ST. JOSEPH, Mo. -- No. 7 Washburn is set for an MIAA Tournament Championship rematch of 2022 as they face the top seed and No. 3 nationally ranked Nebraska Kearney for the title at 6 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 24.
Setting The Schedule
>> The No. 3 seeded Ichabods will face No. 1 seeded Nebraska Kearney at 6 p.m. inside Civic Arena in St. Joseph, Mo.
>> With their semifinal win, the Lopers move to 28-3 on the year after going 13-3 during the MIAA regular season.
Tournament Time!
>> Washburn is now 19-16 overall in the MIAA tournament after winning Friday night.
>> The Ichabods are 1-4 all-time in the championship game.
>> In neutral court tournament matches they are 8-8.
>> They are 3-9 as the lower seed in the tournament.
>> They are 4-4 all-time as the No. 3 seed and are 1-3 against Nebraska Kearney in the tournament overall.
All-MIAA Honors
>> On Wednesday afternoon seven Ichabods were named to All-MIAA teams announced by the conference.
>> Leading the way was Austin Broadie who earned Player of the Year honors in the conference and was named a unanimus first-team selection. She is the fourth MIAA POTY in program history and the first since Genna Berg in 2019.
>> Bella Limback also earned first team honors for the first time in her career. It was her second overall All-MIAA selection.
>> Taylor Rottinghaus and Corinna McMullen each earned All-MIAA second team honors for a third straight season. It is the fourth straight year of recognition for McMullen.
>> Also repeating as a second team selection is Alex Dvorak. She earns second team honors for a second straight year as an Ichabod.
>> Brynne Topolski earns her first All-MIAA nod of her career as a member of the second team at outside hitter.
>> Keilah Rivers also is recognized for the first time in her career. She earned honorable mention honors also at outside hitter.
Serving Up Facts
>> With the semifinal round win over Pittsburg State, Washburn moves to 26-3 overall on the year after going 13-3 in the MIAA regular season.
>> Washburn is 12-1 in Whiting Fieldhouse while going 9-0 in neutral court matches and 5-2 in road matches.
>> The Ichabods were picked to finish third in the MIAA Preseason Coaches Poll with 98 total points. They ended the season tied for first.
>> Washburn moves to No. 7 in the AVCA rankings this week, moving up from being ranked No. 8 last week. They received 904 total points in the poll.
>> The Ichabods went 21-8 overall last season and 11-5 inside the MIAA, finishing fourth in the regular season. They advanced to the NCAA Central Region Semifinals.
>> Last year Washburn went 2-4 against AVCA Top-25 opponents. They are 4-3 against ranked opponents this season.
>> The 2025 roster is balanced by class once again. It is the second time in the Chris Herron era with at least four players from each class, the first time coming in 2024.
The Blue Bunch
>> Austin Broadie leads the Washburn offense with 320 kills (3.27 per set) while hitting .314, third best on the team. She has started all 29 matches and also has logged 63 blocks with 63 digs. The senior has 16 double-digit kill matches.
>> Bella Limback is slashing a team-high .464 with 197 kills (2.05 per set) while playing and starting in all 29 matches. She has also added 111 blocks (1.16 per set), also team high, and served 13 aces. She has hit over .400 in all but nine matches this season with four double-digit kill efforts.
>> Alex Dvorak is second on the team with 74 blocks (1.07 per set) on the season while starting in all 22 matches she has played in. Offensively she has made 137 kills (1.99 per set) along with hitting .462, second best on the team. She has recorded five or more blocks in nine matches.
>> Corinna McMullen has started all 29 matches this season and leads Washburn with 616 assists (6.35 per set). She has also chipped in a team-high 30 service aces while ranking 2nd on the team with 263 digs (2.71 per set). The senior has delivered 17 matches of 20+ assists with 12 double-doubles.
>> Taylor Rottinghaus has suited up as the libero in every match this season leading the team with 419 digs (4.19 per set). She has chipped in 112 assists while serving 29 aces as well, second most on the team. The junior has five matches making at least 20 digs.
>> Keilah Rivers has slashed 203 kills (2.18 per set) this season and is hitting .173 while starting in 27 matches and playing in all 29. She is fifth on the team serving 23 aces while scooping up 215 digs (2.31 per set) and making 39 blocks. She has six double-figure kill matches and two double-doubles.
>> Brynne Topolski is second on the Ichabods with 246 kills (2.56 per set) while hitting .280. She has come off the bench in all 29 matches while making 50 blocks with 45 digs. She has 11 matches with double-digit kills.
>> Sydney Conner has appeared at setter in 27 matches for the Ichabods off the bench and is second on the team with 425 assists (5.06 per set). She has added 24 aces along with 159 digs (1.89 per set). The senior has registered seven matches with 20+ assists and four double-doubles.
>> Autumn Gibbs has played in all 29 matches while making six starts. The junior transfer is third on the team with 237 digs (2.42 per set) and has a .973 reception percentage. She has served 25 aces and dished 43 assists. She has nine double-figure dig matches.
>> Natalie Hedlund has played in 21 matches making 14 starts to record 121 kills (1.88 per set) while hitting .166. She has made 38 total blocks and scooped 51 digs.
>> Emery Keebaugh has made 11 starts while playing in 22 matches to register 95 kills (1.83 per set) while slashing .195. She has scooped up 37 digs with 18 blocks.
>> Brooklyn Morrissey has played in 14 matches making six starts all coming in the last six matches. She has made 38 kills (1.19 per set) while hitting .256. She has added 35 blocks and ten digs.
>> Shannon Frakes is fourth on the team with 103 assists (3.43 per set) while playing in 20 matches off the bench. She has served seven aces and made 36 digs (1.20 per set) as well.
>> Kali Henry has played in 27 matches this season off the bench, serving 11 aces and recording 12 digs.
>> Sydney Buscher has played in 11 matches off the bench reding 20 kills while hitting .359.
Head Coach Chris Herron
>> Herron is in his 24th season at the helm of the Ichabod volleyball program with a career record of 650-143 at Washburn. He became the 7th active DII coach to reach 700 career victories with the season-opening victory against Colorado Christian.
>> He has led the Ichabod to 18 NCAA Tournament appearances and seven combined MIAA titles (six 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 52 All-American awards, 90 All-Region/District awards and 47 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 fifth season as an assistant coach for the Ichabods.
>> The former All-American setter has helped guide Washburn to a 119-36 record in her first four 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 eight total All-Americans and ten All-MIAA first team selections.
>> Camryn Turner joins the Ichabods as an assistant coach after wrapping up a two-time All-American career at Kansas in 2024.
>> She is a Topeka, Kan. native and also plays for the Grand Rapids Rise of the PVF.
>> Heather Schemper moves from the court to the sidelines joining Washburn as a student assistant after playing two seasons for the Ichabods.
By the Numbers
>> 2: NCAA Central Region Championships won by Washburn in the past six seasons.
>> 7: Combined MIAA Championships won under Herron.
>> 13: Number of home matches at Whiting Fieldhouse in 2025 after playing just seven at home last season.
>> 16: Number of sets lost this season.
>> 18: Number of NCAA Tournament appearances under Herron.
>> 20: Number of sweeps this year.
>> 24: Consecutive winning seasons for Washburn all coming under Chris Herron.
>> 158: Consecutive victories when winning the first two sets of a match.
>> 650: Career victories for Herron at Washburn.
Scouting the Opposition
About the Nebraska Kearney Lopers
>> Nebraska Kearney moved to 28-3 overall on the year after defeating No. 8 Central Oklahoma 3-0 in the semifinals on Friday night. They went 13-3 in the MIAA>
>> The Lopers are 14-1 playing in Kearney, 8-2 in road matches and 6-0 in neutral court meetings.
>> They are ranked No. 3 nationally in the latest AVCA poll.
>> Rick Squiers is in year 27 leading the Nebraska Kearney program where he has a 832-117 record.
>> Assistant coaches Samantha Hammond, Lauren Taubenheim, Maddie Squiers, Breanna Shaffer and Mya Maxwell complete the coaching staff.
>> As a team the Lopers hit .275 with 14.6 kills per set. They also average 13.6 assists, 17.3 digs and 2.7 blocks per set.
>> Carly Purdy leads the team with 354 kills (3.58 per set) while hitting .239. She has added 71 digs and 49 blocks.
>> Ellie Spang has a team-high 447 digs (4.43 per set) with 86 assists, second most on the team, and a team-high 32 aces.
>> Peyton Neff leads the offense with 1,141 assists (11.41 per set) while serving 16 aces and
>> Nebraska Kearney leads the all-time series with Washburn 34-16. The Ichabods are 3-13 against the Lopers in neutral court meetings.
>> The two teams have split the season series this year 1-1 with each team winning at home.
Take a Look Ahead
>> With a win Washburn would clinch a spot in the NCAA Tournament. The Tournament Selection show is set for Monday, Nov. 24 at 6:30 p.m.
>> The NCAA Central Region Championship begins December 4 and runs through December 7.
