FIRST SERVE … 

>> The fourth-ranked Washburn volleyball team (20-2, 12-2 MIAA) continues its five match homestand into this weekend as it hosts Central Oklahoma (16-9, 8-7 MIAA) and Newman (1-23, 1-14 MIAA). The Ichabods will host the Bronchos on Friday, Nov. 1 at 6 p.m. before taking on the Jets on Saturday, Nov. 2 at 3 p.m.



QUICK HITS … 

>> After the win against Emporia State, the Ichabods secured a spot as one of the eight teams to compete in the MIAA Tournament which will be held in Kansas City, Mo. On Nov. 21-23.

>> Washburn joins conference leader Nebraska-Kearney (24-0, 14-0 MIAA) and Central Missouri (17-6, 11-3 MIAA) as teams who have clinched.

>>  Despite going 2-0 last week, the Ichabods slid down one place in the AVCA national rankings to No. 4.

>> Including Washburn, there are 10 teams from the Central Region ranked in the top-15 nationally.

>>  Junior setter Allison Sadler was named the MIAA Specialist of the Week for the first time in her career on Oct. 28. 

>> Washburn has won an MIAA Athlete of the Week award six of the eight weeks this season and by four different players.

>> Washburn is currently on a five-match winning streak and are 9-1 when play in Lee Arena this season.

>> 14 of Washburn's 20 wins have been 3-0 shutout victories.

>> There have been 10 matches this season where the Ichabods have held their opponent to an attacking percentage below .100.



LAST TIME OUT … 

>> Washburn quickly swept Emporia State for the second time this season on Oct. 29.

>> The Ichabods won by the set scores of 25-7, 25-15, and 25-11.

>> WU finished with its second-highest attacking percentage this season as the team hit .395 while ESU hit .011 in the match.

>> Emma Palasak led all scorers with 10 kills, followed by four different Ichabods who added seven kills.

>> The Hornets' Yuchen Du landed nine kills and Rylie Fornelli had 13 digs.

>> Sadler led the Ichabods with 27 assists and Faith Rottinghaus had a team-best 15 digs.



ICHABOD LEADERS IN THE MIAA … 

>> As a team, Washburn ranks in the top-four in many statistical categories.

>> The Ichabods lead the league in assists/set (13.11) and kills/set (14.38).

>> They also lead in holding their opponents to the lowest average in assists/set (9.35), kills/set (10.26), digs/set (15.88), and the second-lowest opponent hitting percentage (.128).

>>  Several Ichabods are ranked in the top-10 throughout the conference statistics list.

>> Sadler leads the MIAA in assists/set, averaging 11.09.

>> Taylor Antonowich tops the conference list with 0.36 service aces/set.

>> Berg has the second-best kills/set average in the league with 3.74 and is seventh in aces/set with 0.31.

>> Kelsey Gordon and Allison Maxwell are both in the top-six for blocks, as Gordon is averaging 0.93 blocks/set while Maxwell is at 0.86/set for fourth and sixth, respectively.

>> Rottinghaus is third in digs/set with 5.38.



NATIONAL RANKS … 

>> Washburn volleyball has been ranked in the AVCA Top-25 Poll for the past 19-straight rankings, dating back to Sept. 17, 2018. The team has also been in the top-five for the entirety of this season.

>> The Ichabods are eighth in the nation in kills/set, 13th in assists/set, and 20th in opponent hitting percentage.

>> Washburn is also tied for seventh in winning percentage (.909).

>> Sadler's assists/set average is the 15th-best in all of Division II.

>> Rottinghaus is currently 31st in the nation in digs/set and Berg is 43rd in kills/set.



HEAD COACH CHRIS HERRON … 

>> Chris Herron is in his 18th season leading the Washburn volleyball program and holds an overall record of 524-105 and is 248-61 in MIAA matches.

>> He is one win away from earning his 600th career collegiate coaching victory (combined with Benedictine and Washburn).

>> Herron's career collegiate winning percentage of .817 is seventh-best among active Division II coaches and is 17th-best all-time in D-II.

>> Herron is 10-7 all-time coaching against Central Oklahoma and is 7-0 when facing the Jets

 

 MILESTONE TRACKER … 

>> Berg is 19 kills away from eclipsing 1,000 in her career. She would become the 21st Washburn volleyball player to accomplish the feat.

>> Erica Montgomery is also nearing the same milestone as she currently sits at 930 career kills.

>> Sadler is 23 assists shy of 2,000.

>> Allison Maxwell is three kills away from 800 in her career and 14 total blocks short of 300.



ACES HIGH … 

>> The Ichabods have landed 62 more service aces than they have allowed this season as Washburn has won 111 points off of serves.

>> Taylor Antonowich leads four Washburn players who have double-digit aces. She has 27 on the year.

>> Berg has recorded 23, Rottinghaus has 15, and Sadler has 12.



SCOUTING THE OPPOSITION ...

Central Oklahoma Bronchos

>> The Bronchos, who were receiving votes in the most recent AVCA Poll, are coming off a five set loss to Missouri Southern (Oct. 29) and are now 16-9 (8-7 MIAA) this season.

>>  As a team, UCO is hitting .206 this season and averaging 12.9 kills per set.

>> Amanda Desch is the all-around leader for the team as she leads the nation in triple doubles with eight. For the Bronchos, she has the most kills (212), assists (509), and blocks (43) and is also second in digs and service aces.

>> Courtney Lane, Lauren Jenkins, and Bailey Combs have all recorded 170 or more kills.

>> Dominique Lipari has been a digging machine this season and currently has 591. Her 6.72 digs per set leads the MIAA.

>> Behind the service line, Ericka Scholl has landed 21 aces.

>>  Head coach Edgar Miraku is in his eighth season and has a record of 198-64 while leading the Bronchos.

>>  The Ichabods lead the all-time series, 13-9, and have won the last two meetings.

Newman Jets

>> The Jets have struggled this year and are 1-23 (1-14) after winning their first game of the season last week against Fort Hays State, 3-2. 

>> The Jets will play at Emporia on Friday night before traveling up to Topeka on Saturday.

>>  Newman has been swept in 13 of its 24 matches.

>> As a whole, Newman has a .130 attacking percentage while its opponents have hit .260.

>> Trinity Conley has a team-high 280 kills and Mackenzie Anderson has made 289 digs to lead the Jets.

>> Conley averages 3.37 kills per set, which is fifth-best in the league.

>> Setter Reagen Roth has 646 assists and 20 aces.

>> Imani Jones and Jada Key have been the main blockers as they have 50 and 47 total blocks, respectively.

>> Jose Lugo is in his first season with the Jets.

>> Washburn is on a nine-match winning streak against Newman and leads the series,19-7.



LAST TIME AGAINST THE BRONCHOS ...

>> Washburn shut out Central Oklahoma (25-16, 25-20, 25-18) on Oct. 5, and finished with a .264 attacking percentage while holding the Bronchos to a .090 clip.

>>  The Ichabods had a dominant lead in kills, 47-27, and also led the match in digs, 60-54.

>>  Three Ichabods finished with double-digit kills, led by Berg who knocked down 13.

>>  Berg also had a double-double as she added 12 digs to her stat line.

>>  Maxwell and Gordon both had 10 kills and Sadler dished out 38 assists.

>>  For the Bronchos, Desch had eight kills and three blocks and Lipari led all players with 22 digs.

 

LAST TIME AGAINST THE JETS ...

>> The Ichabods swept the Jets in Wichita, Kan., on Oct. 4, by the set scores of 25-14, 25-11, 25-7.

>> Washburn finished with a season-high .411 hitting percentage and Newman ended with a .101 percentage. The Ichabods committed just four errors in the match, a season-low.

>> Gordon and Berg both knocked down 11 kills. Gordon hit a sizzling .846 as she landed her 11 kills on 13 attempts with no errors.

>> Conley led the Jets with 10 kills and Anderson had 14 digs.

>> The Ichabods led in kills, 43-22, and served up six aces.