FIRST SERVE … 

>> No. 3 Washburn (8-0) returns to Lee Arena this weekend to kick off its MIAA schedule as the Ichabods host Fort Hays State (3-5) and No. 6 Nebraska-Kearney (9-0).

>> The Ichabods will face the Tigers on Friday, Sept. 20, at 6 p.m.

>> A top-10 showdown between No. 3 Washburn and No. 6 Nebraska-Kearney takes place on Saturday, Sept. 21, also at 6 p.m.
 

QUICK HITS … 

>> The Ichabods moved up one place in the latest American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Poll to No. 3. 

>> Washburn has now been ranked No. 3 in the AVCA poll 11 times since 2002.

>> Since the beginning of the Herron era in 2002, Washburn is 40-19 when playing ranked teams in Lee Arena.

>> When playing Nebraska-Kearney in Lee Arena, Washburn is 4-3 since 2002. In that same time frame, the Ichabods are 12-1 when playing at home against the Tigers.

>> The Ichabods defeated Nebraska-Kearney twice last year, both 3-1 final scores. The first was in Lee Arena when the Lopers were the No. 1 team in the nation and then on the road at Kearney when UNK was ranked No. 2.

>> Allison Maxwell was named the MIAA Hitter of the Week on Sept. 16 for the second consecutive time this season. She has won the weekly honor now four times in her career.
 

LAST TIME OUT … 

>> The Ichabods traveled to Durango, Colo., to play four matches in the Skyhawks Tournament hosted by Fort Lewis (Sept. 13-14).

>> Washburn didn't drop a single set and defeated Western New Mexico, Fort Lewis, West Texas A&M, and Adams State all by the score of 3-0.

>> The Ichabods held Western New Mexico, Fort Lewis, and Adams State to a hitting percentage below .100.

>> Washburn recorded a season-high 10 service aces and a .351 attacking percentage against Fort Lewis.

>> Alison Sadler and Allison Maxwell were named to the all-tournament team.

>> In 12 sets played at the tournament, Sadler dished out 108 assists and also recorded five kills and six service aces.

>> Maxwell registered 37 kills and nine total blocks, three of which were solo blocks.
 

ICHABOD LEADERS IN THE MIAA … 

>> The Ichabods lead the MIAA in opponent hitting percentage, as they have held teams to just .078.

>> They also lead the league in holding opponents to the lowest assists, digs, and kills per set.

>> Washburn is third in attacking percentage at .255.

>> Kelsey Gordon leads the conference with a .422 hitting percentage.

>> Allison Maxwell is seventh with .356 after recording 78 kills on 149 attempts with 25 errors.

>> Allison Sadler is tied for second with 273 assists at 10.92 per set.

>> Faith Rottinghaus is fourth in digs per set with 4.96.
 

BY THE NUMBERS … 

.255 : Hitting percentage of Washburn as a team.

.078 : Hitting percentage of Washburn opponents.

84 : Kills by Genna Berg to lead the team.

6 : Times the Ichabods have held their opponent to a hitting percentage below .100.

.422 : Hitting percentage by Kelsey Gordon. She has 68 kills on 128 attempts with 14 errors.

10 : Teams left in all of Division II that are undefeated with at least 8 victories.

25 : Total blocks recorded by Allison Maxwell over 25 sets played.

7 : Shutouts the Ichabods have recorded out of their 8 victories.
 

MILESTONE TRACKER … 

>> Erica Montgomery has 790 career kills, just 10 away from 800.

>> Genna Berg is also nearing 800 kills. She currently has 788.

>> Both Berg and Taylor Antonowich are just shy of reaching their 50th career service ace. Berg has 49 and Antonowich is sitting at 48.

>> Allison Sadler eclipsed 1,400 career assists in the match against Adams State. She now has 1,429 total assists, which is 13th all-time in Washburn history.

>> Herron has won 587 matches as a collegiate head coach (combined record between Washburn and Benedictine) and is 23 victories away from 600.

>> The Ichabods have won 695 matches since joining the NCAA and need just five more wins to reach 700.

SCOUTING THE OPPOSITION ...

Fort Hays State Tigers

>> Last season, Fort Hays State finished with a record of 8-22 while going 2-16 in MIAA matches.

>> The Tigers are 3-5 to start the 2019 season and are coming off a 3-1 win against Northwestern Oklahoma State.

>> As a team, Fort Hays is currently hitting .196 while their opponents are hitting just slightly more at .201.

>>  The Tigers are led in kills by Delaney Humm who has recorded 98 of them and holds a .272 swinging percentage.

>> Setter Katie Darnell leads the team with 209 assists and averages 8.36 assists per set.

>> Defensively, Morgan Christiansen and Tatum Bartels have 12 assisted blocks each while Christiansen has recorded seven solo blocks.

>> Jessica Woods-Atkins is in her second season leading the Tigers.

>> The Ichabods hold a close lead in the all-time series at 47-46 and have won the last seven meetings in a row.

>> WU is 23-10 when playing FHSU in Topeka.

No. 6 Nebraska-Kearney Lopers

>> The Nebraska-Kearney Lopers completed 2018 with a record of 33-3 (16-2 MIAA).

>> They claimed the MIAA regular season and tournament titles last season, but fell in the opening round of the NCAA regional tournament.

>> Nebraska-Kearney was picked second in the MIAA Preseason Coaches Poll and returned three of its six All-MIAA selections from 2018.

>> UNK is currently 9-0 this season (8-0 against NCAA teams). Six of those wins have been sweeps.

>> The Lopers are tied for sixth in the nation alongside Concordia-St. Paul in the latest AVCA top-25 rankings.

>> As a team, UNK is hitting .262 while holding its opponents to just .082. They have also dominated their opponents in other categories, such as kills (UNK leading its opponents 430-290) and serice aces (UNK 49, opp. 16).

>> Head coach Rick Squiers is in his 21st season with the Lopers and holds a record of 637-88 in his tenure at Nebraska-Kearney.

>> UNK leads the all-time series 35-12.

>> Washburn is 6-4 when playing Nebraska-Kearney in Lee Arena, including last season's 3-1 triumph when the Lopers were the No. 1 team in the nation.