TOPEKA, Kan. -- The 2026 season inside Lee Arena will conclue for the Ichabods this week as they play host to No. 11 Missouri Western and Northwest Missouri State. The Ichabods host the Griffons for pink out night presented by Stormont Vail on Friday, Oct. 23 at 6 p.m. with senior day taking place on Saturday, Oct. 24 before the 2 p.m. match against the Bearcats.

SCHEDULE SETUP

>> No. 15 Washburn wraps up its home slate of matches with senior day weekend facing No. 11 Missouri Western and Northwest Missouri. 

>> The Ichabods will face the Griffons for the second time in as many weeks on Friday, Oct. 23 at 6 p.m. inside of Lee Arena before taking on the Bearcats for senior day at 2 p.m. on Saturday. 

>> Friday's match is the 2026 Pink Out game presented by Stormont Vail. Saturday's senior day presentations will take place before the match.

>> Washburn is 19-5 on the year overall and 6-2 in the MIAA after falling 3-1 to Fort Hays State in a neutral court match played in St. Joseph, Mo. last time out on Oct. 16.

>> Missouri Western enters the match with a 17-3 record overall and a 6-1 mark inside the MIAA while Northwest Missouri has a 7-12 overall record and 4-3 record in the MIAA heading into the week.

FOLLOW ALONG

>> Fans wanting to follow along can do so through live stats, live video on the MIAA Network or on social media on the official X account of Ichabod Volleyball, @IchabodVB. 

thank you seniors! 

>> Prior to the match on Saturday the five Ichabod seniors: Taylor Rottinghaus, Autumn Gibbs, Natalie Hedlund, Chloe Carlgren and Lauren Tyler will be recognized on the floor along with student assistants Heather Schemper and Katie Borough. 

>> The senior class has combined to play 13 seasons with Washburn, with the four-year members appearing in two NCAA Tournaments and winning an MIAA Regular Season Championship.

>> Taylor Rottinghaus has played in 111 matches and 395 sets as an Ichabod where she has compiled 1,867 digs averaging 4.73 per set. She has also served 91 aces, dished out 352 assists and made four kills. She is 4th in program history in both digs and digs per set in her career while ranking 25th in aces served.

>> Natalie Hedlund has spent four seasons with Washburn playing in 83 matches at Washburn appearing in 206 sets. She has 410 career kills at 1.99 per set while hitting .199. She has also added 102 blocsk and 135 digs with 10 assists. She ranks 33rd in program history in attack percentage.

>> Autumn Gibbs has spent two seasons in Topeka where she has played in 55 matches and 192 sets. She has scooped 482 digs with 104 assists and served 45 aces. 

>> Chloe Carlgren is also in year two with Washburn having played in 13 matches and 22 sets as an Ichabod. She has six kills, 13 blocks and three digs during that span. 

>> Lauren Tyler is in her first season with the Ichabods where she has played in 17 matches and 50 sets. She has dished out 256 assists with 108 digs, 10 kills and nine aces. She is 39th in program history in assists.

SERVING UP FACTS

>> Washburn is 10-3 on the year playing at home inside of Lee Arena, they are 7-1 in true road contests and 2-1 in neutral court meetings.

>> The Ichabods were picked to finish in a tie for first at the top of the MIAA Preseason Coaches Poll. They received a league-high five first place votes and 134 total points, tied with Nebraska Kearney for the top spot.

>> Washburn sits in a tie for No. 15 in the latest AVCA poll released on Monday, Oct. 19 with 497 total points in the poll.

>> The Ichabods delivered a 24th straight winning season going 27-5 in 2025 with a 13-3 record inside the MIAA, securing a share of the MIAA Regular Season Championship.

>> Last season Washburn went 5-5 against AVCA top-25 opponents including 3-3 against opponents ranked inside the top-10. They are 2-1 against AVCA opponents this season.

>> The 2026 roster is balanced by class once again. It is the third time in the Chris Herron era, and the third straight year, with at least four players from each class freshman through senior.

>> Washburn has played 13 home matches this season, tied for the 3rd most in DII.

THE BLUE BUNCH

>> Brynne Topolski has played in 23 matches while making 21 starts and leads the offense with 255 kills (3.15 per set) while also hitting .289, third best on the team. She has added 109 digs (1.35 per set) along with making 42 blocks, second most on the team. The Lincoln, Neb. native has recorded double-figure kills in 14 matches with one double-double. She is 7th in the MIAA in kills per set, and 10th in both hitting percentage and points per set.

>> Emma Siron is second on the Ichabod offense with 242 kills (2.99 per set) while hitting .206 on the outside. She has started in 21 matches and played in 22 while serving a team-high 26 aces and also scooping 212 digs (2.62 per set) and making 31 blocks. She ranks 3rd on the team with 166 assists (2.05 per set) as well. The Sedalia, Mo. native has tallied 11 double-digit kill matches with 11 double-doubles and one triple-double. She is 8th in the MIAA with 3.52 points per set while ranking 14th in the MIAA in kills per set.

>> Taylor Rottinghaus has played in 22 matches, starting each one at libero. She has recorded a team-high 386 digs (4.83 per set) and has eight matches with 20+ digs. The Berryton, Kan. native has also added 68 assists with 25 aces served. The senior ranks 6th in the MIAA and 47th in the nation in digs per set.

>> Shannon Frakes leads the Washburn passing attack with team-high 539 assists (10.37 per set). The junior has played in 15 matches while starting in 14. She is second on the team in digs with 152 (2.92 per set) while also recording 46 kills, 22 blocks and serving 17 aces. The Overland Park, Kan. native has four matches with 40+ assists and has recorded  seven double-doubles.

>> Brooklyn Morrissey has played in 22 matches while making 21 starts and is second on the team hitting .299. She has slashed 158 kills (1.93 per set) and leads the team with 83 blocks (1.01 per set). The Lenexa, Kan. native has recorded six double-digit kill matches and has six or more blocks in six matches. She ranks 8th in the MIAA and 63rd nationally in blocks per set while ranking 7th in the conference in hitting percentage.

>> Natalie Hedlund has played in all 24 matches making 13 starts. She is third on the team having slashed 193 kills (2.44 per set) and is hitting .249 on the year. The senior has also added 46 digs and 35 blocks. She has eight double-digit kill matches.

>> Autumn Gibbs has played in 23 matches making 11 starts. She is 3rd on the team with 208 digs (2.45 per set). The Columbus, Neb. native has served 19 aces and added 55 assists. She has ten matches with double-digit digs.

>> Hayden Meats has played in 19 matches and made ten starts. She has delivered 137 kills (2.49 per set) and is hitting .207 on the year. She had added 121 digs (2.20 per set) and 12 blocks defensively as well. She has six double-digit kill matches and two double-doubles.

>> Kennedy Derks has played in 16 matches making 13 starts. She has slashed 58 kills (1.23 per set) while hitting .196. She also has made 32 blocks on the defensive end and has three matches with five or more blocks.

>> Avery Willey has appeared in all 24 matches making one start and suited up at libero in another. The freshman has 75 digs while adding 16 aces and and ten assists. She has two matches with double-figure dig efforts. 

>> Lauren Tyler is second on the team with 256 assists (5.12 per set) while playing in 17 matches and making three starts. She has also made served nine aces and scooped 108 digs (2.16 per set). The senior has two 30+ assist matches and seven double-doubles.

>> Morgan Sears has played in 15 matches while making eight starts during her freshman season. She has 56 kills on the year (1.40 per set) while hitting .305. On the defensive end she has  made 37 blocks. She has five matches with at least five blocks.

>> Brooklyn Benoit has come off the bench in 14 matches. She has delivered two kills with four aces and scooped 17 digs.  

>> Chloe Traffas has appeared in 18 matches off the bench for the Ichabods. She has scooped up 33 digs along with dishing out six assists and serving eight aces. 

>> Chloe Carlgren has played in ten matches and made four starts on the year. She has five kills while hitting .067 and has added 11 blocks and three digs on the defensive end.

>> Keilah Rivers has played in 11 matches off the bench making 14 kills while swinging at a .114 clip. She has added seven digs and two blocks.

HEAD COACH CHRIS HERRON

>> Herron is in his 25th season at the helm of the Ichabod volleyball program with a career record of 670-150 at Washburn. 

>> Was inducted into the Washburn Athletics Hall of Fame in 2025.

>> He has led the Ichabod to 19 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 54 All-American awards, 95 All-Region/District awards and 49 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 sixth season as an assistant coach for the Ichabods. 

>> The former All-American setter has helped guide Washburn to a 139-43 record during her time on the sidelines.

>> 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 ten total All-Americans and 12 All-MIAA first team selections.

>> Student assistants and former Ichabod student-athletes Heather Schemper and Katie Borough round out the coaching staff. Schemper is in her 2nd season on the sideline while 2026 is Borough's first.

LAST TIME OUT 

Fort Hays State 3, Washburn 1 (October 16, 2026)

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. -- No. 15 Washburn ended its week in St. Joseph, Mo. with a split after falling 3-1 on Friday night to Fort Hays State. The Ichabods return to action for one final week at home inside Lee Arena beginning Friday, Oct. 23 with another meeting against Missouri Western beginning at 6 p.m.  

The Tigers (15-8, 3-5 MIAA) got out to a quick start winning 25-15 in the first set before Washburn (19-5, 6-2 MIAA) evened up the match winning 25-20 in the second set. Fort Hays State went on to win the next two sets, 25-18 and 25-22 to take the match. 

It was a 6-1 run for the Tigers to open the match, the lead extended to 14-6 after a stretch of five straight points. Fort Hays State hit .485 in the set as the Ichabods were never able to get back into it, losing by ten. 

A 4-0 run early in the second set put FHSU ahead 7-3. Washburn fought back into the set and went in front scoring six in a row, the last two on aces by Taylor Rottinghaus to lead 14-10. Shortly after the Tigers went on a 6-1 run to re-take the lead. The Ichabods snatched it right back with four in a row, the last coming on a block by Brooklyn Morrissey and Emma Siron. They held that lead, ending the set with kills from Morrissey and Brynne Topolski to win 25-20. 

Both sides split the first 12 points of the third set before the Ichabods created some separation with three points in a row. They led by three midway through the set until Fort Hays State rattled off five points in a row to lead 15-13. It was the start of an 11-1 run that carried them to a 25-18 victory in the third. 

The fourth set began with 3-0 runs for each team, this time with each team going on to split the first 14 points in the set. After Washburn fell behind, they used a 5-1 burst to tie the match back up at 14-all. Throughout the middle of the set both sides traded blows with three ties coming in the back half of the set, the last at 22-22 after Topolski slammed down two straight kills. The next and final three points went to Fort Hays State to secure the set and match victory. 

The Tigers ended the match hitting .275 with 56 kills while the Ichabods were held to .141 hitting with 43 kills on the night. Fort Hays State led 52-43 in assists and 61-51 in digs as well. 

Brynne Topolski had 14 kills while hitting .379 to lead Washburn. Emma Siron had 19 assists and 11 digs along with seven kills. Brooklyn Morrissey hit .545 with seven kills and Taylor Rottinghaus scooped a team-high 15 digs with four aces. 

Ella Goodwin led the Tigers with 14 kills while Annie Eaton dished out 42 assists. 

RANKING ROUNDUP

>> The Ichabods 18th in the nation and 4th in the MIAA with 13.88 kills per set.

>> Washburn is third in the conference with 12.92 assists per set, 17th in the nation.

>> The Ichabods are 23rd nationally with 17.45 digs per set, the number ranks 5th in the MIAA.

>> With 1.97 blocks per set Washburn ranks 77th in the nation and 7th among conference foes. 

>> The Ichabods are holding opponents to a .153 hitting percentage, 5th best in the MIAA and 54th in the nation.

>> As a team Washburn is hitting .241, 37th in the nation and 4th in the conference.

SCOUTING THE OPPOSITION

About the MISSOURI WESTERN GRIFFONS

>> Missouri Western is 17-3 on the year and 6-1 inside the MIAA after defeating Fort Hays State 3-0 at home last time out on Oct. 17.

>> They are ranked No. 11 in the latest AVCA poll released on Monday, Oct. 19.

>> Last season the Griffons went 21-8 and 13-3 in the conference, falling in the first round of the NCAA Central Region Tournament to St. Cloud State.

>> On the year Missouri Western is 11-3 playing inside the MWSU Fieldhouse, 3-0 on the road and 3-0 in neutral court matches.

>> Ichabod Hall of Famer and former Washburn assistant coach Jessica Fey is in her 5th season leading Missouri Western where she has a 93-47 career record.

>> Assistant coach Kayla Ruff rounds out the coaching staff.

>> As a team the Griffons hit .247 with 13.6 kills per set. They also average 12.7 assists, 17.8 digs, 2.5 blocks and serve 1.8 aces per set.

>> They rank 8th in the nation and 2nd in the MIAA in blocks per set. They rank 22nd in the nation in assists per set and are 13th nationally in digs per set.

>> Tanith Roush leads the team with 218 kills (2.99 per set) while playing in all 20 matches and making eight starts. She is hitting .280 and has added 47 blocks and 32 digs. She ranks 15th in the conference in kills per set and 12th in the MIAA in hitting percentage.

>> Anna Weberg has played in 20 matches and leads the team 389 digs (5.26 per set). She has dished out 62 assists and served ten aces as well. She ranks 1st in the conference and 13th in the nation in digs per set.

>> Katelyn Diani-O'Day has played in 19 matches and made 15 starts while leading the team with 418 assists (6.08 per set). She has served 31 aces while adding 143 digs (2.07 per set) on the defensive end. She ranks 2nd in the conference in aces per set and is 11th in total assists.

>> Taylor Russell has played in 20 matches making 12 starts and ranks second on the team with 196 kills (2.65 per set). She is hitting .299 and has added 61 blocks on the defensive end. She is 8th in the MIAA in hitting percentage and 11th in blocks per set.

>> Washburn leads the all-time series between the two teams 48-43.

>> The Ichabods are 28-11 against Missouri Western in Topeka.

>> The series began on Sept. 30, 1975 with a 2-0 win for Washburn on the road. 

>> Washburn won the first and only meeting between the two teams this season just last week, winning a 3-2 non-conference match in St. Joseph on Oct. 15.

About the NORTHWEST MISSOURI STATE BEARCATS

>> Northwest Missouri State enters the week with a 7-12 overall record while going 4-3 inside the MIAA so far.

>> Last season the Bearcats went 9-16 overall with a 3-13 record inside the MIAA. They missed out on the MIAA Tournament.

>> Northwest Missouri is 3-4 this season playing in Maryville, Mo. inside of Bearcat Arena while going 2-4 on the road and 2-4 in neutral court matches.

>> Amy Woerth is in her 15th season as the head coach at Northwest Missouri State where she has a 244-178 record.

>> The staff is rounded out by assistant coach Nick Sepulveda, graduate assistant Connie LeBel and student assistant Riley Walters.

>> As a team the Bearcats hit .175 with 12.2 kills per set. They also average 11.4 assists, 16.8 digs, 1.5 blocks and serve 1.7 aces per set.

>> They rank 2nd in the MIAA in aces per set while ranking 7th in the conference and 45th in the nation in digs per set.

>> Ellery Luhring leads the team with 311 digs (4.94 per set) while playing in a18 matches and making one start. She has served 21 aces and added 49 assists. She ranks 4th in the conference and 38th in the nation in digs per set.

>> Mya Karrick has a team-high 584 assists (8.59 per set) while playing and starting in all 19 matches. She has served a team-high 27 aces while adding 36 kills and 205 digs (3.01 per set). She ranks 3rd in the MIAA and 68th nationally in assists per set while ranking 4th in the conference in aces served per set.

>> Gabrielle Gartner leads the team with 178 kills (2.66 per set) while hitting .230. She has played in 19 matches and started in 13 while adding 71 digs (1.06 per set) and making 32 blocks.

>> Sophia Gartner has played in 15 matches making 14 starts and is second on the team with 149 kills (3.24 per set). She is hitting .174 and has added 13 blocks with 15 digs. 

>> Washburn leads the all-time series between the two teams 54-26 and have won the last two meetings.

>> The Ichabods hold a 28-7 edge playing in Topeka.

>> The series began on Nov. 1, 1976 with a 2-1 win for Washburn in Topoeka.

>> The first meeting between the two teams this season went 3-1 in favor of the Ichabods in a non-conference match in Maryville, Mo. on Sept. 22.

MILESTONE MARKERS

>> With 1, 867 career digs, Taylor Rottinghaus is 4th on the Ichabod all-time charts in total digs. Her career digs per set mark of 4.73 is 4th in program history. 

>> With 91 career service aces she sits at 25th in the program all-time charts.

>> Brynne Topolski's career .265 attacking percentage is 19th on the Ichabod all-time charts. She sits 38th in program history with 659 career kills.

>> Shannon Frakes is 22nd in program history with 694 career assists, her 539 assists this season are the 39th most in a season in program history.

2025 SEASON REWIND

>> Washburn went 27-5 in 2025 with a 13-3 record inside the MIAA, securing a share of the MIAA Regular Season Championship.

>> The Ichabods advanced to the MIAA Tournament Championship match for the second time in the last four seasons, falling to the top seed Nebraska Kearney.

>> Washburn made a 19th appearance in the NCAA Tournament, earning the No. 6 seed in the Central Region.

>> They defeated the No. 3 seed and No. 4 nationally ranked Wayne State College 3-0 in the quarterfinal round before falling 0-3 to the No. 2 seed and No. 6 ranked Concordia-St. Paul in the semifinals. 

>> Seven players earned All-MIAA honors: Austin Broadie (First Team/Player of the Year), Bella Limback (First Team), Corinna McMullen, Taylor Rottinghaus, Brynne Topolski and Alex Dvorak (Second Team) along with Keilah Rivers (Honorable Mention). 

>> Austin Broadie was named and AVCA First Team All-American and Bella Limback earned Honorable Mention AVCA All-American recognition.

TAKE A LOOK AHEAD

>> Washburn heads on the road for the final three matches of the regular season, beginning on Friday, Oct. 30 against Central Missouri in Warrensburg, Mo.

>> The regular season comes to an end with a non-conference match against William Jewell on Tuesday, Nov. 3 in Liberty, Mo.

>> The MIAA Tournament is hosted in St. Joseph, Mo. at the Civic Arena from Thursday, Nov 12 to Saturday, Nov. 14.