TOPEKA, Kan. -- Washburn Ichabod volleyball enters week two of the 2024 season with a second straight tournament in a bordering state as they head to Colorado for the Mountaineer Volleyball Classic beginning Friday. They will play four matches over the two day tournament beginning with the host, Western Colorado, on Friday at 11 a.m. MST.
Setting The Schedule
>> Washburn volleyball heads to the mountain time zone for week two of the 2024 season at the Mountaineer Volleyball Classic.
>> The Ichabods will take on the tournament hosts, Western Colorado, on Friday, Sept. 13 at 11 a.m. MST to begin the tournament. They will finish out the day against Fort Lewis College at 7 p.m. MST that night.
>> They will face Western New Mexico at 11 a.m. MST on Saturday and take on Texas A&M University - Kingsville at 3 p.m. MST to wrap up the tournament.
the Mountaineer Volleyball Classic
>> The 2024 Kansas City Classic will be made up of six teams. Joining Washburn and the host Western Colorado are Academy of Art, Fort Lewis College, Texas A&M - Kingsville and Western New Mexico.
>> Western Colorado's Paul Wright Gym will be the host site for every match.
>> Live stats can still be found through the Washburn schedule page and through the Ichabod volleyball page on X.
>> All tournament matches will be live streamed on the RMAC Network.
Quick Hits
>> The Ichabods are 3-0 on the year after the opening weekend of matches. They are 2-0 in neutral court matches and 1-0 on the road.
>> In the most recent AVCA poll Washburn was voted just outside the top-25, finishing with 59 total points, 2nd most of any team not in the rankings.
>> The Ichabods were picked to finish fourth in the MIAA Preseason Coaches Poll just behind Nebraska-Kearney. They received one first place vote in the poll.
>> 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.
Roster Roundup
>> Alex Dvorak leads Washburn with 31 kills (2.82) per set while hitting .472 on the year. She has started and played in all three matches and also leads the squad with 11 combined blocks this year. The junior is 24th in the nation and 3rd in the MIAA in hitting percentage and she is 8th in the conference in blocks per set. She has hit over .300 in all three matches.
>> Jalyn Stevenson is second on the team with 29 kills (2.64) per set while starting and playing in all three matches. She is also second on the team with 43 digs (3.91 per set) while adding five blocks and three aces to her stat sheet. Among the MIAA she is 10th in digs per set and 16th in total digs. She has at least eight kills and eight digs in every match.
>> Corinna McMullen paces Washburn with 79 assists (7.18 per set) through three matches. She is also third on the team with 33 digs (3.00) while adding three aces. The junior is 8th in the MIAA in assists per set and 10th in total assists. She has two double-doubles on the year and two matches with at least 20 assists.
>> Taylor Rottinghaus has a team-high 52 digs (4.73 per set) across all three matches. She has chipped in 42 assists and served three aces. The sophomore is 54th in the nation and fourth in the MIAA in digs per set while ranking eighth among conference players in total digs. She has 20 or more digs in two matches so far.
>> Bella Limback leads the Ichabod offense in hitting percentage with a .590 mark through three games with three starts. She has tallied 24 kills (2.18 per set) and is second on the team with 10 blocks. The junior's hitting percentage is third highest in the nation and first in the MIAA. She is also top-20 in the conference in total blocks and blocks per set.
>> Emery Keebaugh has played in all three matches and is third on the team with 27 kills (2.70 per set) while hitting .211. The freshman has at least seven kills in all three matches while adding in six blocks and eight digs.
>> Austin Broadie is tied for fourth on the team with 24 kills (2.18 per set) while hitting .291. She has played in all three matches making eight combined blocks including a team-high three solo stops.
>> Brynne Topolski is third among qualified hitters with a .356 hitting percentage. She has played in three matches making two starts with 21 kills (2.10 per set). The freshman has added in nine digs and three bocks.
>> Sydney Conner is second on the team with 42 assist (4.20 per set) across all three matches. The junior is fourth on the squad with 20 digs (2.00 per set) while serving a pair of aces.
>> Maddie Steiner has served a team-high four aces across three starts. The senior has made 13 digs (1.30 per set) from the back row.
Head Coach Chris Herron
>> Herron is in his 23rd season at the helm of the Ichabod volleyball program with a career record of 606-132 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 75-25 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.
>> 13: Number of returning members of the 2023 team.
>> 22: Consecutive winning seasons for Washburn all coming under Chris Herron.
>> 125: Consecutive victories when winning the first two sets of a match.
>> 606: Career victories for Herron at Washburn.
Ranking Roundup
>> Washburn is fourth in the nation and first in the MIAA with 15.36 kills per set.
>> The Ichabods are also hitting efficiently, sitting ninth in the nation in hitting percentage at .325 as a team. They are second in the MIAA.
>> Washburn has been effective at stopping opponents attacks as they rank 39th in the nation and 3rd among conference teams with a .123 opponent hitting percentage.
>> With 14.09 assists per set the Ichabods rank 6th in the nation and 3rd in the MIAA at setting up kills.
>> On defense Washburn averages 17.91 digs per set ranking 25th in the nation and fourth in the conference.
Milestone Markers
>> Jalyn Stevenson ranks 13th in program history with 1,020 career kills. She needs 129 more to crack the top-20. She is also 17th on the program charts in aces with 104. With three more aces she will move into 15th place.
>> Corinna McMullen is 14th in program history in total assists with 1,509. She needs just six more to move into 13th on the program charts.
>> Sydney Conner has 1,087 career assists, putting her 19th in Washburn history. She will move into 18th with 73 more assists.
>> Bella Limback is 23 kills away from 250 in her career. She also needs just two digs to reach 100.
>> Taylor Rottinghaus is four digs way from reaching 500 in her career as a sophomore.
>> Austin Broadie needs 59 more kills to eclipse 500 in her career. She is currently tied for 47th on the program charts in kills.
Scouting the Opposition
About the Western Colorado Mountaineers
>> Western Colorado enters the weekend winless on the season with an 0-5 record after falling 3-0 to Angelo State on Sept. 10 in Gunnison.
>> The Mountaineers are 0-1 in both home and road matches and 0-3 in neutral court matches.
>> Jordan Bruere is in her second season at the helm of the Western Colorado program. She has a record of 5-26 since taking over the position.
>> Assistant coaches Brilane Manchego and Macie Magallon round out the staff.
>> On the year the Mountaineers average 11.7 kills per set while hitting .161. They also carry averages of 10.9 assists per set, 17.2 digs and 1.1 blocks.
>> Maggie Olson tops the Mountaineer charts with 54 kills on the year (3.86 per set) while hitting .204. She has played in just three of five matches while also adding 19 digs and serving four aces.
>> Seyun Park is third on the squad with 38 kills (2.38 per set) across four matches. She carries a team-high .247 hitting percentage and has made six total blocks.
>> Nur Turkmenoglu paces the team with 183 assists (9.15 per set) as well as aces with 10 on the year. She has started all five matches and is also second on the team with 38 total digs (1.90 per set).
>> Chinaru Inoue has 114 digs on the year (5.70 per set) to put her on top of the team chart. She has added in 14 aces and two aces.
>> Washburn controls the all-time series with Western Colorado with a 7-0 record. The last encounter came on Sept. 2, 2017 and was a 3-0 win for the Ichabods in Topeka.
About the Fort Lewis Skyhawks
>> Fort Lewis College is 1-3 on the year coming off a 3-0 neutral court loss to No. 23 Central Oklahoma.
>> The Skyhawks are 0-1 in road matches and 1-2 in neutral court battles.
>> Giedre Tarnauskaite enters her fifth season as the head coach at Fort Lewis. She has gone 34-56 since arriving in Durango.
>> Asistant coaches Chay Swenson and Deva Fowler complete the coaching staff.
>> The Skyhawks average 12.3 kills per set while hitting .162. They pick up 11.4 assists per set with 16.3 digs, 1.3 aces and 1.6 blocks.
>> Lauren Shea leads the team with 49 kills (3.50) per set while hitting .224. She has started all four matches while adding in 33 digs (2.36 per set) and seven blocks.
>> Natalia Lambos paces Fort Lewis with 142 assists (9.47 per set) across four matches. She also leads the squad with 43 digs (2.87 per set) while adding five kills.
>> Ella Butler leads qualified hitters on the team with a .329 attack percentage on the year with 37 kills (2.47 per set). She is tops on the team with 12 total blocks as well.
>> Maddy Shumway has played in three matches and leads the Skyhawks with 4.44 digs per set. She has 40 digs on the year, tied second most.
>> Washburn holds a 6-2 advantage in the all-time series with Fort Lewis, winning the last five matches. The last contest came on Sept. 13, 2019 in Durango, Colo. and was a 3-0 win for the Ichabods.
About the Western New Mexico Mustangs
>> Western New Mexico is 2-2 on the year coming into the weekend after a 3-0 win over Northwestern Oklahoma State on Sept. 7.
>> The Mustangs have played all four matches this season in a neutral court setting.
>> Head coach Geno Frugoli enters year two at Western New Mexico where he is 8-25 in his time in Silver City.
>> Assistant coach Jen Whetten completes the coaching staff.
>> The Mustangs average 11.5 kills per set while hitting .147 as a team. They also average 11.0 assists per set along with 15.2 digs and 1.5 blocks.
>> Jazmyne Walker leads the Mustangs offensive attack starting all four games and recording 54 kills (3.53 per set) while hitting a team-high .227. She is also second on the squad with 37 digs (2.47 per set).
>> Elmaya Medina has a team-high 98 assists (6.53 per set) across all four matches. She has also chipped in 19 kills with 17 digs and seven blocks.
>> Lilouann Bechec paces Western New Mexico with 77 digs (5.13) on the year. She has played in all four matches adding in 15 assists with eight aces.
>> Washburn leads the all-time series with Western New Mexico 1-0 with the only match coming on Sept. 13, 2019. The meeting was a 3-0 win for the Ichabods in Durango, Colo.
About the Texas A&M University - Kingsville Javelinas
>> TAMUK is 3-2 on the year after falling 3-1 to Adams State on Wednesday on the road.
>> The Javelinas are 3-1 in home matches and 0-1 on the road. They are yet to play a neutral court match.
>> Tanya Allen-Gonzalez is in her 14th season at the helm of the Texas A&M - Kingsville volleyball program. She has a 237-162 record in her time there with four 20+ win seasons.
>> Asistant coaches Gary Payne and Alexa Ruiz round out the coaching staff.
>> The Javelinas average 12.8 kills per set while hitting .202 as a team. They carry averages of 11.6 assists, 14.5 digs and 2.1 blocks per set.
>> Meghan Stiefer leads a balanced offensive attack with 53 kills (2.79 per set) while hitting .201. She has started in all five matches and is also second on the team with 48 digs (2.53 per set) while adding eight blocks.
>> Isabel Neu paces TAMUK with 71 digs (4.73 per set) while playing in four matches. She has also added 15 assists and served six aces.
>> Two players split time at the setter position for the Javelinas. Elisa Carli has 98 assists (5.16 per set) with four starts while Nadia Pena has recorded 87 assists (4.58 per set) with one start.
>> Ayanna Jackson leads all qualified hitters on the squad with a .378 hitting percentage. She has started all five matches and is second on the team with 49 kills (2.58 per set). She also tops the team charts with 20 total blocks.
>> Washburn holds a 2-1 advantage in the all-time series with Texas A&M University - Kingsville. The last match came on Sept. 7, 2012 and was a 3-0 win for the Ichabods in Bolivar, Mo.
Take a Look Ahead
>> Washburn will continue tournament play next weekend heading to the PSU Regional Challenge in Pittsburg, Kan. beginning on September 20.
>> MIAA play for the Ichabods kicks off in Maryville, Mo. against Northwest Missouri State at 6 p.m. on Friday, September 27.
>> The 2024 home opener will be on the 13th match of the season, against Pittsburg State, on Thursday, October 3 at 6 p.m.
>> 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.
