TOPEKA, Kan. -- No. 13 Washburn continues its homestand as MIAA play begins on Friday, Sept. 18 as they face Fort Hays State before taking on No. 7 Nebraska Kearney on Saturday, Sept. 19 at 6 p.m.

SCHEDULE SETUP

>> No. 13 Washburn volleyball begins conference action this week with a pair of home matches against Fort Hays State and No. 7 Nebraska Kearney.

>> The Ichabods will face the Tigers at 6 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 18 before taking on the Lopers at 6 p.m. on Saturday for Alumni Night.

>> Washburn is 10-2 on the year heading into conference play after a 2-2 showing at the Ichabod Classic last week with a 1-3 loss to Drury in the finale on Sept. 12.

>> Fort Hays State enters the week with a 10-3 record while Nebraska Kearney is 11-1. Both teams will face eachother in Hays, Kan. on Wednesday evening.

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 6-2 on the year playing at home inside of Lee Arena, they are 2-0 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 September 14. They received 623 total points in the poll moving down nine spots from a week ago.

>> 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 have not played a top-25 team 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 DII lead with eight home matches already in the 2026 season. After this week of MIAA action they will lead the nation in home matches played.

THE BLUE BUNCH

>> Emma Siron leads the Ichabod offense with 147 kills (3.77 per set) while hitting .246 on the outside. She has started in ten matches and played in 11 while serving a team-high 17 aces and also scooping 107 digs (2.74 per set) and making 11 blocks. The Sedalia, Mo. native has tallied nine double-digit kill matches with six double-doubles. She is 24th in the nation and first in the MIAA with 4.38 points per set while ranking 31st in the nation in kills per set and also leading the conference. The junior ranks 3rd in the MIAA in aces per set with 0.44.

>> Shannon Frakes leads the Washburn passing attack with team-high 438 assists (11.23 per set). The junior has played in 11 matches while starting in ten. She is second on the team in digs with 124 (3.18 per set) while also recording 39 kills, 18 blocks and serving 14 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 5th in the nation in assists per set while ranking 17th in the MIAA in digs per set as well.

>> Brynne Topolski has played in 11 matches while amking nine starts and is second on the team with 137 kills (3.51 per set) while hitting .288. She has added 75 digs (1.92 per set) along with making 19 blocks, second most on the team. The Lincoln, Neb. native has recorded double-figure kills in nine matches with one double-double. She is 4th in the MIAA and 57th in the nation in kills per set while ranking 6th in the conference and 82nd nationally in points per set. She is also 16th in the MIAA in hitting percentage.

>> Taylor Rottinghaus has played in ten matches, starting each one at libero. She has recorded a team-high 162 digs (4.63 per set) and has four matches with 20+ digs. The Berryton, Kan. native has also added 32 assists with eight aces served. The senior ranks 5th in the MIAA and 55th in the nation in digs per set.

>> Brooklyn Morrissey has played in 11 matches while amking 10 starts and is second on the team hitting .296. She has slashed 89 kills (2.23 per set) and leads the team with 41 blocks (1.03 per set). The Lenexa, Kan. native has recorded three double-digit kill matches and has five or more blocks in four matches. She ranks 7th in the MIAA and 67th nationally in blocks per set while ranking 11th in the conference in hitting percentage.

>> Natalie Hedlund has played in all 12 matches making seven starts. She has slashed 106 kills (2.86 per set) and is hitting a team-best .300 on the year. The senior has also added 29 digs and 15 blocks. She has five double-digit kill matches. She is ranking 14th in the MIAA in hitting percentage and 18th in kills per set.

>> Autumn Gibbs has played in 11 matches making five starts. She is 4th on the team with 106 digs (2.65 per set). The Columbus, Neb. native has served 11 aces and added 28 assists. She has six matches with double-digit digs.

>> Avery Willey has appeared in all 12 matches making one start and suited up at libero in another. The freshman has 49 digs (1.32 per set) while adding seven aces and an assist. She has two matches with double-figure dig efforts. 

>> Kennedy Derks has played in all 12 matches making nine starts. She has slashed 46 kills (1.35 per set) while hitting .177. She also has made 18 blocks on the defensive end with eight digs.

>> Hayden Meats has played in eight matches and made two starts. She has delivered 27 kills (1.69 per set) and is hitting .167 on the year. She had added 15 digs and two blocks defensively as well. She has one double-digit kill match.

>> Chloe Traffas has appeared in ten matches off the bench for the Ichabods. She has scooped up 22 digs along with dishing out five assists and serving five aces. 

>> Chloe Carlgren has played in eight matches and made two starts on the year. She has six kills while hitting .111 and has added ten blocks and two digs on the defensive end.

>> Lauren Tyler is second on the team with 61 assists (6.78 per set) while playing in five matches and making two starts. She has also made served two aces and scooped 14 digs.

>> Brooklyn Benoit has come off the bench in ten matches. She has delivered two kills with three aces and scooped 16 digs.  

>> Keilah Rivers has played in five matches making 12 kills while swinging at a .171 clip. She has added four digs and a block.

>> Morgan Sears has played in six matches while making one start during her freshman season. She has seven kills on the year while hitting .357.

HEAD COACH CHRIS HERRON

>> Herron is in his 25th season at the helm of the Ichabod volleyball program with a career record of 661-147 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 130-40 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 

Drury 3, Washburn 1 (September 12, 2026)

TOPEKA, Kan. -- No. 4 Washburn wrapped up the Ichabod Classic tournament splitting a pair of matches with a morning sweep over Southwestern Oklahoma State before falling 3-1 to Drury in the final match of the tournament. Conference play begins next as they play host to Fort Hays State at 6 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 18.  

After the tournament Natalie Hedlund and Brynne Topolski were each named to the All-Tournament team. 

Match one: Washburn 3, Southwestern Oklahoma State 0 

Washburn set the tone early in the match with a 25-12 victory in the first set and closed out the sweep with 25-16 and 25-22 victories in each of the next two sets.  

After the Bulldogs hung around early on the Ichabods used a 5-0 run capped by a kill from Brynne Topolski to create separation and go up 15-7 in the first. The burst extended to a 9-1 rally after Autumn Gibbs landed an ace that made it 19-8. The offense of Washburn kept swinging away as they hit .333 as a team in the opening set to win 25-12. 

In the second set the Ichabods got out to a 10-4 lead after Emma Siron served up an ace. After Southwestern Oklahoma State pulled within four points Washburn started a 6-0 run that pushed the lead to double-figures at 22-12. The offense of the home squad hit .455 in the set and it was a kill from Keilah Rivers that finished off the second set with a win. 

A quick start gave the Ichabods a lead right away in the third set, consecutive kills by Topolski made it a 16-9 set. Midway through the set the Bulldogs landed four straight points to pull within two, and would eventually come all the way back to tie the set at 22-all. A kill by Topolski started a 3-0 run to end the set and match with a sweep. 

Washburn ended the match hitting .262 as a team with 40 kills while holding Southwestern Oklahoma to 30 kills and a .143 hitting percentage. The visitors led 50-49 in digs while assists went 38-28 in favor of the Ichabods as did aces, 12-2. 

Brynne Topolski had a team-high 12 kills while hitting .321 and adding three blocks. Natalie Hedlund tacked on nine kills. Shannon Frakes dished out 31 assists with eight digs while Emma Siron had a team-high 12 digs and three aces. 

Jenna Houk had 11 kills and 12 digs to lead the Bulldogs. 

Match two: Drury 3, Washburn 1 

Washburn reached 20 points in all four sets but fell short in three, splitting the first two sets 22-25 and 25-14 before dropping close 23-25 and 22-25 sets in the third and fourth. 

Drury got out to a quick start as they led 9-6 in the first. A short 2-0 burst put the Ichabods in front at 11-10 after Kennedy Derks landed a kill. With the set tied at 17 the Panthers scored the next six points to create separation. Washburn scored five of the next six points but were unable to complete the comeback, falling 25-22 in the first.  

The script flipped early in the second with the Ichabods leading 8-2 after Topolski knocked down a kill. The lead grew to nine after a four-point burst that began with Natalie Hedlund finding the hardwood on a kill. Washburn hit over .300 as a team in the set to win going away and evening the match at one. 

Just like the set prior, the Ichabods got out to a fast start in the third leading 9-5 after scoring six in a row. This time Drury battled right back, tying the set at 13. Both sides traded rallies that ended with the Panthers in front 23-21. Washburn pulled back within one but could not extend the set as they fell 25-23. 

Both sides split the first 16 points in the fourth set before a three-point rally put Drury in front. It was a lead they held until the Ichabods tied the match at 18 and pulled in front at 20-19 after Gibbs served an ace. After the score was knotted at 21 the Panthers scored four of the final five points of the match to win 25-22 and 3-1.  

Washburn managed a 67-50 advantage in kills and also out-hit the visitors .246 to .239. Digs went 89-71 in favor of the Ichabods as did assists, 65-45.  

Emma Siron and Brynne Topolski each had 16 kills in the match while Siron added 12 digs for a double-double. Natalie Hedlund hit .295 and had 15 kills and Brooklyn Morrissey had 10. Shannon Frakes tied a career-high with 49 assists while scooping 12 digs and Taylor Rottinghaus had a team-high 23 digs. 

Abby Renshaw led Drury with 11 kills and had 10 digs as well. 

RANKING ROUNDUP

>> The Ichabods are tops in the nation in kills per set at 15.14. 

>> Washburn is also the top passing team in the nation with a DII-high 14.00 assists per set.

>> The Ichabods are 19th nationally with 17.49 digs per set, the number ranks 4th in the MIAA.

>> With 1.91 blocks per set Washburn ranks 88th in the nation and 7th among conference foes. 

>> The Ichabods are holding opponents to a .150 hitting percentage, 6th best in the MIAA and 61st in the nation.

>> As a team Washburn is hitting .265, 29th in the nation and 4th in the conference.

SCOUTING THE OPPOSITION

About the FORT HAYS STATE TIGERS

>> Fort Hays State begins conference play with a 10-3 record after defeating Southeastern Oklahoma State 3-1 last time out on Sept. 11.

>> They will face Nebraska Kearney in Hays on Wednesday.

>> Last season the Tigers went 16-13 overall with a 5-11 record inside the MIAA. They fell in the quarterfinal round of the MIAA Tournament.

>> Fort Hays State is 4-0 this season playing inside Gross Memorial Coliseum, 1-2 on the road and are 5-1 in neutral court matches.

>> Garcia Ramer is in his first season as the head coach of the Tigers volleyball program.

>> Assistant Coach Anson Lindsey and graduate assistant Emilee Lane round out the coaching staff.

>> As a team the Tigers hit .253 with 13.7 kills per set. They also average 13.7 assists, 17.5 digs, 2.0 blocks and serve1.8 aces per set.

>> They rank 6th in the nation and 2nd in the MIAA in both kills per set and assists per set. They rank 21st nationally and 5th in the conference in digs per set.

>> Mylie Brown leads the team with 144 kills (3.13 per set) while hitting .242. She has started in all 13 matches while adding 44 digs and serving three aces. She ranks 8th in the MIAA in kills per set and 12th in points per set.

>> Annie Eaton has started in all 13 matches and leads the team with 385 assists (8.19 per set). She has served a team-high 17 aces and is second on the team in 132 digs (2.81 per set). She ranks 7th in the MIAA and 75th in the nation in assists per set and is 3rd in the conference in total aces.

>> Haylee Wolf has a team-high 217 digs (4.72 per set) while playing in all 13 matches. She has also dished out 55 assists and served eight aces. She ranks 4th in the conference and 47th nationally in digs per set.

>> Ashlyn Reeves is hitting a team-high .399 across nine matches played and started on the year. She has slashed 80 kills (2.50 per set) while also leading the team with 40 blocks (1.25 per set). She ranks 3rd in the MIAA and 33rd nationally in hitting percentage and she is 4th in the conference and 18th in the nation in blocks per set.

>> Washburn leads the all-time series between the two teams 51-24, while winning the last four times out.

>> The Ichabods hold a 28-11 edge in matches played in Topeka.

>> The series began on Oct. 26, 1973 with a 2-0 win for Fort Hays State in an unknown location. 

>> The last meeting came on Nov. 8, 2025 and was a 3-0 win for Washburn in Hays. The Ichabods won both meetings last season.

About the NEBRASKA AT KEARNEY LOPERS

>> Nebraska Kearney is 11-1 on the year heading into MIAA play after sweeping Hastings College last time out on Sept. 12. 

>> They are ranked No. 7 nationally in the latest AVCA poll released on Tuesday, Sept. 14.

>> They will face Fort Hays State on the road on Wednesday evening before facing the Ichabods on Saturday.

>> Last season the Lopers went 30-4 on the year with a 13-3 record inside the MIAA. They won the MIAA Championship Tournament and advanced to the NCAA Regional Semifinals.

>> In 2026 they are 4-0 playing at home inside the Health & Sports Center, 1-0 on the road and 6-1 in neutral court matches.

>> Rick Squiers is in his 28th season as the head coach at Nebraska Kearney where he has compiled a 845-119 career record in Kearney.

>> Assistant coaches Samantha Hammond and Maddie Cook along with graduate assistant Aleena Peterson round out the coaching staff.

>> As a team the Lopers are hitting .295 with 13.8 kills per set. They also average 12.4 assists per set, 18.0 digs, 2.7 blocks and serve 1.3 aces per set.

>> They rank 3rd in the nation and lead the MIAA holding opponents to a .073 hitting percentage. They also are 3rd in the nation and are 2nd in the conference in blocks per set and lead the conference in hitting percentage ranking 12th as a team in the nation.

>> Carly Purdy leads the team with 102 kills (2.91 per set) while playing and starting in all 12 matches. She is hitting .262 and has added 17 blocks and made 22 digs. She ranks 14th in the conference in kills per set.

>> Ellie Spang has a team-high 180 digs (5.00 per set) while playing in all 12 matches. She has served a team-high 15 aces as while while adding 26 assists. She is 3rd in the MIAA and 30th in the nation in digs per set and 5th in the conference in aces per set.

>> Ellie Eckman has a team-high 211 assists while playing in all 12 matches and making 11 starts. She had scooped 53 digs (1.47 per set) while serving eight aces. She ranks 10th in the conference in assists per set.

>> Sydney Davis has made a team-high 49 blocks (1.36 per set) while starting and playing in all 12 matches. She has added 71 kills (1.97 per set) while hitting .408, second best on the team. She ranks 2nd in the MIAA and 24th in the nation in hitting percentage while ranking 3rd in the conference and 8th nationally in blocks per set.

>> Nebraska Kearney leads the all-time series between the two teams 35-16 and have won the last two times out.

>> The Ichabods are 9-6 against the Lopers in Topeka.

>> The series began on Sept. 9, 1976 with a 2-0 win for Nebraska Kearney in Topeka.

>> The most recent meeting came in the MIAA Tournament Championship and was a 3-0 win for the Lopers in St. Joseph, Mo. Last season Washburn went 1-2 in the season series.

MILESTONE MARKERS

>> With 1, 643 career digs, Taylor Rottinghaus is 6th on the Ichabod all-time charts in total digs. Her career digs per set mark of 4.69 is 4th in program history. 

>> With 74 career service aces she is tied for 33rd in program history. 

>> Brynne Topolski's career .260 attacking percentage is 19th on the Ichabod all-time charts. She ranks 45th in Ichabod history in career kills with 541.

>> Shannon Frakes is 24th in program history with 593 career assists. 

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 will have a quick turnaround as they head on the road to face Northwest Missouri State in the first MIAA road match of the season on Tuesday, Sept. 22 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.