Ichabod quarterback Logan Madden looking to build off first start, first victory
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Like virtually all freshmen, quarterback Logan Madden began his collegiate career towards the bottom of the Washburn Ichabods' depth chart.
Washburn redshirt freshman quarterback Logan Madden earned his first college start last Saturday, helping lead the Ichabods to a 37-17 home MIAA win over Central Missouri. [Photo courtesy of Washburn Athletics]
But after using a redshirt campaign to get accustomed to college football, the 6-foot-2, 200-pound Arvada, Colo. native worked his way into a chance to get on the field for the Ichabods this fall and has made the most of that opportunity, earning his first start in last Saturday's 37-17 MIAA win over Central Missouri in Yager Stadium.
"I feel like we had a very good fall camp and a very good spring season and I felt I performed well enough to give me a chance that at least, if the opportunity presented itself, that I was in the conversation to go in,'' Madden said. "My whole thought process was if I get a chance I've just got to take advantage of it and that's going to give me my next chance and the next chance and roll with it from there.
"Obviously, I practice every single time like I'm going to be the Day 1 guy, going to be the starter. I think our quarterback room really just has good competition, a healthy competition, and we all love each other. We all battled really hard in the spring and in the summer and the fall camp and we were all ready if the opportunity presented itself.''
Madden, whose father played baseball and mother played basketball at WU, came off the bench to make his college debut with a solid performance (11 of 17 passing for 150 yards and two touchdowns) in Game 3 at Colorado School of Mines and also played major minutes at Pittsburg State (14 of 28 for 142 yards and a TD) before earning his first start last week.
"I talked to coach (Dane) Simoneau (offensive coordinator) on Tuesday and he kind of gave me a nudge and said, 'Hey, you're going to be the guy to start off all the sessions in practice,' '' Madden said. "The reps continued during the week and I went out and got the start, so it was nice.''
"We just kind of set down with the offensive staff and said, 'Let's figure out what we're good at, let's figure out how we can move the ball, let's figure out how we can be efficient,' and we said that the quarterback that has the best practice and gives us the best chance to win would be the guy,' '' Washburn coach Zach Watkins said. "That was Logan and coach Simoneau and the offensive staff did a great job of getting him and the other quarterbacks ready to go.''
Madden took advantage of his chance, completing 20 of 31 passes for 231 yards and two touchdowns while also scoring the game's first TD on a 10-yard run as 2-5 Washburn notched its first MIAA victory of the season.
"When you win it's not just the quarterback effort of course, but the quarterback's got to drive it all and the quarterback has to be the driving factor in how you win and Logan did a great job in the game and all week in practice and it showed up on Saturday,'' Watkins said.
Ichabod soccer to put nine-game unbeaten streak on the line against No. 12 Jennies
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
The Washburn Ichabod soccer team, in the midst of a nine-game unbeaten streak, will be at home Friday to face No. 12-ranked Central Missouri in a 6 p.m. MIAA contest in Yager Stadium.
Freshman Leah Henke leads Washburn soccer with nine goals entering Friday's home MIAA match against Central Missouri. [File photo/TSN]
Washburn is 8-2-3 overall and 5-0-2 in the MIAA 5-0-2, while Central Missouri, 8-2-4, 5-0-3 MIAA 5-0-3, comes in on a 10-game unbeaten run, with seven wins and three ties.
"UCM is a well-coached and talented team,'' Washburn coach Davy Phillips said. "It's really fun playing in meaningful, big-time college soccer games this late in the season, so I'm excited that our ladies have earned the opportunity to compete in matchups like what Friday night offers.
"I'm looking forward to coaching our team, playing with the right mentality, and putting in another really good performance this Friday."
The Ichabods remain ranked No. 6 for the second straight week in the United Soccer Coaches Central Region Poll. Washburn currently sits third in the MIAA standings with 17 points, just one point back of league-leaders Central Missouri and Northwest Missouri State.
Offensively, Washburn is powered by freshman Leah Henke, who leads the team with nine goals, ranking second in the MIAA and tied for 22nd nationally.
As a team, the Ichabods have outscored opponents 23-11 and outshot them, 181-101.
The Jennies have been nationally ranked for eight consecutive weeks, climbing as high as No. 9 in the country.
No. 2-ranked Washburn volleyball set to host No. 25 Emporia State in MIAA rematch
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
On Oct. 7, No. 2-ranked Washburn University volleyball rolled to a 3-0 MIAA road sweep over Emporia State in the first edition of the Turnpike Tussle.
No. 2 ranked Washburn volleyball will face Emporia State for the second time this season on Friday in Whiting Fieldhouse after taking a 3-0 win at Emporia on Oct. 7. [File photo/TSN]
But Ichabod coach Chris Herron isn't expecting that dominant win to make Friday's 6 p.m. rematch in Whiting Fieldhouse against the No. 25 Hornets any easier.
"They're really good,'' Herron said of the Hornets. "I think they're the most athletic team in the conference. (Ken Murczek) has been there three years, so he's got his kids and his system and it's a good program.''
Friday's battle between the two teams tied for the MIAA lead will close out the Ichabods' five-match homestand.
The Ichabods enter the match with a 19-1 record overall and a 8-1 mark inside the MIAA, riding a seven-match and 21-set winning streak after sweeping Missouri Southern last Friday in a tight match, with WU winning 28-26, 27-25 and 25-18.
"I thought Missouri Southern humbled us a little bit,'' Herron said. "They played us really, really well and before that, we had been rolling and we'd been rolling some people. It's a coach's dream to just stay in that zone.''
Emporia State has won four straight matches since the loss to Washburn to move to 17-3 overall and 8-1 in the MIAA, defeating Missouri Southern 3-0 last time out.
Austin Broadie leads the Washburn offense with 223 kills (3.43 per set) while hitting .361, third best on the team. She has started all 20 matches and also has logged 43 blocks with 45 digs. The senior has 11 double-digit kill matches and ranks third in the MIAA in hitting percentage. She is second among conference players in kills per set.
Bella Limback is slashing a team-high .547 with 133 kills (2.11 per set) while playing and starting in all 20 matches. She has also added 72 blocks (1.14 per set), also a team high, and served eight aces. She has hit over .400 in all but three matches this season with three double-digit kill efforts. She leads the nation in hitting percentage and is third in the MIAA in blocks per set.
Alex Dvorak is second on the Ichabods with 70 blocks (1.11 per set) on the season while starting all 20 matches. Offensively, Dvorak has made 129 kills (2.05 per set) along with hitting .459, second best on the team. She has recorded five or more blocks in nine matches. The senior ranks third in the nation and second in the MIAA in hitting percentage among qualified hitters. She is also fourth in the MIAA in blocks per set.
Corinnna McMullen has started all 20 matches this season and leads Washburn with 425 assists (6.64 per set). She has also chipped in a team-high 23 service aces while ranking second on the team with 170 digs (2.66 per set). The senior has delivered 12 matches of 20-plus assists and has seven double-doubles.
Taylor Rottinghaus leads the team with 269 digs (4.14 per set). She has chipped in 82 assists while serving 22 aces as well, second most on the team. The junior libero has two matches making at least 20 digs. She ranks seventh in the MIAA in digs per set and 10th in total digs.
Brynne Topolski is second on the Ichabods with 157 kills (2.42 per set) while hitting .276. She has come off the bench in all 20 matches while making 38 blocks with 29 digs. She has five matches with double-digit kills.
Washburn leads the nation with a .306 team hitting percentage, the only team in the nation hitting over .300.
The Ichabods are ninth nationally and second among MIAA teams with 2.59 blocks per set.
On the defensive side Washburn is limiting opponents to a .121 hitting percentage, good for 10th nationally and tops in the MIAA.
The Ichabods are dishing out 13.95 assists per set on offense, good for second in the nation and first in the MIAA.
Washburn knocks down 14.86 kills per set to rank third in D-II and first among MIAA programs.
No. 2 ranked Washburn volleyball will face Emporia State for the second time this season on Friday in Whiting Fieldhouse after taking a 3-0 win at Emporia on Oct. 7. [File photo/TSN]
