TOPEKA, Kan. -- Washburn volleyball begins a run of five straight matches on the road with contests against Fort Hays State on Friday at 6 p.m. and against No. 3 Nebraska Kearney on Saturday with first serve at 7 p.m.
Setting The Schedule
>> Washburn volleyball heads back on the road to take on Fort Hays State and No. 3 Nebraska-Kearney on Friday and Saturday respectively.
>> The Ichabods will face the Tigers on Oct. 11 at 6 p.m. and will take on the third ranked Lopers at 7 p.m. on Saturday.
Quick Hits
>> The Ichabods are 12-3 on the year overall and 3-2 inside the MIAA. They are 2-2 in road matches, 7-1 in neutral court contests and 3-0 in Lee Arena.
>> Washburn finished off its homestand with a 3-2 win over Emporia State on Tuesday night.
>> The Ichabods were picked to finish fourth in the MIAA Preseason Coaches Poll with one first place vote. They are currently tied for 4th place in the conference.
>> Washburn is receiving votes in the latest AVCA Coaches Poll with 27 total points in the rankings.
>> The Ichabods went 17-11 overall a season ago, finishing 5th in the MIAA. They went 11-3 at home, 4-7 on the road and 2-1 in neutral court matches.
>> The 2024 roster is the most balanced by class in the Chris Herron era. For the first time in his tenure there are at least four players from each class on the roster.
About the Ichabods
>> Jalyn Stevenson is the team leader with 173 kills (3.04 per set) while hititng .241 across 15 matches with 15 starts. She is also second on the squad in digs with 169 (2.96 per set) and in aces with 13. She is 9th in the MIAA in kills and 16th in kills per set while ranking 19th in total digs. The senior has six double-doubles on the year and ten matches with 10+ kills.
>> Alex Dvorak is third on the team with 117 kills (2.05 per set) while hitting .384, the second highest mark on the team. She has started all 15 matches and also leads the team with 74 total blocks (1.30 per set). The junior is 31st in the nation and 3rd in the MIAA in hitting percentage and she is also 20th in the nation and second among MIAA players in blocks per set. She has hit over .300 in 12 of 15 matches.
>> Taylor Rottinghaus has a team-high 266 digs (4.67 per set) across 15 matches. She has chipped in 60 assists and served eleven aces. The sophomore is 58th in the nation and eighth in the MIAA in digs per set while ranking seventh among conference players in total digs.
>> Corinna McMullen paces Washburn with 340 assists (6.07 per set) through 15 matches with 13 starts. She is also third on the team with 130 digs (2.32) while serving a team-high 23 aces. The junior is 10th in the MIAA in assists per set, 9th in total assists and 4th in aces. She has five double-doubles on the year and three matches with at least 30 assists.
>> Bella Limback leads the Ichabod hitters with a .410 attacking percentage while starting all 15 matches. She has tallied 110 kills (2.00 per set) and is second on the team with 55 blocks. The junior's hitting percentage is 16th highest in the nation and second in the MIAA. She is also top-10 in the conference in total blocks and blocks per set. She has hit over .400 in eight matches on the year.
>> Austin Broadie is second on the team in kills and third in hitting percentage while playing all 15 matches and making five starts. She has 128 kills (2.25 per set) on the year while hitting .308 and has racked up 39 total blocks. The senior has hit over .400 in four matches and has five or more blocks in each of the last two matches.
>> Sydney Conner is second on the team with 241 assist (4.55 per set) across 15 matches with two starts. The junior is fourth on the squad with 99 digs (1.87 per set) while serving eight aces. She has posted three double-doubles this season.
>> Brynne Topolski has started in eight matches and played in 14 during her freshman season, logging 110 kills (2.28 per set) while hitting .236. She has added 23 blocks and 30 digs. She has at least seven kills in four of the last five matches.
>> Maddie Steiner is tied for third on the team with 11 service aces while playing in all 15 matches and making 11 starts. The senior has made 85 digs (1.52 per set) from the back row with two double-digit dig matches.
>> Natalie Hedlund has appeared in 13 matches with two starts to record a total of 46 kills (1.92 per set) while hitting .209.
>> Keilah Rivers has tallied 34 kills (1.26 per set) across 11 matches with two starts. She has 21 digs and ten blocks. She tied her career high with seven kills against Emporia State.
>> Emery Keebaugh has made 45 kills (1.80 per set) this season while appearing in 11 matches. She is hitting .139 while making 12 blocks and 19 digs.
Head Coach Chris Herron
>> Herron is in his 23rd season at the helm of the Ichabod volleyball program with a career record of 615-135 at Washburn.
>> He has led the Ichabod to 17 NCAA Tournament appearances and six combined MIAA titles (five regular season and one tournament).
>> Has been named MIAA Coach of the Year four times (2002, 2005, 2007 and 2011).
>> Led the Ichabods to the NCAA National Championship match in 2021.
>> Has seen his players earn 50 All-American awards, 90 All-Region/District awards and 46 All-MIAA first team selections.
>> Spent 14 years as a high school coach at Tonganoxie HS and Golden City HS.
>> Is a 1980 graduate of the College of the Ozarks where he earned his bachelor's of science in physical education.
Assistant Coaches
>> Shayla Conner enters her fourth season as an assistant coach for the Ichabods.
>> The former All-American setter has helped guide Washburn to a 84-28 record in her first three seasons.
>> In her first season she helped the Ichabods to the National Championship match. In 2022, Washburn won its first-ever MIAA Tournament Championship.
>> She has coached six total All-Americans and nine All-MIAA first team selections.
>> Cade Berg enters his third season as a member of the Ichabod coaching staff as a student assistant.
>> During his tenure Washburn has earned a pair of All-American honors and four All-MIAA first team selections.
By the Numbers
>> 2: NCAA Central Region Championships won by Washburn in the past five seasons.
>> 8: Number of sweeps this season.
>> 13: Number of returning members of the 2023 team.
>> 22: Consecutive winning seasons for Washburn all coming under Chris Herron.
>> 132: Consecutive victories when winning the first two sets of a match.
>> 615: Career victories for Herron at Washburn.
Ranking Roundup
>> Washburn is 11th in the nation and fourth in the MIAA with 14.23 kills per set.
>> The Ichabods are also hitting efficiently, sitting 17th in the nation in hitting percentage at .258 as a team. They are third in the MIAA.
>> Washburn has been effective at stopping opponents attacks as they rank 29th in the nation and 3rd among conference teams with a .140 opponent hitting percentage.
>> With 13.14 assists per set the Ichabods rank 18th in the nation and 4th in the MIAA at setting up kills.
>> On defense Washburn averages 16.88 digs per set ranking 47th in the nation and ninth in the conference.
>> With 146.5 total blocks on the year the Ichabods have the 11th most in the nation and second most in the MIAA.
Milestone Markers
>> Jalyn Stevenson ranks 20th in program history with 1,164 career kills. She will move into 19th with five more kills. She is also 14th on the program charts in aces and 22nd in digs. She needs 47 digs to reach the top-20 in that category as well.
>> Corinna McMullen is 12th in program history in total assists with 1,770. She is tied for 17th in program history in service aces with 105. She needs two more to move up to 15th.
>> Sydney Conner has 1,286 career assists, putting her 17th in Washburn history. She will move into 16th with 16 more assists.
>> With 710 career digs Taylor Rottinghaus is climbing the all-time charts and currently ranks 43rd.
Scouting the Opposition
About the Fort Hays State Tigers
>> Fort Hays State enters the match with a 9-5 record overall and a 1-4 mark in the MIAA after falling 3-1 to No. 3 Nebraska Kearney on Tuesday night.
>> The Tigers are 3-3 in home contests, 2-2 in road matches and 4-0 in neutral court contests.
>> Jessice Wood-Atkins is in her 7th season at the helm of the Fort Hays State program. She has a 62-110 record in Hays.
>> Assistant coach Carolynne Barbosa and graduate assistant Giovanna Kuntze round out the coaching staff.
>> On the year the Tigers average 12.9 kills per set while hitting .200. They also carry averages of 11.9 assists per set with 16.4 digs and 2.3 blocks. They are third in the conference in blocks per set.
>> Gracie Rains leads the team with 217 kills (3.74 per set) while hitting .243. She has appeared in 14 matches making 10 starts and has added 22 blocks. Her kills per set average is second best in the conference and she also ranks second in total kills.
>> Caiya Stucky leads the passing attack with 482 total assists (8.61 per set). She has started 13 of 14 matches while making 100 digs and adding 53 kills. She is 5th in the conference in assists and assists per set.
>> With 233 digs (4.03 per set) Kirsten Evans leads the Tigers while playing all 14 matches. She has added 35 assists and served a team-high 26 aces
>> Grace Schmedding is second on the team with 140 kills (2.41 per set) while starting 11 of 14 matches. She has served 12 aces and added 131 digs (2.26 per set).
>> Washburn leads the all-time series with Fort Hays State 47-24. The Ichabods are 20-9 against the Tigers in Hays.
>> Last season both teams split the season series with each team winning the home match.
About the Nebraska Kearney Lopers
>> Nebraska Kearney enters the weekend with a perfect 17-0 record on the year while posting a 5-0 mark in the MIAA.
>> The Lopers are 8-0 in matches played in the Health & Sports Center while going 5-0 on the road and 4-0 in neutral court contests.
>> UNK is ranked No. 3 in the latest AVCA Coaches Poll from October 7.
>> Rick Squiers is in his 26th season as the head coach at Nebraska Kearney. He has a 791-111 record with the Lopers and has 997 career collegiate coaching victories.
>> Assistant coaches Samantha Hammond and Maddie Squiers along with graduate assistant Jaden Ferguson complete the coaching staff.
>> On the year the Lopers average 14.9 kills per set while hitting .272. They also carry averages of 14.3 assists per set with 18.6 digs and 2.2 blocks. They are first in the conference in kills per set, assists per set and opponent hitting percentage.
>> Mia Berg leads the team with 157 kills (3.34 per set) while hitting .378 and starting all 16 matches. She also leads the team with 52 total blocks and has added 29 digs. She is fourth in the conference in hitting percentage and 7th in blocks per set.
>> Peyton Neff has 632 assists (12.39 per set) to pace the Lopers while starting all 16 matches. She has made 145 digs (2.84 per set), second most on the team. She is first in the conference in total assists and assists per set while ranking top-five in the nation in both.
>> Alli Wiese averages 5.24 digs per set for 267 total digs to lead Nebraska Kearney. She has played all 16 matches and added 44 assists with 18 service aces. She is second in the MIAA in digs per set and 4th in total digs.
>> Asha Regier is second on the team in kills with 152 (3.38 per set) while hitting .240. She has played in 15 matches and started 12 while adding 23 blocks and 39 digs.
>> Nebraska Kearney leads the all-time series 31-14 with a 4-10 record when playing in Kearney.
>> Washburn split the season series last year winning 3-0 in Lee Arena and falling 3-1 on the road.
Take a Look Ahead
>> Washburn will be back on the road next weekend taking on Missouri Southern and Central Missouri in the Show Me State.
>> Senior night for Washburn will be on Saturday, November 9 at 6 p.m. as the Ichabods host Fort Hays State inside of Lee Arena.
>> The MIAA Championship Tournament will be held between Thursday, November 21 and Saturday, November 23 in St. Joseph, Mo. at Civic Arena.
