FIRST SERVE …
>> No. 5 Washburn volleyball (13-1, 5-1 MIAA) continues its road swing this weekend with matches at Missouri Southern (8-8, 1-5 MIAA) and Pittsburg State (8-7, 3-3 MIAA). First serve against the Lions is slated for 6 p.m. on Friday, before facing the Gorillas on Saturday at 2 p.m.
QUICK HITS …
>> In the sixth edition of the AVCA Top-25 Poll (Oct. 7), Washburn is ranked fifth in the nation for the third week in a row.
>> In the MIAA standings, Washburn is currently tied for second alongside Northwest Missouri (12-2, 5-1 MIAA).
>> Nebraska-Kearney (16-0, 7-0 MIAA) leads the conference at 16-0, 7-0 MIAA.
>> Genna Berg was named the MIAA Co-Hitter of the Week on Oct. 7, earning the conference honor for the second-consecutive week. She added two more double-doubles last weekend and now has five for the season.
>> An Ichabod has earned the weekly award four of the five weeks this season.
>> Washburn has not lost to Missouri Southern while Chris Herron has been the head coach, going 29-0.
>> The Ichabods are an undefeated 7-0 when playing away from Lee Arena this season. They are 4-0 in away matches and 3-0 in neutral site matches.
LAST TIME OUT …
>> The Ichabods added two more 3-0 victories last weekend with shutouts at Newman and Central Oklahoma.
>> In the first-ever official MIAA match against Newman, the Ichabods hit a season-high .411 and limited the Jets to a .101 attacking percentage.
>> In the second set, Washburn landed half of its 28 attempts for kills and committed just one error for a .464 mark.
>> Berg and Allison Sadler both registered a double-double. Berg had 11 kills and 14 digs while Sadler finished with 33 assists and 11 digs.
>> Against Central Oklahoma, the Ichabods came out on top 25-16, 25-20, and 25-18.
>> For the seventh time this season, Washburn held its opponent to an attacking percentage below .100 as the Bronchos finished the match at .091.
>> The Ichabods led in kills 47-27 and had five blocks to the Bronchos' three.
>> Berg recorded another double-double as she led the team with 13 kills and had 12 digs.
>> The 3-0 decision against UCO was Washburn's 700th victory since joining the NCAA.
ICHABOD LEADERS IN THE MIAA …
>> Washburn continues to rank in the top-five in every statistical category among MIAA teams.
>> The Ichabods lead the league in assists/set (13.25), kills/set (14.52), and service aces/set (1.70).
>> The team is also third in hitting percentage (.246) and blocks/set (1.91)
>> Washburn leads the league in opponent assists/set (8.75), opponent kills/set (9.66), opponent service aces/set (0.52), and opponent digs (14.59).
>> Individually, there is an Ichabod in the top-six in every statistics category.
>> Sadler leads the league in assists/set (11.32) while Taylor Antonowich has a conference-best 0.45 service aces/set.
>> Berg has the second-highest kills/set average at 3.75.
>> Libero Faith Rottinghaus is fourth with 5.18 digs/set.
>> Gordon is fifth in hitting percentage (.349) and sixth in blocks/set (0.90).
NATIONAL RANKS …
>> Washburn volleyball has been ranked in the AVCA Top-25 Poll for the past 16-straight rankings, dating back to Sept. 17, 2018.
>> Currently, the Ichabods are ranked nationally in the top-20 in several different categories, both team and individually.
>> Washburn is eighth in the nation in kills/set and 10th in assists per set. The team is also 15th in opponent hitting percentage (.116).
>> Sadler's assists/set average (11.32) is the 12th-best in all of Division II.
>> Washburn is tied for ninth in winning percentage (.929) and is one of six teams to have only one loss this season.
HEAD COACH CHRIS HERRON …
>> Chris Herron is in his 18th season leading the Washburn volleyball program and holds an overall record of 517-104 and is 241-60 in MIAA matches.
>> Herron is 29-0 against Missouri Southern and 29-5 when playing Pittsburg State.
>> He is 155-50 in away matches during his time at Washburn.
>> He has won 592 matches as a collegiate head coach (combined record between Washburn and Benedictine) and is eight victories away from 600.
>> Herron's career winning percentage of .817 is seventh-best among active Division II coaches and is 18th-best all-time in D-II.
MILESTONE TRACKER …
>> Montgomery is three block assists away from 100 in her career.
>> Rottinghaus continues to move up the ranks in career digs for the program as she is currently eighth all-time with 1,477 and needs 55 more to become seventh on the list.
>> Sadler needs 46 more assists to reach 1,700 in her career. She is also three kills away from hitting 100.
>> Berg and Montgomery are both chasing 900 career kills. Berg is 31 shy while Montgomery needs 44.
SCOUTING THE OPPOSITION ...
Missouri Southern Lions
>> The Missouri Southern Lions closed out 2018 with a record of 3-25 (3-15 MIAA).
>> The Lions started out the new season on a strong note, going 5-1, but are now looking to snap a four-match losing streak and hold a record of 8-8 (1-5 MIAA)
>> As a team, the Lions are hitting .163 to their opponents' .184 attacking percentage.
>> Offensively, Janelle Brehm leads the team with 206 kills and is averaging 3.17 kills per set.
>> Alyssa Diaz is sitting at a .235 attacking percentage with 104 kills on 264 attempts and 42 errors.
>> Setter Morgan Nash has registered 307 assists for a 4.72 assist per set average.
>> Brehm also leads the team on the defensive side with 238 digs.
>> At the net, Alicia Pickett has a team-high 54 blocks, including nine solo blocks.
>> Kalie Mader is in her second season leading the Lions.
>> Washburn leads the all-time series 41-34 and is on an impressive 29-match win streak.
>> The Lions have won one set only six times during the previous 29 matches.
Pittsburg State Gorillas
>> The Pittsburg State Gorillas went 18-13 (7-11 MIAA) last season and were picked seventh in the MIAA Coaches Preseason Poll.
>> PSU is currently 8-7 (3-3 MIAA) and is coming off a 3-0 loss to Missouri Western.
>> The Gorills are hitting .183 while its opponents are averaging a .167 attacking percentage.
>> Erika Ivkov and Morgan Henning lead the team in kills with 161 and 158, respectively.
>> Ivkov has also helped the Gorillas with a team-best 18 service aces and 182 digs.
>> Setter Brianna Richard has directed the offense and dished out 355 assists (6.45 per set).
>> Defensively, Emily Regier has made 43 blocks, eight of which were solos.
>> The Gorillas are led by Jen Gomez who is in her third season at the helm.
>> Washburn holds a 66-21 series lead against PSU and have won the last 20 meetings.
>> The Ichabods are 23-9 when playing at Pittsburg, Kan.
