TOPEKA, Kan. -- Washburn Ichabod volleyball will begin year 56 on Friday, September 5 at the Oredigger Volleyball Classic with four matches over two days in Golden, Colo.
Setting The Schedule
>> The 56th season of Washburn Ichabod volleyball begins on September 5 at the 2025 Oredigger Volleyball Classic with four matches in two days in Golden, Colorado.
>> The tournament opens with an 11 a.m. MST match against Colorado Christian before taking on South Dakota Mines at 4 p.m. MST.
>> In day two of the tournament Washburn faces Davenport at 10 a.m. MST and Valdosta State at 2 p.m. MST.
2025 Oredigger Volleyball Classic
>> The seven team tournament is hosted by Colorado School of Mines in Lockridge Arena and will take place on two courts.
>> In addition to the four Ichabod opponents and the host Orediggers, Grand Valley State is the seventh team in the tournament.
>> Matches are scheduled two hours apart and may begin late but will not start early.
>> Live Stats can be found on the Washburn schedule page or on the tournament homepage at minesathletics.com in the volleyball tab.
>> Live streaming of the matches will be through the RMAC Network with prices of $130 for the year, $25 for a month or $10 per match.
>> An All-Tournament team will be determined at the conclusion of the tournament based on nominations and votes from coaches.
Serving Up Facts
>> The Ichabods enter 2025 after going 21-8 overall a season ago including a 11-5 record inside the MIAA. They were 6-1 at home, 7-4 on the road and 8-3 in neutral court matches.
>> The season ended with a 3-2 NCAA Central Region Semifinals loss to No. 6 nationally ranked Central Oklahoma.
>> The Ichabods were picked to finish third in the MIAA Preseason Coaches Poll with 98 total points. The MIAA Tournament will once again be seeded based on KPI Rankings and not final regular season standings.
>> Washburn is ranked No. 22 in the preseason AVCA poll with 210 points. They were ranked No. 24 to finish the season last year.
>> Last year Washburn went 2-4 against AVCA Top-25 opponents.
>> 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.
Back in Blue - 2025 Returners
>> Washburn returns 14 letterwinners from a season ago.
>> Alex Dvorak headlines the group of returners for her senior season after earning AVCA All-American Honorable Mention honors in 2024. She is 2nd among returners with 240 kills (2.14 per set) while leading the team last year with a .364 hitting percentage. On the defensive end she also returns a team and conference high 150 blocks (1.34 per set). Last season the Kansas City, Mo. native played in all 29 matches and delivered eight with seven or more blocks.
>> Austin Broadie returns with the most experience in the Ichabod program going into her fifth year with Washburn. She was an All-MIAA honorable mention a season ago and had the most kills among all returners with 248 (2.21 per set). She hit .257 on the year across all 29 matches and added 68 blocks. The Burns, Kan. native registered nine matches with double-digit kills.
>> Corinna McMullen will return to control the Ichabod offense for a fourth year at setter after leading the team with 706 assists (6.36 per set) a season ago. The Bucyrus, Kan. native also served up a team-high 42 aces while adding 265 digs (2.39 per set) good for second among returners. The All-MIAA second team selection played in all 29 matches had eight with 30 or more assists.
>> Taylor Rottinghaus will once again roam the back row for Washburn in her junior season. In 2024 she was named an All-MIAA second team selection after leading the team with 569 digs (5.08 per set) and playing all 29 matches. She carried a .96 reception percentage while also adding 29 aces, second most among returners, and 84 assists. The Berryton, Kan. native had five matches with 25+ digs.
>> Bella Limback returns to Washburn for her senior season after starting all 29 matches as a junior and earning All-MIAA honorable mention honors. She returns the third most kills on the team with 183 (1.66 per set) a season ago while hitting .345, second best on the squad. At the net the Waverly, Mo. native also swatted away 99 blocks, second most on the Ichabods. She had four matches with 10+ kills and hit over .390 in all of them.
>> Sydney Conner returns for a fourth season in navy at setter for the Ichabods after playing in all 29 matches in 2024. She was second on the team with 478 assists (4.47 per set) last year and is third among returners with 224 digs (2.09 per set). The Kearney, Neb. native added 14 aces and had 20 or more assists in six matches.
>> Emery Keebaugh will be a sophomore after appearing in 23 matches and making six starts as a freshman. The Ottawa, Kan. native had 146 kills (2.28 per set) while hitting .216. She also added 26 blocks and 64 digs while recording seven matches with double figure kills.
>> Brynne Topolski will also be a sophomore returning 135 kills (2.05 per set) and hitting .220 as a freshman. She played in 22 matches and made eight starts while also adding 33 blocks and 39 digs. The Lincoln, Neb. native had double digit kills in four matches last season.
>> Natalie Hedlund appeared in 22 matches and made four starts during her sophomore campaign and will return to the group of outside hitters for a junior year. She made 82 kills (1.86 per set) while hitting .168. The Fairfax, Mo. native also added 25 blocks and 34 digs.
>> Kali Henry will be a senior in the back row after appearing in 19 matches a season ago. The Tecumseh, Kan. native made 11 digs with six assists and an ace last year.
>> Keilah Rivers played in 17 matches and made three starts as a freshman and will return for a sophomore year. She made 47 kills (1.24 per set) last season while hitting .133. The Olathe, Kan. native made 36 digs and 14 blocks last year.
>> Shannon Frakes was fourth on the team with 52 assists (2.08 per set) as a freshman and will return for a sophomore campaign. The Overland Park, Kan. native played in 15 matches while adding 26 digs and five kills.
>> Abby Leaf will return for her sophomore season in the front row at middle hitter. The Ramsey, Minn. native appeared in 15 matches as a freshman and made five kills.
>> Josie Cleveringa returns for a sophomore season as a right side hitter. The North Bend, Neb. native played in three matches during her freshman campaign.
New Faces in Navy
>> Eight new players will suit up for Ichabod volleyball in 2025 with five freshmen and three more newcomers joining the program.
>> Autumn Gibbs joins the back row as a junior, coming from MSU Denver by way of Columbus, Neb. She spent two seasons with the Roadrunners playing in 63 matches recording 160 total digs. She will wear #1 for the Ichabods as a defensive specialist/libero.
>> Chloe Carlgren returns to Topeka after two seasons at Johson County CC. The Auburn, Kan. native and Washburn Rural product earned All-Conference honors with 204 kills with the Cavaliers as a sophomore. She joins the group of middle blockers as a junior and will wear #9.
>> Katie Borough also joins Washburn as a local product from Washburn Rural. She spent two seasons away from volleyball before returning as a junior. She will join the defensive specialist/libero group and wear #8.
>> Brooklyn Morrissey is one of five freshmen set to begin their collegiate careers in 2025. She comes from Lenexa, Kan. and Shawnee Mission West HS and will be a middle blocker wearing #17.
>> Kennedy Derks travels west from Olathe, Kan. and Olathe South HS to join the Ichabods in 2025. She will be a middle hitter and wear #13.
>> Chloe Traffas joins Washburn from Attica, Kan. and Attica HS. She will be a defensive specialist/libero and wear #11 for Washburn.
>> Sydney Buscher joins the Ichabods coming from Spring Hill, Kan. and Spring Hill HS. She will spend time at both setter and as a right side hitter while wearing #10.
>> Layla Collins rounds out the freshman class staying close to home as a Topeka, Kan. native from Washburn Rural HS. She will play outside and right side hitter and wear #6.
Head Coach Chris Herron
>> Herron is in his 24th season at the helm of the Ichabod volleyball program with a career record of 624-140 at Washburn. He is one win shy of 700 career DII coaching victories.
>> He has led the Ichabod to 18 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 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 93-33 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.
>> 13: Number of home matches at Whiting Fieldhouse in 2025 after playing just seven at home last season.
>> 18: Number of NCAA Tournament appearances under Herron.
>> 23: Consecutive winning seasons for Washburn all coming under Chris Herron.
>> 137: Consecutive victories when winning the first two sets of a match.
>> 624: Career victories for Herron at Washburn.
Ranking Roundup
>> Washburn finished 2024 7th in Division II in average home match attendance at 804.
>> The Ichabods were 2nd in the MIAA and 19th nationally in blocks per set at 2.46 in 2024.
>> Washburn was 20th in the nation and 3rd in the MIAA with 12.96 assists per set.
>> With 13.89 kills per set the Ichabods finished 22nd in the nation and 3rd in the MIAA.
>> The Ichabod offense was efficient hitting .234 as a team good for 3rd in the MIAA and 40th in the nation.
>> Washburn was also top-30 in the nation in digs at 29th while ranking 8th in the MIAA with 17.94 digs per set.
>> On defense the Ichabods held opponents to a .157 hitting percentage, good for 4th in the MIAA.
Milestone Markers
>> Corinna McMullen is 11th in program history in total assists with 2,136. She is 9th in program history in service aces with 124 needing five more to move up to eighth place. Her 838 career digs rank 35th in program history.
>> Austin Broadie ranks in the top-40 in Ichabod history in both blocks and kills. Her 204 blocks are 32nd most and with 665 kills she ranks 37th. She also sits 24th in career attack percentage at .241.
>> With 1,013 career digs Taylor Rottinghaus is climbing the all-time charts and currently ranks 27th. In digs per set she is 4th in Washburn history at 4.87.
>> Sydney Conner has 1,523 career assists, putting her 14th in Washburn history. In assists per set she also ranks 14th among all Ichabods.
>> In just one full season Alex Dvorak is 48th in program history with 150 career blocks.
>> Bella Limback's has 199 total blocks in her career putting her 34th on the all-time charts. She is 19th in blocks per set.
Scouting the Opposition
About the Colorado Christian Cougars
>> Colorado Christian opens the 2025 season after going 19-11 in 2024 with a 9-5 mark inside the RMAC. They qualified for the NCAA Tournament, falling in the regional quarterfinal round.
>> The Cougars went 6-3 at home in 2024, 6-5 on the road and were 7-3 in neutral court matches.
>> Bobby Blanken is in his 8th season as the head coach of Colorado Christian where he has a 103-110 record.
>> Assistant coach Lydia Bartalo and graduate assistant Alexis Benda round out the coaching staff.
>> Last season the Cougars averaged 13.9 kills per set while hitting .236. They also averaged 13.1 assists per set with 16.8 digs and 2.3 blocks. They ranked 15th in the nation in assists per set and 20th in kills per set.
>> Renee Phillips returns after finishing second on the team with 280 kills (2.80 per set) while starting all 30 matches and hitting .344. She made 83 blocks on the defensive end and served 21 aces. She was 10th in the RMAC in total blocks.
>> Kristina House brings back the most digs on the roster finishing third last year with 201 (2.14 per set). She played in 29 matches making 10 starts and added 19 assists.
>> Suzanna Conner was third on the team with 62 blocks last season and returns in 2025. She started in 18 matches and played in 29 to accumulate 224 kills (2.41 per set) while hitting .223. Conner was also 2nd on the team with 23 aces.
>> Washburn leads the all-time series 4-2. In neutral court matches they are 3-0 against the Cougars.
>> The most recent meeting came on Sept. 5, 2003 and was a 3-0 win for the Ichabods in Omaha, Neb.
About the South Dakota Mines Hardrockers
>> South Dakota Mines begins 2025 after posting an 18-9 record in 2024 along with a 11-3 mark in the RMAC. They were knocked out of the RMAC Tournament Quarterfinals to end the season.
>> The Hardrockers went 9-1 at home in 2024 while going 5-5 on the road and 4-3 in neutral court settings.
>> Lauren Prochazka is in her 8th season leading the South Dakota Mines program where she has a 79-98 record.
>> Assistant coaches Annika Stephens and Lyle Lehmann round out the coaching staff.
>> Last season the Hardrockers hit .217 as a team with 13.7 kills per set. They also averaged 12.4 assists, 18.0 digs and 1.8 blocks per set. They finished 2024 28th in the nation in both digs and kills per set.
>> Ivy Vindivich returns after finishing 3rd on the team in kills last season with 224 (2.67 per set) and hitting .173. She started in 21 of 25 matches played while adding 59 digs and 20 blocks.
>> Hannah Benes paced South Dakota Mines with 500 digs (4.90 per set) a season ago and returns in 2025. She also paced the team with 55 aces while adding 124 assists. She finished 24th in the nation in aces per set.
>> Kiera Walsh was second on the team with 47 blocks last season playing in just 19 matches with 15 starts. She also made 56 kills with three aces.
>> Washburn leads the all-time series 1-0 over South Dakota Mines. They have not played a neutral court match.
>> The one and only meeting was a 3-0 win for the Ichabods in Topeka on Sept. 4, 2015.
About the Davenport Panthers
>> Davenport turns the page to 2025 after going 10-19 in 2024 along with a 6-11 GLIAC record. They were defeated by Grand Valley State in the GLIAC Tournament Quarterfinals to end the season.
>> The Panthers went 5-8 at the Davenport Student Center in 2024 along with going 3-7 on the road and 2-4 in neutral court battles.
>> Charley Andrews enters year two with Davenport where she has a 10-19 record.
>> Assistant coaches Parker Saenz, Sidney Schiller and Anna Smith along with volunteer assistant Savannah Hall complete the coaching staff.
>> Last season the Panthers averaged 10.9 kills per set on a .161 hitting percentage. They also averaged 10.2 assists per set with 13.6 digs and 1.7 blocks. They ranked 92nd nationally with 1.78 aces per set.
>> After leading the team with 354 kills (3.40 per set) a season ago Abby Alan returns. She played and started in all 29 matches while adding 34 aces and 239 digs (2.30 per set) second most on the team. She was 26th nationally with 11.10 attacks per set.
>> Hayley Carr led last Davenport in digs last season with 404 (3.85 per set) while playing in all 29 matches. She added 73 assists and 24 aces served.
>> Kaitlyn Marsh had 82 blocks last season to lead the Panthers while starting in all 29 matches. She also added 144 kills (1.38 per set).
>> Saturday's meeting will be the first ever meeting between Washburn and Davenport.
About the Valdosta State Blazers
>> Valdosta State went 19-12 in 2024 going 13-7 inside the GSC. They were defeated in the GSC Tournament Quarterfinals by Lee to end the season.
>> The Blazers were 8-6 at home, 8-5 on the road and posted a 3-1 record in neutral court matches in 2024.
>> Kaleigh Zoucha enters year seven as the head coach at Valdosta State where she has a 94-111 record.
>> Assistant coach Rami Mullen and graduate assistants Izabella De Lima and Kaleigh Ritter complete the coaching staff.
>> In 2024 Valdosta State hit .204 as a team while slashing 12.3 kills per set. They added 11.5 assists per set along with 16.3 digs and 2.0 blocks. They were 43rd in the nation in total digs and 46th in aces.
>> Katie Callenberger had the fourth most kills on the team last season with 223 (1.94 per set) while hitting .285. She played and started in all 31 matches while making 66 blocks.
>> Avery Mullins returns after finishing 2nd on the team with 474 assists (4.51 per set) across 28 matches and 12 starts. She also served 21 aces and scooped up 179 digs (1.70 per set).
>> Ava Young was third on the team with 64 blocks a season ago while playing in 30 matches and making 14 starts. She added 67 kills as well.
>> The match with Valdosta State will be the first meeting between the two teams.
2024 Season Rewind
>> Washburn went 21-8 in 2024 with a 11-5 record inside the MIAA, good for a fourth place regular season finish.
>> The Ichabods lost 3-1 to Northwest Missouri State in the MIAA Tournament Quarterfinals.
>> They made the 18th appearance in the NCAA Tournament in Program history as the No. 6 seed in the Central Region.
>> Washburn upset No. 3 seed and No. 5 ranked Nebraska Kearney 3-2 in the opening round before falling 3-2 to No. 6 ranked Central Oklahoma in the regional semifinals.
>> Six players earned All-MIAA honors: Jalyn Stevenson (First Team), Alex Dvorak, Corinna McMullen and Taylor Rottinghaus (Second Team) along with Bella Limback and Austin Broadie (Honorable Mention).
>> Jalyn Stevenson and Alex Dvorak were named AVCA All-American Honorable Mentions.
Take a Look Ahead
>> Next week Washburn opens it's home schedule at the Washburn Invitational with four matches in two days. Day one begins with an 11 a.m. meeting against Truman State.
>> The first MIAA match of the season will come on Friday, Sept. 26 against Northwest Missouri State at 6 p.m. inside Whiting Fieldhouse.
>> Senior night for the Ichabods comes against Arkansas-Fort Smith in the regular season finale on Saturday, Nov. 15 at 2 p.m.
>> The MIAA Tournament will begin Nov. 20 and run through Nov. 22 in St. Joseph, Mo. at Civic Arena.
