TOPEKA, Kan. -- No. 8 Washburn volleyball wrapped up the opening weekend of 2026 with a 3-1 win over Westminster on Saturday afternoon to put the finishing touches on a 4-0 week at the Washburn Invitational. They will head north for the Sioux Falls Classic beginning Thursday at 4 p.m. against Black Hills State.
After the conclusion of the tournament Emma Siron was named the Tournament MVP while Shannon Frakes, Brynne Topolski and Brooklyn Morrissey were named to the All-Tournament team.
The Ichabods (4-0) opened the match with a 25-17 win in the first but the Griffins (0-4) were able to even the match up winning 25-23 in the second. Washburn responded with 25-12 and 25-22 victories in the ensuing two sets.
Both sides went back-and-forth early, splitting the first 20 points. A three-point burst created some separation with the Ichabods in front 13-10 after Chloe Carlgren and Brynne Topolski combined for a block. Shortly after Washburn went on a 5-1 run to lead 21-14 after an Emma Siron ace. They finished off a first set where they hit .417 with back-to-back kills to win 25-17.
The Griffins bounced back in the second, using a 4-0 run to go in front 11-8 early. They remained in front until the score reached 15-15 on a Hayden Meats kill from Shannon Frakes. Shortly after Topolski splashed a kill that put the Ichabods in front 19-18. The lead traded places three more times from there on out with Westminster securing four of the final five points in the set to win 25-23.
Washburn responded in the third by scoring the first five points in the set. A 5-1 run with two kills from Natalie Hedlund pushed the lead to 13-6 and later on it grew to double figures on a 6-0 burst capped off with an Autumn Gibbs ace to make the score 21-9. The Ichabods ended the set with four-straight points to take the set 25-12.
In the fourth set the Griffins got off to a hot start and led 14-8 after scoring four straight points. After that point Meats responded with four points in a row of her own which started a 8-0 run and flipped the score to 16-14 in favor of the home squad. Westminster came back twice to take the lead, the second time at 21-20 in the set. Frakes snuck past a kill that started a 5-1 run to end the match with a 25-22 set victory.
The Ichabods registered 60 kills in the match while hitting .264 as a team, they held the Griffins to .128 hitting as they tallied 38 kills. Digs went in favor of the home team 74-56 as did assists, 58-38.
Hayden Meats came off the bench to slash a career-high 13 kills while hitting .524. Emma Siron matched her team-high 13 kills and added 15 digs for a double-double. Shannon Frakes set up 48 assists while also making 15 digs. Avery Willey led the backline with 16 digs.
Claire Cook had a team-high 11 kills for Westminster.
