and are currently riding a 17-match win streak including a victory early this season. Washburn's last loss to PSU came on the road in a five-set decision on Nov. 8, 2008 ... Friday marks the 18th match in series history with and UCO. The Ichabods lead the series 10-7, but have struggled when traveling to Edmond as they are 2-5 .
YOUTH MOVEMENT
The 2017 lineup for the Ichabods features 11 underclassmen on the roster including seven true freshmen ... head coach Chris Herron has relied heavily on the younger players with five freshman seeing regular playing time. Heading into this week's matches freshmen Genna Berg is the team leader in kills (313) and kills per set (2.95) ... Faith Rottinghaus headlines the list of names for digs (514) and digs per set (4.67) ... Allison Maxwell is second on the team in hitting (.281), blocks (89) and blocks per set (0.92).
SADLER DELIVERY INC.
Allison Sadler is approaching rare territory as she looks to be become just 23rd player in program-history to record 1,000 assists in a season and just the sixth to do it during their freshman campaign ... previous Lady Blues/Ichabods to reach 1,000 assists in their freshman season include Kerri Spielman (1990/1,298), Jammie James (1996/1,283), Amanda Dunbar (1998/1,159), Julie Sackman (2003/1,120) and Andi Moran (2005/1,301) with Kate Hampson (1,272) last completing the feat in 2006 ... Sadler's single-season assist total (910) is currently 17th in program-history ... the native of Parkville, Mo., is among the top 85 setters in Division II as she's ranked 67th in total assists and 81st in assists per set (9.19) ... Sadler has distributed 40 or more assists in 11 matches while twice posting 60-assist efforts ... the first came then-No. 18 Central Missouri on Sept. 29, tying Carolyn Raynes for 19th-best single-match performance ... the freshman followed up with a career-best 62-assist outing versus then-No. 8 Central Oklahoma, tying Kate Hampson for 14th-best single-match assist together.
AMONG THE BEST
Washburn began the week as one the Top 100 in Division II in 13 of 15 team statistical categories with six top 25 rankings ... the Ichabods' 249 team blocks is 10th-best in the nation and their highest ranking ... their 1,421 kills is 21st in the country ... Washburn's other top 25 rankings include team assists (23rd/1,330), total attacks (23rd/4,086), and digs (18th/1,935).
MAXWELL BLOCK PARTY
Leading the charge in the Washburn block effort is Makayla and Allison Maxwell as each are among country's top blockers ... Makayla leads the way as the junior's 127 block is ninth in Division II while her 1.17 blocks per set is 35th overall ... Allison meanwhile is 112th in the nation in total blocks (89) and 155th in blocks per set (0.92).
RECORD WATCH LIST
• Junior Shayla Conner is among the top 20 in Washburn's all-time assists list ... Conner ranks 20th overall with 608 ... Conner has averaged 194 assists over the last two seasons.
• Junior Makayla Maxwell is 25th on the Washburn's career block chart with 248 ... Maxwell has registered her second consecutive season with at least 100 total blocks ... she has averaged 65 blocks her in last two seasons ... Maxwell is also ninth overall in blocks per set (1.00) and 42nd on the career list in kills (429).
• Senior Taylor Selk is 33rd in hitting percentage (.172), 33rd in blocks per set (0.51) and is 30th in total kills (640).
WEEKLY WRAP-UP
Washburn had a rough week has fell to No. 19 Central Missouri, 3-1 on Friday before being downed by Lindenwood in five sets on Saturday afternoon.
1,000-WIN CLUB
After starting the 2017 season seven wins shy of 1,000 victories, the Ichabods reached the milestone with a 3-1 victory over Christian Brother (Tenn.) during the Arkansas Tech Invitational on Sept. 15 ... the result made Washburn the 48th program in NCAA volleyball history and 10th Division II member to accomplish the milestone.
MIAA PRESEASON POLL
The Ichabods were predicted to finish third in the MIAA after earning 101 points and one first-place vote. Last season's champion Nebraska-Kearney topped the poll with 120 points and 10 first-place votes, while Central Oklahoma came in second with 105 points and also garnered one first-place nod ... WU finished the 2016 season with a 16-2 conference record and run to the conference tournament finals.
TRADITION OF SUCCESS
The Ichabods have made a habit out of appearing in the NCAA tournament, reaching the milestone 13 times in the past 15 seasons under head coach Chris Herron ... Washburn has won five MIAA Championships under Herron and were runners-ups in 2016 ... In the last five seasons, Washburn volleyball has had 12 All-Americans, including three in 2016.
UP NEXT
Washburn awaits its opponent for the MIAA Tournament. First round action is slated for Tuesday, Nov. 14.
