TOPEKA, Kan. -- No. 13 Washburn is back at home for one match hosting Central Missouri inside of Whiting Fieldhouse on Tuesday, Oct. 6 with first serve at 6 p.m. for White Out In Whiting night.
SCHEDULE SETUP
>> No. 13 Washburn volleyball heads back upstairs to Whiting Fieldhouse to take on Central Missouri.
>> The Ichabods will host the Jennies inside of Whiting Fieldhouse on Tuesday, Oct. 6 with first serve at 6 p.m.
>> Tuesday's match will be White Out in Whiting with the first 200 fans receiving a free Washburn Volleyball t-shirt.
>> Washburn is 16-3 on the year overall and 5-1 in the MIAA after defeating No. 17 Emporia State 3-2 last time out on Oct. 3 in Emporia.
>> Central Missouri enters the match with a 12-7 record overall and 4-2 inside the MIAA after falling 3-1 to No. 8 Missouri Western last time out on Oct. 2.
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.
SERVING UP FACTS
>> Washburn is 9-3 on the year playing at home inside of Lee Arena, they are 5-0 in true road contests and 2-0 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 moved up to No. 13 in the latest AVCA poll released on Monday, Oct. 5 with 572 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 1-1 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 is tied for the lead in all of Division II with 12 home matches so far this season.
THE BLUE BUNCH
>> Brynne Topolski has played in 18 matches while making 16 starts and leads the offense with 219 kills (3.37 per set) while also hitting a team-high .308. She has added 97 digs (1.49 per set) along with making 37 blocks. The Lincoln, Neb. native has recorded double-figure kills in 13 matches with one double-double. She is 3rd in the MIAA and 82nd in the nation in kills per set while ranking 6th in the conference in points per set. She is also 9th in the MIAA in hitting percentage.
>> Emma Siron is second on the Ichabod offense with 199 kills (3.21 per set) while hitting .201 on the outside. She has started in 16 matches and played in 17 while serving a team-high 25 aces and also scooping 160 digs (2.58 per set) and making 19 blocks. She ranks 3rd on the team with 72 assists as well. The Sedalia, Mo. native has tallied ten double-digit kill matches with eight double-doubles. She is 86th in the nation and 5th in the MIAA with 3.79 points per set while ranking 6th in the MIAA in kills per set. The junior ranks 6th in the MIAA in aces per set with 0.40.
>> 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 a team-high seven double-doubles. She leads the conference and is 16th in the nation in assists per set.
>> Taylor Rottinghaus has played in 17 matches, starting each one at libero. She has recorded a team-high 295 digs (4.84 per set) and has seven matches with 20+ digs. The Berryton, Kan. native has also added 50 assists with 17 aces served. The senior ranks 3rd in the MIAA and 40th in the nation in digs per set.
>> Brooklyn Morrissey has played in 17 matches while making 16 starts and is second on the team hitting .270. She has slashed 121 kills (1.99 per set) and leads the team with 66 blocks (1.05 per set). The Lenexa, Kan. native has recorded four double-digit kill matches and has six or more blocks in five matches. She ranks 7th in the MIAA and 52nd nationally in blocks per set.
>> Natalie Hedlund has played in all 19 matches making 11 starts. She has slashed 153 kills (2.55 per set) and is hitting .245 on the year. The senior has also added 34 digs and 29 blocks. She has seven double-digit kill matches.
>> Autumn Gibbs has played in 18 matches making eight starts. She is 2nd on the team with 161 digs (2.44 per set). The Columbus, Neb. native has served 13 aces and added 45 assists. She has eight matches with double-digit digs.
>> 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, tied for second most on the team and has three matches with five or more blocks.
>> Hayden Meats has played in 14 matches and made five starts. She has delivered 93 kills (2.58 per set) and is hitting .248 on the year. She had added 55 digs and eight blocks defensively as well. She has five double-digit kill matches and two double-doubles.
>> Avery Willey has appeared in all 19 matches making one start and suited up at libero in another. The freshman has 68 digs (1.10 per set) while adding 13 aces and and nine assists. She has two matches with double-figure dig efforts.
>> Lauren Tyler is second on the team with 167 assists (5.39 per set) while playing in 12 matches and making three starts. She has also made served six aces and scooped 67 digs. The senior has two 30+ assist matches and four double-doubles.
>> Morgan Sears has played in ten matches while making four starts during her freshman season. She has 27 kills on the year (1.27 per set) while hitting .440 and has made 21 blocks.
>> Brooklyn Benoit has come off the bench in 12 matches. She has delivered two kills with three aces and scooped 17 digs.
>> Chloe Traffas has appeared in 15 matches off the bench for the Ichabods. She has scooped up 32 digs along with dishing out six assists and serving eight aces.
>> Chloe Carlgren has played in nine matches and made three starts on the year. She has five kills while hitting .067 and has added 11 blocks and two digs on the defensive end.
>> Keilah Rivers has played in eight matches off the bench making 14 kills while swinging at a .146 clip. She has added five 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 667-148 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 136-41 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
Washburn 3, Emporia State 2 (October 2, 2026)
EMPORIA, Kan. -- No. 14 Washburn earned its first ranked victory of the season on Saturday night as they took down No. 17 Emporia State 3-2 in White Auditorium, thwarting Hornets comeback bid. The Ichabods will return home for one match as they play host to Central Missouri on Tuesday, Oct. 6 inside Whiting Fieldhouse at 6 p.m.
After Washburn (16-3, 5-1 MIAA) took the first two sets, 25-15 and 25-22, Emporia State (15-3, 2-2 MIAA) responded with 25-22 and 25-19 set victories to force a fifth set. After trailing 8-4 in the fifth set, the Ichabods rallied to come from behind and win 15-13.
The first two points of the match went to the home team before Washburn went on a 9-1 run to lead 9-3 after Emma Siron slashed a kill. A kill by Morgan Sears later on capped off a 5-1 burst and extended the lead to double figures at 17-7. The Ichabods ended the first set with five straight points, hitting .455 as a team to win the opening frame 25-15.
Both sides traded the first 12 points in the second set before each going on 4-0 runs. The lead continued to trade hands throughout the middle of the second set before Washburn was able to create some separation with a 4-0 run to lead 19-16 after Lauren Tyler set up Hayden Meats for a kill. The Hornets were able to come back, pulling within one at 23-22 before an attack error and block from Siron and Brooklyn Morrissey ended the set 25-22 for the Ichabods.
Emporia State jumped out to a 7-11 lead in the third set just before Washburn scored four in a row to tie the set up at 11. They would never take the lead as the Hornets came back with four in a row and would later push the lead to five at 23-18 before closing out the set 25-22.
One again in the fourth set Emporia State got out to an early lead, this time leading 11-6 after three straight points. The Ichabods were able to rally and pull within one after a kill from Morrissey but once again they could not pull in front. The Hornets had their most efficient offensive set of the night to hold on 25-19 and force a fifth set.
In the final set the home squad got out to an 8-4 lead. A successful challenge by Washburn started a six-point rally that swung the set towards the Ichabods as they led 10-8. Emporia State was able to tie the set up at 13 before kills from Natalie Hedlund and Meats closed out the set and match 15-13.
Washburn ended the day hitting .191 with 59 kills while the Hornets tallied more kills with 63, but were held to .174 hitting as a team. Both sides collected 74 digs while assists went 59-54 in favor of ESU.
Hayden Meats tallied 16 kills for a second straight day, hitting .208 with 11 digs for a double-double. Natalie Hedlund finished in double figures with 13 kills and hit .270. Emma Siron finished one kill shy of the first triple-double for Ichabod volleyball in more than 20 years as she slashed nine kills with a team-high 24 assists and added 10 digs. Lauren Tyler also had a double-double with 18 kills and 13 digs while Taylor Rottinghaus scooped 17 digs in the back row.
Emporia State was led by 15 kills from Lavra Krizanic and 47 assists by Brailee Bogle.
RANKING ROUNDUP
>> The Ichabods 6th in the nation and 2nd in the MIAA with 14.28 kills per set.
>> Washburn is also second in the conference with 13.33 assists per set, 7th in the nation.
>> The Ichabods are 25th nationally with 17.23 digs per set, the number ranks 4th in the MIAA.
>> With 2.01 blocks per set Washburn ranks 68th in the nation and 5th among conference foes.
>> The Ichabods are holding opponents to a .145 hitting percentage, 4th best in the MIAA and 45th in the nation.
>> As a team Washburn is hitting .249, 32nd in the nation and 3rd in the conference.
SCOUTING THE OPPOSITION
About the CENTRAL MISSOURI JENNIES
>> Central Missouri comes into the match with a 12-7 record overall and 4-2 inside the MIAA after falling 3-1 to No. 8 Missouri Western last time out on Oct. 2.
>> They are receiving votes in the latest AVCA poll released on October 5.
>> Last season the Jennies posted a 20-8 record overall and 11-5 in the MIAA, they fell to Washburn in the quarterfinal round of the MIAA Tournament.
>> On the year Central Missouri is 2-1 playing at home in Warrensburg, 5-3 on the road and 5-3 in neutral court matches.
>> Caitlin Peterson is in her 5th season leading the UCM volleyball program where she has compiled a 87-49 record.
>> Assistant coaches Rylie Barnum and Cole Bowen, along with graduate assistant Lillie Sullivan, round out the coaching staff.
>> As a team the Jennies hit .232 with 13.4 kills per set. They also average 12.6 assists, 16.0 digs, 2.2 blocks and serve 1.5 aces per set.
>> They rank 4th in the MIAA and 39th in the nation in blocks per set while sitting 28th in the nation and 6th in the conference in assists per set.
>> Maya Ferguson leads the team with 208 kills (3.35 per set) while hitting .243. She has started in 10 matches and played in 19 while adding 42 digs and 24 blocks. She ranks 4th in the MAIA and 84th nationally in kills per set.
>> Chloe Rauner runs the Central Missouri offense with 464 assists (7.37 per set) while starting in 16 matches and playing in all 19. She has added 145 digs (2.39 per set) and served 11 aces. She ranks 8th in the conference and 98th in the nation in assists per set.
>> Ragin Corwin has scooped a team-best 327 digs (4.74 per set) while suiting up at libero in all 19 matches. She has served 22 aces and added 67 assists as well. She ranks 4th in the MIAA and 45th nationally in digs per set.
>> Kaelyn McDonald has played and started in all 19 matches accumulating 144 kills (2.09 per set) while hitting a team-high .332. She also leads the team with 72 blocks (1.04 per set) and has 32 digs. She ranks 55th in the nation and 8th in the MIAA in blocks per set and is also 7th in the conference in hitting percentage.
>> Washburn trails 26-51 in the all-time series between the two teams but has won the last three meetings.
>> The Ichabods are 13-17 against the Jennies in Topeka.
>> The series began on Sept. 29, 1978 with a 2-1 win for Central Missouri in Wichita, Kan.
>> Washburn swept the season-series last year winning 3-0 at home and 3-1 in the quarterfinal round of the MIAA Tournament on Nov. 20, 2025.
MILESTONE MARKERS
>> With 1, 776 career digs, Taylor Rottinghaus is 6th on the Ichabod all-time charts in total digs. Her career digs per set mark of 4.72 is 4th in program history.
>> With 82 career service aces she is 27th in program history.
>> Brynne Topolski's career .270 attacking percentage is 19th on the Ichabod all-time charts. She ranks tied for 38th in Ichabod history with 623 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 its next four matches beginning Friday, Oct. 9 against Central Oklahoma in Edmond with first serve at 6 p.m.
>> Senior night for the Ichabods will take place on Saturday, Oct. 24 against Northwest Missouri State beginning at 2 p.m.
>> The MIAA Tournament is hosted in St. Joseph, Mo. at the Civic Arena from Thursday, Nov 12 to Saturday, Nov. 14.
