TOPEKA, Kan. -- After a brief stop at home No. 13 Washburn is back on the road to begin a four-match road trip facing Central Oklahoma and Newman on Friday and Saturday respectively.
SCHEDULE SETUP
>> No. 13 Washburn volleyball goes on the road for its longest trip away from home this season taking on Central Oklahoma and Newman in a pair of MIAA contests.
>> The Ichabods will face the Bronchos on Friday, Oct. 9 at 6 p.m. before taking on the Jets in Wichita, Kan. on Saturday, Oct. 10 with first serve at 1 p.m.
>> Washburn is 17-3 on the year overall and 5-1 in the MIAA after defeating Central Missouri 3-1 in a non-conference match on Tuesday, Oct. 6 last time out.
>> Central Oklahoma enters the match with a 14-5 overall record and 3-2 mark inside the MIAA. Newman heads into the match 6-14 on the year and 1-4 in the MIAA.
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 10-3 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 leads all of Division I, II and III with 13 home matches so far this season.
THE BLUE BUNCH
>> Brynne Topolski has played in 19 matches while making 17 starts and leads the offense with 224 kills (3.25 per set) while also hitting a team-high .292. She has added 102 digs (1.48 per set) along with making 42 blocks, second most on the team. The Lincoln, Neb. native has recorded double-figure kills in 13 matches with one double-double. She is 4th in the MIAA and 101st in the nation in kills per set while ranking 6th in the conference in points per set. She is also 13th in the MIAA in hitting percentage.
>> Emma Siron is second on the Ichabod offense with 207 kills (3.14 per set) while hitting .209 on the outside. She has started in 17 matches and played in 18 while serving a team-high 25 aces and also scooping 171 digs (2.59 per set) and making 21 blocks. She ranks 3rd on the team with 92 assists as well. The Sedalia, Mo. native has tallied ten double-digit kill matches with nine double-doubles. She is 100th in the nation and 5th in the MIAA with 3.70 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 0.38.
>> 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. She has missed the past four matches due to injury.
>> Taylor Rottinghaus has played in 18 matches, starting each one at libero. She has recorded a team-high 313 digs (4.82 per set) and has seven matches with 20+ digs. The Berryton, Kan. native has also added 52 assists with 19 aces served. The senior ranks 3rd in the MIAA and 38th in the nation in digs per set.
>> Brooklyn Morrissey has played in 18 matches while making 17 starts and is second on the team hitting .285. She has slashed 131 kills (1.96 per set) and leads the team with 71 blocks (1.06 per set). The Lenexa, Kan. native has recorded five double-digit kill matches and has six or more blocks in five matches. She ranks 7th in the MIAA and 48th nationally in blocks per set while ranking 15th in the conference in hitting percentage.
>> Natalie Hedlund has played in all 20 matches making 12 starts. She is third on the team having slashed 161 kills (2.52 per set) and is hitting .252 on the year. The senior has also added 35 digs and 32 blocks. She has seven double-digit kill matches.
>> Autumn Gibbs has played in 19 matches making eight starts. She is 2nd on the team with 173 digs (2.47 per set). The Columbus, Neb. native has served 17 aces and added 48 assists. She has nine matches with double-digit digs.
>> Hayden Meats has played in 15 matches and made six starts. She has delivered 105 kills (2.63 per set) and is hitting .239 on the year. She had added 64 digs and ten 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, tied for second most on the team and has three matches with five or more blocks.
>> Avery Willey has appeared in all 20 matches making one start and suited up at libero in another. The freshman has 70 digs (1.06 per set) while adding 13 aces and and ten assists. She has two matches with double-figure dig efforts.
>> Lauren Tyler is second on the team with 187 assists (5.34 per set) while playing in 13 matches and making three starts. She has also made served six aces and scooped 77 digs. The senior has two 30+ assist matches and five double-doubles.
>> Morgan Sears has played in 11 matches while making four starts during her freshman season. She has 36 kills on the year (1.44 per set) while hitting .455 and has made 28 blocks. She has set new career-highs in kills in two of the last four matches.
>> 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 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 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 668-148 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 137-41 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, Central Missouri 1 (October 6, 2026)
TOPEKA, Kan. -- No. 13 Washburn moved upstairs for white out in Whiting Fieldhouse and delivered a 3-1 win over Central Missouri on Tuesday night in Topeka. The Ichabods will go on the road for the next four matches beginning Friday, Oct. 9 against Central Oklahoma at 6 p.m.
The Jennies (12-8, 4-2 MIAA) came out firing and took the opening set 25-22. After that Washburn responded flipped the script, winning 25-11, 25-12 and 25-17 in the ensuing three sets to secure the victory.
Central Missouri opened the match up with an 8-3 advantage and kept Washburn (17-3, 5-1 MIAA) at arm's length throughout the middle of the set until the Ichabods were able to pull within two at 18-16 after an attacking error on the other side. That was as close as they got with the Jennies closing out the set winning 25-22.
The first four points in the second set went to Washburn after a kill was slammed down by Brynne Topolski. A four-point burst extended the lead to 11-3 after Morgan Sears and Emma Siron teamed up for a block. It was the offense that led the way with the Ichabods hitting .379 as a team in the set, as Sears finished it off with a kill to wrap it up 25-11.
An early offensive burst created separation for Washburn early in the third set as they built a 15-5 lead after Sears and Natalie Hedlund combined for a block that capped off a 10-1 run. Sears started a string of four straight points that made it a 22-8 set as the Ichabods eased into a 25-12 win in the third.
After a brief lead early in the fourth from the Jennies the next four points went to Washburn to take the lead back at 6-4. Central Missouri hung around and was able to tie the set up at nine before Hedlund slashed a kill that started a 9-1 run that included three straight service aces from Autumn Gibbs, putting the Ichabods up 18-10. Washburn was able to trade points the rest of the way, winning 25-17 in the set and 3-1 in the match.
After hitting over .300 in the final three sets the Ichabods finished hitting .285 as a team with 52 kills while Central Missouri was limited to .082 hitting and 41 kills. Digs went 71-58 in favor of Washburn as did assists 47-40 and blocks, 13-7.
Hayden Meats led the offense with 12 kills as she added nine digs. Brooklyn Morrissey slashed 10 kill and hit .529 with five blocks. Morgan Sears added a career-high nine kills hitting .500 and made seven rejections at the net. Emma Siron did a bit of everything with eight kills while hitting .500 along with 20 assists and 11 digs. Taylor Rottinghaus scooped up 18 digs in the back row and Lauren Tyler dished out a double-double with 20 assists and 10 digs.
Kaelyn McDonald and Maya Ferguson each had 10 kills to lead the Jennies, Ragin Corwin scooped 24 digs.
RANKING ROUNDUP
>> The Ichabods 6th in the nation and 2nd in the MIAA with 14.21 kills per set.
>> Washburn is also second in the conference with 13.25 assists per set, 8th in the nation.
>> The Ichabods are 25th nationally with 17.26 digs per set, the number ranks 4th in the MIAA.
>> With 2.08 blocks per set Washburn ranks 53rd in the nation and 5th among conference foes.
>> The Ichabods are holding opponents to a .141 hitting percentage, 4th best in the MIAA and 41st in the nation.
>> As a team Washburn is hitting .250, 31st in the nation and 4th in the conference.
SCOUTING THE OPPOSITION
About the CENTRAL OKLAHOMA BRONCHOS
>> Central Oklahoma is 14-5 on the year and 3-2 in MIAA matches, last time out they swept Newman in Wichita on Oct. 6.
>> They are receiving votes in the latest AVCA poll released on October 5.
>> Last season the Bronchos went 27-6 overall and 12-4 inside the MIAA. They advanced to the quarterfinal round of the NCAA Central Region tournament, falling to Concordia-St. Paul 3-0.
>> On the year Central Oklahoma is 7-0 playing at home inside of Hamilton Field House, 2-4 on the road and 5-1 in neutral court matches.
>> Edgar Miraku is in year 15 as the head coach for the Bronchos where he has compiled a 347-109 record.
>> The coaching staff is compiled of assistant coach Emily Todd, graudate assistant Lindsey Houran and volunteer assistants Morgan Stout and Bill Hamiter.
>> As a team the Bronchos hit .217 with 13.5 kills per set. They also average 12.3 assists, 19.0 digs, 1.9 blocks and serve 1.7 aces per set.
>> They rank 3rd in the nation and lead the MIAA in digs per set. Holding opponents to a .140 hitting percentage they are 3rd in the conference and 36th in the nation.
>> Riley Roberts has a team-high 607 assists (9.20 per set) while starting in all 19 matches this season. She has served 13 aces while sitting third on the team with 175 digs (2.65 per set) and making 28 blocks. She is 2nd in the MIAA in assists per set and 45th in the nation.
>> Georgia Ahlert has a team-high 192 kills (2.95 per set) while starting in all 19 matches. She is hitting .308, a team-high, and has served 14 aces and made 32 blocks. She ranks 9th in the conference in hitting percentage and 8th in points per set.
>> Kaitlyn Parrott leads the team with 285 digs (5.28 per set) while suiting up at libero in all 15 matches. She has dished out 40 assists and served 16 aces. She ranks 12th in the nation and leads the MIAA in digs per set.
>> With 76 blocks (1.21 per set), Kate Wells leads the team while starting and playing in 18 matches. She has delivered 135 kills (2.14 per set) and is hitting .267. She is 4th in the conference and 19th nationally in blocks per set and ranks 18th in the MIAA in hitting percentage.
>> Washburn leads the all-time series 18-15 over the Bronchos.
>> The Ichabods are 5-8 against Central Oklahoma in Edmond.
>> The series began on Sept. 2, 1995 with a 3-2 win for the Ichabods in Topeka.
>> Washburn won the only meeting between the two teams last season, a 3-1 win at home on Nov. 14.
About the NEWMAN JETS
>> Newman enters the match with a 6-14 record overall and a 1-4 mark inside the MIAA after falling 3-0 in a non-conference match to Central Oklahoma last time out on Oct. 6.
>> Last season the Jets were 3-24 overall and went 1-15 in the MIAA, missing out on the conference tournament.
>> This season Newman is 3-3 playing at home inside Fugate Gymnasium, 1-7 on the road and 2-4 in neutral court matches.
>> Tori Provencio is in her first season leading Newman where she has a 6-14 record.
>> Assistant coach Jack Daugherty rounds out the coaching staff.
>> As a team the Jets hit .157 with 11.1 kills per set. They also average 10.2 assists, 15.4 digs, 1.6 blocks and serve 1.5 aces per set.
>> They rank 7th in the MIAA in aces per set while ranking in the bottom four in the conference in each of kills per set, digs per set and assists per sert.
>> Isabella Lamb has a team-high 150 kills (2.17 per set) while hitting .180 and starting in all 20 matches. She has added 49 digs and 32 blocks.
>> Reese Daugherty has a team-best 249 digs (3.56 per set) while suiting up at libero in all 20 matches. She has also dished out 55 assists. She is 12th in the MIAA in digs per set.
>> Madalyn Hoot has a team-high 342 assists (4.89 per set) while starting in all 20 matches. She has served a team-best 20 aces and has scooped 125 digs (1.79 per set). She ranks 12th in the conference in assists per set.
>> Avery Kelley has made a team-high 48 blocks while starting in all 20 matches on the year. She has made 82 kills (1.22 per set) while hitting a team-high .252.
>> Washburn leads the all-time series between the two teams 24-5 while winning the last 22 matches in the series.
>> The Ichabods are 8-0 against the Jets in Wichita.
>> The series began on Oct. 16, 1975 with a 2-1 win for Washburn in an unknown location.
>> Last season the Ichabods went 2-0 sweeping Newman in Topeka and in Wichita.
MILESTONE MARKERS
>> With 1, 794 career digs, Taylor Rottinghaus is 5th on the Ichabod all-time charts in total digs. Her career digs per set mark of 4.72 is 4th in program history.
>> With 85 career service aces she is tied for 26th in program history.
>> Brynne Topolski's career .265 attacking percentage is 19th on the Ichabod all-time charts. She sits 38th in program history with 628 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 stays on the road to take on Missouri Western and Fort Hays State next week in St. Joe, Mo. beginning with a meeting against Missouri Western on Oct. 15 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.
