TOPEKA, Kan. -- No. 6 Washburn Ichabod volleyball returns to action for week two of the regular season heading on the road for the Sioux Falls Classic beginning Thursday, Sept. 3 at 4 p.m. against Black Hills State in the first of four matches over the three-day event played between the Sanford Pentagon and the Stewart Center on the campus of the University of Sioux Falls.
SCHEDULE SETUP
>> No. 6 Washburn volleyball heads on the road for the first time in the 2026 season to play at the Sioux Falls Classic.
>> The tournament begins on Thursday, Sept. 3 with a 4 p.m. match against Black Hills State. On day two the Ichabods will face Upper Iowa at 10 a.m. and Sioux Falls at 7 p.m. in the nightcap.
>> The tournament concludes with a meeting against Augustana at the Sanford Pentago on Saturday, Sept. 5 at 1 p.m.
>> The Ichabods enter the tournament with a clean 4-0 record on the year after finishing the Washburn Invitational tournament with a 3-1 win over Westminster on Aug. 29.
FOLLOW ALONG
>> Fans wanting to follow along can do so through the live stats link on the official X account of Ichabod Volleyball or through wusports.com. Live video of all four matches will be streamed on Midco Sports Plus.
SIOUX FALLS CLASSIC
>> The Sioux Falls Classic consists of eight teams across the two host locations: Augustana and the University of Sioux Falls.
>> The remaining participants are: Washburn, Upper Iowa, Mary, Black Hills State, Emporia State and Chadron State.
>> Live Stats for all games will be available through the Washburn schedule page.
SERVING UP FACTS
>> Washburn is 4-0 on the year playing inside of Lee Arena, they have not played a true road match or a neutral court match on the year. Last season they were 5-2 on the road and 10-2 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. 6 in the latest AVCA poll released on August 31. They received 941 total points in the poll moving up two 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.
>> 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.
The Blue Bunch
>> Emma Siron leads the Ichabod offense with 58 kills (4.14 per set) while hitting .307 on the outside. She has started in three matches and played in all four while serving a team-high seven aces and also scooping 37 digs (2.64 per set) and making three blocks. The Sedalia, Mo. native has tallied three double-digit kill matches with one double-double. She is 14th in the nation and first in the MIAA with 4.79 points per set while ranking 18th in the nation in kills per set and also leading the conference. The junior ranks 5th in the MIAA in aces per set and is 15th in hitting perecentage in the conference.
>> Shannon Frakes leads the Washburn passing attack with team-high 162 assists (11.57 per set). The junior has played in all four matches while starting in three. She leads the team in digs with 52 (3.71 per set) while also recording 15 kills, 7 blocks and serving four aces. The Overland Park, Kan. native has two matches with 40+ assists and has recorded a team-high three double-doubles. She ranks 6th in the nation and leads the MIAA in assists per set while ranking 13th in the conference in digs per set as well.
>> Brynne Topolski has played in all four matches while making three starts and is second on the team with 51 kills (3.64 per set) while hitting .298. She has added 33 digs (2.36 per set) along with making 11 blocks. The Lincoln, Neb. native has recorded double-figure kills in all four matches with one double-double. She is 6th in the MIAA and 69th in the nation in kills per set while ranking 17th in the conference in blocks per set and 18th in hitting percentage.
>> Brooklyn Morrissey is the only player to start in all four matches and is hitting a team-high .375. She has slashed 37 kills (2.47 per set) and leads the team with 20 blocks (1.33 per set). The Lenexa, Kan. has recorded one double-digit kill match and has five or more blocks in two matches. She ranks 3rd in the MIAA and 25th nationally in blocks per set while ranking 6th in the conference in hitting percentage.
>> Autumn Gibbs has played in all four matches making one start. She is 2nd on the team with 39 digs (2.60 per set). The Columbus, Neb. native is also second on the team serving six aces and has added 14 assists. She has three matches with double-digit digs and ranks 10th in the MIAA in total aces.
>> Natalie Hedlund has played in all four matches making one start. She has slashed 34 kills (2.83 per set) and is hitting .313 on the year. The senior has also added 10 digs and seven blocks. She has one double-digit kill match. She is ranking 13th in the MIAA in hitting percentage and is 17th in kills per set.
>> Taylor Rottinghaus has played in two matches, starting both at libero. She has recorded 37 digs (5.29 per set), a team-high per set played. The Berryton, Kan. native has also added 10 assists with two aces served. She has one match with 20+ digs.
>> Avery Willey has appeared in all four matches making one start and suited up at libero in another. The freshman has 35 digs (2.50 per set) while adding two aces and an assist. She has two matches with double-figure dig efforts.
>> Hayden Meats has played in three matches and made two starts. She has delivered 15 kills (2.14 per set) and is hitting .355 on the year. She had added 11 digs and a block defensively as well. She has one double-digit kill match.
>> Kennedy Derks has played in all four matches making two starts. She has slashed six kills while adding seven blocks and two assists.
>> Chloe Traffas has appeared in all four matches off the bench for the Ichabods. She has scooped up 10 digs along with dishing out two assists and serving an ace.
>> Chloe Carlgren has played in three matches and made one start on the year. She has three kills while hitting .063 and has added eight blocks on the defensive end.
>> Lauren Tyler is third on the team with 11 assists (5.50 per set) while playing in two matches and making one start. She has also made one dig.
>> Brooklyn Benoit has come off the bench in three matches. She has delivered one kill with two aces and scooped five digs.
>> Keilah Rivers has played in one match making two kills and adding two digs and a block.
>> Morgan Sears has played in three matches while making one start during her freshman season. She has one kill on the year.
HEAD COACH CHRIS HERRON
>> Herron is in his 25th season at the helm of the Ichabod volleyball program with a career record of 655-145 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 124-38 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, Westminster 1 (August 29, 2026)
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.
RANKING ROUNDUP
>> The Ichabods rank 7th in the nation and are 2nd in the MIAA with 15.07 kills per set.
>> Washburn ranks 8th in the nation and 2nd in the conference with 13.87 assists per set.
>> The Ichabods are 11th nationally with 18.40 digs per set, the number ranks 4th in the MIAA.
>> With 2.47 blocks per set Washburn ranks 20th in the nation and 4th among conference foes.
>> The Ichabods are holding opponents to a .109 hitting percentage, best in the MIAA and 22nd in the nation.
>> As a team Washburn is hitting .276, 31st in the nation and 3rd in the conference.
SCOUTING THE OPPOSITION
About the Black Hills State Yellow Jackets
>> Black Hills State enters the match with a 2-2 record on the year after falling 3-0 to Bemidji State last time out on Aug. 29.
>> Last season the Yellow Jackets went 6-20 on the year and 2-12 inside the RMAC, missing out on the RMAC tournament.
>> Black Hills State is 0-1 on the year playing on the road, 2-1 in neutral court matches and have not played at home in Spearfish, S.D.
>> Grayson DuBose is in his 2nd season as the head coach at Black Hills State where he has a 8-22 career record.
>> Assistant coach Sadie Bacon along with volunteer assistant Amber Roberts round out the coaching staff.
>> As a team the Yellow Jackets hit .239 with 11.5 kills per set. They also average 10.3 assists, 11.3 digs, 1.1 blocks and serve 1.4 aces per set.
>> They rank 6th in the RMAC and 63rd in the nation in hitting percentage. Their 164 total assists rank 5th in the conference and 88th in the nation.
>> Izzy Saiki leads the team with 49 kills (3.06 per set) while hitting .304. She has started in all four matches and has served a team-high seven aces. She has also made 30 digs (1.88 per set) with two blocks. She is 7th in the RMAC in aces and 10th in kills per set.
>> Keira Thompson has played in all four matches and leads the team with 53 digs (3.31 per set). She has added seven assists, two kills and two aces. She ranks 15th in the RMAC in digs per set.
>> Elena Atkinson leads the team with 79 assists (4.94 per set) while starting in three matches and playing in all four. She has served four aces while making 17 digs (1.06 per set). She is 11th in the conference in assists per set.
>> Peyton McLeod has played and started in all four matches. She leads the team with a .366 hitting percentage with 21 kills (1.31 per set). She is second on the team with seven blocks.
>> Washburn leads the all-time series between the two teams 1-0. The only match came at home for the Ichabods.
>> The first and only meeting between the two teams came on Sept. 5, 2015 and was a 3-1 win for Washburn.
About the Upper Iowa Peacocks
>> Upper Iowa is off to a 3-1 start to the season after defeating Union 3-1 last time out on Aug. 29.
>> Last season the Peacocks went 7-19 overall with a 5-8 record inside the GLVC, missing out on the conference tournament.
>> In 2026 they are 1-0 playing in road matches, 2-1 on the road and have not played a match at home in Fayette, Iowa.
>> Sarah Hull is in her second season as the head coach at Upper Iowa where she has a 10-10 record.
>> Assistant coach Dillan Baum rounds out the coaching staff.
>> As a team the Peacocks are hitting .223 as a team with 12.3 kills per set. They also average 11.3 assists per set, 14.6 digs, 1.1 blocks and serve 2.1 aces per set.
>> They rank 3rd in the GLVC and 71st nationally in aces per set while also ranking 6th in the conference in hitting percentage with an 82nd ranking nationally. In assists per set they are 8th in the GLVC.
>> Grace Fruzen leads the passing attack with 125 assists (7.81 per set) while starting in three matches and playing in all four. She has served eight aces, while scooping 39 digs (2.44 per set) and slashing 12 kills. She ranks 5th in the GLVC in assists per set.
>> Kailey Porter leads the team with 48 kills (2.82 per set) while hitting a team-high .438 as well. She has started in three matches and played in four while adding seven blocks and six digs defensively. She ranks 4th in the GLVC and 37th in the nation in hitting percentage while ranking 15th in the conference in kills per set.
>> Morgan Block leads the team on the back row scooping 76 digs (5.43 per set) on the year. She has played in just three of four matches while adding 16 assists and two aces. She ranks 2nd in the GLVC and 14th in the nation in digs per set so far.
>> Marissa Becker is second on the team with 44 kills (3.14 per set) while hitting .259 and playing in just three matches. She has also scooped 34 digs (2.43 per set) and assisted on six points. She ranks 8th in the conference in kills per set and is 12th in points per set.
>> The all-time series between the two teams is tied 1-1. Both meeting in the series have also come at neutral court locations.
>> The series began on Sept 11, 2009 with a 3-1 win for Washburn in Kansas City, Mo. The most recent meeting was a Sept. 8, 2017 encounter that saw Upper Iowa win 3-0 in Rolla, Mo.
About the Sioux Falls Cougars
>> Sioux Falls is 3-1 on the year after finishing the opening weekend with a 3-1 win over Dominican on Aug. 29.
>> Last season the Cougars went 20-10 on the year and 14-6 inside the NSIC, falling in the semifinal round of the NSIC tournament.
>> In 2026 they are 3-1 playing in neutral court matches and have not played a true road contest or at home in the Stewart Center.
>> Dan Matthews is in his 6th season as the head coach at Sioux Falls where he has a 86-59 record at the helm.
>> Assistant coaches Maura Chadwick and Kari Bates round out the coaching staff.
>> As a team the Cougars are hitting .326 with 14.3 kills per set. They also average 13.6 assists, 13.3 digs, 2.1 blocks and are serving 1.5 aces per set.
>> On the year they rank 3rd in the NSIC in hitting percentage and 9th in the nation. They are also 3rd in the conference in blocks per set while ranking 67th nationally. In assists per set they are 12 in the nation and also rank 16th nationally in kills per set.
>> Bre Van Den Top leads the Cougars with 47 kills (2.94 per set) while also hitting .402. She has come off the bench in all four matches and has made 10 blocks and 14 digs on the defensive end. She is 13th in the conference and 72nd in the nation in hitting percentage and 15th in the NSIC in kills per set.
>> Ella Walker has started in all four matches for Sioux Falls and is second on the team with 42 kills (2.63 per set) while hitting .514. She is second on the team with 11 blocks defensively. She is 4th in the NSIC and 5th in the nation in hitting percentage.
>> Maci Lerseth leads the team with 52 digs (3.25 per set) from the back row. She has suited up at libero in all four matches while adding 21 assists and two kills. She ranks 12 in the conference in digs per set.
>> Hollie Peterson is leading the team with 105 assists (6.56 per set) while starting in all four matches. She has served a team-high six aces while adding 27 digs (1.69 per set). She is 12th in the conference in assists per set and 14th in aces.
>> Washburn leads the all-time series between the two teams 2-0, with both matches coming in neutral court locations.
>> The series began on Aug. 27, 2022 with a 3-1 win for the Ichabods in Kearney, Neb. The most recent meeting came on Sept. 5, 2024 and was a 3-2 win in Kansas City, Mo. for Washburn.
About the Augustana Vikings
>> Augustana is off to a 4-0 start to the season after defeating Cameron 3-0 last time out on Aug. 29.
>> Last season the Vikings posted a 14-14 record while going 8-12 inside the NSIC, missing out on the conference tournament.
>> In 2026 they are 1-0 playing on the road, 3-0 in neutral court matches and have not played a match at home in Sioux Falls.
>> Erika Bute is in her first season as the head coach at Augustana where she has a 4-0 record.
>> Assistant coaches Damien Fox and Ally Barth complete the coaching staff.
>> As a team the Vikings are hitting .294 with 14.5 kills per set. They average 14.1 assists per set with 16.4 digs, 1.9 blocks and serve 1.8 aces per set.
>> On the year Augustana is 3rd in the conference and 5th in the nation in assists per set while also ranking 3rd in the NSIC in opponent hitting percentage, a mark good for 33rd nationally. They also rank 14th in the nation in kills per set and 24th in hitting percentage.
>> Kiylah Franke leads the team with 135 assists (9.64 per set) while starting in all four matches. She has served three aces while adding 22 digs (1.57 per set). She is 6th in the NSIC and 39th nationally in assists per set.
>> Abby Gruber is tied for the team lead with 41 kills (3.16 per set) while also hitting a team-high .520. She has started in all four matches, while making 11 digs and six blocks defensively. She is 3rd in the NSIC and 4th in the nation in hitting percentage while ranking 9th in the conference in points per set.
>> Reagan Jansen leads the team with 45 digs (3.21 per set) while starting in all four matches. She is adding 39 kills (2.79 per set) while hitting .191 with six aces. She ranks 13th in the conference in digs per set, 17th in aces per set and 19th in kills per set.
>> Maya Wente is also tied for the team-high of 41 kills (2.93 per set) while hitting .383. She has started in all four matches while adding a team-high 11 blocks on the other end. She ranks 9th in the NSIC in blocks per set and is 15th in the conference in hitting percentage.
>> The all-time series between the two teams is tied 1-1. The two teams have not met in Sioux Falls before.
>> The series began on Sept. 3, 1993 with a 3-0 win for the Vikings in Topeka. The most recent meeting came on Sept. 4, 2015 and was a 3-2 win for Washburn at home.
MILESTONE MARKERS
>> With 1, 518 career digs, Taylor Rottinghaus is 9th on the Ichabod all-time charts in total digs. Her career digs per set mark of 4.71 is 4th in program history.
>> With 68 career service aces she is 45th in program history.
>> Brynne Topolski is 45 career kills away from reaching 500 total at Washburn.
>> Topolski's career .256 attacking percentage is 21st on the Ichabod all-time charts. She ranks 48th in Ichabod history in career kills.
>> Shannon Frakes is 35th in program history with 317 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
>> Next time out Washburn returns back home for another tournament inside of Lee Arena. They will play four matches across two days at the Ichabod Classic beginning Sept. 11.
>> The first MIAA match of the season will come on Friday, Sept. 18 facing off with Fort Hays State at 6 p.m. inside of Lee Arena.
>> 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.
