KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- No. 18 Washburn volleyball was recognized with eight players named to All-MIAA teams by the conference on Wednesday morning.
Leading the Ichabod group is Taylor Rottinghaus who earned All-MIAA First-Team honors for the first time in her career after landing on the second team each of the past three seasons. The senior has played in 27 matches, starting each one at libero. She has recorded a team-high 489 digs (5.06 per set) and has ten matches with 20+ digs. The Berryton, Kan. native has also added 80 assists with 28 aces served, tied for a team-high. The senior ranks 4th in the MIAA and 31st in the nation in digs per set.
Brynne Topolski is the first of three for Washburn on the All-MIAA Second-Team at outside hitter. She earns the honor for a second straight season. The Lincoln, Neb. Native has played in 28 matches while making 23 starts and leads the offense with 294 kills (3.03 per set) while also hitting .271, third best on the team. She has added 121 digs (1.25 per set) along with making 59 blocks, second most on the team. The Lincoln, Neb. native has recorded double-figure kills in 15 matches with one double-double. She is 11th in the MIAA in kills per set, 12th in points per set and 13th in hitting percentage.
Also on the second team is Emma Siron in her first season with Washburn at outside hitter. She was a two-time All-Conference honoree at Central Missouri. This season she is second on the Ichabod offense with 263 kills (2.71 per set) while hitting .195 on the outside. She has started in 26 matches and played in 27 while serving 28 aces tied for a team-high. She has also scooped 243 digs (2.52 per set) and made 40 blocks. She ranks 3rd on the team with 231 assists (2.38 per set) as well. The Sedalia, Mo. native has tallied 11 double-digit kill matches with 12 double-doubles and one triple-double. She is 16th in the MIAA with 3.24 points per set while ranking 17th in the MIAA in kills per set.
Hayden Meats is an All-MIAA Second-Team selection at outside hitter as a freshman. The Olathe, Kan. native has played in 24 matches and made 15 starts. She has delivered 178 kills (2.51 per set) and is hitting .205 on the year. She had added 161 digs (2.27 per set) and 15 blocks defensively as well. She has eight double-digit kill matches and three double-doubles.
Four Ichabods earn Honorable Mention honors, first with Natalie Hedlund recieving the first All-MIAA nod of her career. The senior outside hitter has played in all 29 matches, making 13 starts. She is third on the team having slashed 233 kills (2.45 per set) and is hitting .245 on the year. The senior has also added 58 digs and 42 blocks. She has eight double-digit kill matches.
Another senior earning All-MIAA honors for the first time is Autumn Gibbs landing on the Honorable Mention list. The Columubs, Neb. native has played in 28 matches making 16 starts. She is 2nd on the team with 250 digs (2.48 per set). The Columbus, Neb. native has served 21 aces and added 62 assists. She has 12 matches with double-digit digs.
Brooklyn Morrissey also is an All-MIAA Honorable Mention at middle blocker for the first time in her career. The sophomore from Lenexa, Kan. has played in 27 matches while making 26 starts and leads the team hitting .305. She has slashed 189 kills (1.93 per set) and leads the team with 97 blocks (0.99 per set). The Lenexa, Kan. native has recorded six double-digit kill matches and has seven or more blocks in six matches. She ranks 11th in the MIAA and 79th nationally in blocks per set while ranking 8th in the conference in hitting percentage.
Rounding out the All-Conference honorees is Shannon Frakes who earns an All-MIAA nod at setter after battling through injuries in the back half of the season. The junior leads the Washburn passing attack with team-high 614 assists (9.30 per set). The junior has played in 20 matches while starting in 16. She is fourth on the team in digs with 187 (2.83 per set) while also recording 47 kills, 23 blocks and serving 18 aces. The Overland Park, Kan. native has four matches with 40+ assists and has recorded nine double-doubles.
Washburn will begin postseason play at the MIAA Tournament facing Pittsburg State in the quarterfinal round on Thursday, Nov. 12 at 2:30 p.m. in St. Joseph, Mo.
PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Lavra Krizanic, Emporia State, OH, So.
HITTER OF THE YEAR: Lavra Krizanic, Emporia State, OH, So.
BLOCKER OF THE YEAR: Crystal Smith, Pittsburg State, So.*
SETTER OF THE YEAR: Riley Roberts, Central Oklahoma, Sr.
CO-LIBERO OF THE YEAR: Ellie Spang, Nebraska Kearney, Sr.
CO-LIBERO OF THE YEAR: Anna Weberg, Missouri Western, Sr.
FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR: Piper Bahr, Emporia State, OH
COACH OF THE YEAR: Rich Squiers, Nebraska Kearney
*Indicates Unanimous Selection
ALL-MIAA FIRST TEAM
OH Maya Fergerson – Central Missouri
OH Lavra Krizanic – Emporia State
OH Carly Purdy – Nebraska Kearney
OH Brynn Stowell – Nebraska Kearney
RS Maddison LaPointe – Pittsburg State
RS Tanith Roush – Missouri Western
RS Taylor Russell – Missouri Western
MB Sydney Davis – Nebraska Kearney
MB Crystal Smith – Pittsburg State*
S Brailee Bogle – Emporia State
S Riley Roberts – Central Oklahoma
L/DS Taylor Rottinghaus - Washburn
L/DS Ellie Spang – Nebraska Kearney
L/DS Anna Weberg – Missouri Western
*Indicates Unanimous Selection
ALL-MIAA SECOND TEAM
OH Piper Bahr – Emporia State
OH Maliyah Johnson – Pittsburg State
OH Hayden Meats – Washburn
OH Sky Miller – Newman
OH Lydia Pitts – Arkansas Fort Smith
OH Emma Siron – Washburn
OH Brynne Topolski – Washburn
RS Ella Goodwin – Fort Hays State
MB Kaelyn McDonald – Central Missouri
MB Mackenzie Peters – Missouri Western
MB Ashlyn Reeves – Fort Hays State
S Annie Eaton – Fort Hays State
S Ellie Eckman – Nebraska Kearney
L/DS Kaitlyn Parrott – Central Oklahoma
L/DS Miyu Tsurumaki – Emporia State
(team reflects ties in voting)
ALL-MIAA HONORABLE MENTION
Arkansas Fort Smith – Mayli Whetter, S
Central Missouri – Ragin Corwin, L/DS
Central Oklahoma – Sawyer Franz, OH; Myla Unterweger, OH; Kate Wells, MB; Georgia Ahlert, MB; Morgan Manning, L/DS
Emporia State – Maja Ciosek, OH; Brooklynn Weaver, MB
Missouri Southern – Grace Gardner, OH
Missouri Western – Holly Heldt, OH; Katelyn Diani-O'Day, S
Nebraska Kearney – Grace Schmedding, OH; Callie Squiers, S
Newman – Isabella Lamb, MB
Northwest Missouri – Gabby Gartner, RS; Sophia Gartner, OH; Mya Karrick, S; Ellery Luhring, L/DS
Washburn – Natalie Hedlund, OH; Brooklyn Morrissey, MB; Shannon Frakes, S; Autumn Gibbs, L/DS
