TOPEKA, Kan. -- No. 12 Washburn capped off an undefeated weekend at the Washburn Invite with 3-0 wins over Newman and William Jewell in the final day of the tournament. Austin Broadie, Taylor Rottinghaus, Bella Limback and Brynne Topolski were each named to the all-tournament at the conclusion of the day, with Austin Broadie being named tournament MVP.
Washburn moves to 8-0 on the season with the victories, the first time they have done so since the 2022 season that began 11-0. Next, the Ichabods will travel to Warrensburg beginning Friday, Sept. 19 for the final regular season tournament that will also wrap up non-conference play.
Match one: Washburn 3, Newman 0
The Ichabods (8-0) set the tone early, winning 25-10 in the first set before securing 25-16 and 25-20 victories in the next two sets to silence Newman (2-5).
A 9-1 run highlighted the beginning of the match and was capped off by a kill from Natalie Hedlund that put Washburn up 10-2. Newman was able to keep it close until a 6-0 Ichabod burst pushed the lead to double figures, ending at 20-7 with an Abby Leaf block. Washburn's offense highlighted the first set, hitting .516 as a team with 18 kills to win 25-10.
After leading just 5-4 a 6-0 run for the Ichabods was capped off by an ace from Autumn Gibbs to create separation at 11-4. As Washburn worked its bench into the game the lead continued to grow, reaching 10 at 21-11 after Shannon Frakes set up Josie Cleveringa for a kill. Washburn closed out the set shortly after with three straight points to win.
Both teams split the first 10 points in the third set. The Ichabods took six of the next seven, with kills by four different players in the stretch. While the offense for Washburn cooled off the defense stayed consistent, holding Newman to a -.032 hitting percentage in the set with nine errors. The defensive side held the lead for the Ichabods to finish the match with a Keilah Rivers kill at 25-20.
Washburn out-hit the Jets .367 to -.024 for the match, the best defensive showing of the season to date. Digs went in the Ichabods favor, 35-31, as did assists, 33-22 and blocks 11-4.
Austin Broadie led the offense with seven kills and a .400 hitting percentage while Corinna McMullen directed the offense to a team-high 15 assists. Twenty-one players appeared in the game for Washburn, with 17 recording at least half of a point.
Match two: Washburn 3, William Jewell 0
It was the opposite of match one in the nightcap with Washburn getting stronger as the match wore on, winning 25-22 in the first before improving to 25-16 in the second and finishing with a 25-12 victory over William Jewell.
It was a hot start for the Ichabods, as they jumped out to a 7-3 lead which included a pair of kills from Broadie. The Cardinals (0-8) battled back, tying the match and 13 all and taking a lead on the next point. They led deep into the set at 18-17 before a Brynne Topolski kill sparked a five point run for Washburn. William Jewell came within two down the stretch until Broadie ended any doubt with a kill to end the set at 25-22.
The second set started slow for the Ichabods, falling behind 3-1. Dvorak knocked down a kill on a pass from Corinna McMullen to start a 8-1 rally that put Washburn in front 9-4. William Jewell would not go away, pulling back within and keeping the set within five points. With the score at 20-16, Washburn started a run of five straight kills, three coming from Broadie to end the set with a 25-16 win.
The Cardinals got out to a 7-6 lead in the third until a Topolski knockdown started a 6-1 rally. The Ichabod offense took over shortly after, hitting .481 as a team in the set, including a 7-0 burst to create some separation at 20-11. The momentum carried over into a streak of five points to end the set and match on a Sydney Conner ace.
Washburn tallied 49 kills across the three sets to hit .388 while William Jewell hit .128 and managed just 26 kills. The Ichabods nearly doubled the assist total at 46-24 while each team picked up exactly 37 digs.
Austin Broadie stared hot and stayed hot, with a team-high 17 kills while hitting .607 for the match, good for the 17th highest attack percentage in a game in program history with a minimum of 20 attempts. Corinna McMullen led the way with 23 assists while Taylor Rottinghaus snagged 10 digs from the back row.
Washburn Invitational All-Tournament Team
Austin Broadie Washburn (Tournament MVP)
Delainee Dexter Emporia State
Bella Limback Washburn
Raiah Mandell Minnesota State University Moorhead
Jocelin Feutz Minnesota State University Moorhead
Mia Frisbee Emporia State
Nyia Anderson Emporia State
Taylor Rottinghaus Washburn
Brynne Topolski Washburn
Michaela Goad Truman State
