Griffons hand No. 7-ranked Ichabod volleyball its first loss, halting 12-match win streak

Details: Created: 27 September 2025

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

The No. 7-ranked Washburn Ichabod volleyball team fell for the first time this season Saturday night, with No. 24 Missouri Western taking a 25–23, 19-25, 25-20, 25–19 decision in the MIAA matchup inside Whiting Fieldhouse.

Washburn senior Austin Broadie contributed a match-high 23 kills Saturday night, but Missouri Western handed the Ichabods their first loss of 2025 in four sets. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]

"They played harder than us, they played with more urgency than we did,'' Washburn coach Chris Herron said. "They got balls up that we thought were down and they just made plays. They made hellacious plays tonight. I thought they played really, really well.

"This week will show what (the Ichabods) are made of. We just got through talking about, 'Are you soft or are you tough?' We'll see.''

The opening set was tightly contested, with seven ties and four lead changes, as senior Austin Broadie provided early offense for Washburn with seven kills before the Griffons, coming off a loss Friday at Emporia State, were able to outlast the Ichabods for a 25-23 victory.

In the second set the Ichabods jumped out to a commanding 13–5 lead behind sharp serving from Autumn Gibbs and timely swings from Broadie, holding the Griffons to .096 hitting while the Ichabods hit .263 to take a 25-19 win and even the match.

In the third set, the Griffons jumped out to a 6-2 lead and were in control most of the way before Washburn rallied to get within 19-16, but Western closed on a 6-4 run to go up 2-1 in the match.

The fourth set saw seven lead changes and nine ties as Broadie contributed five kills with only one error, but the Griffons hit .395 compared to .268 for the Ichabods to hand Washburn its first loss of the season.

Broadie finished with a match-high 23 kills on a .362 attack percentage, while Brynne Topolski had nine kills.

Corinna McMullen collected a double-double with 23 assists and 15 digs and Taylor Rottinghaus paced all players with 20 digs.

Washburn hit .177 overall with 55 kills, 74 digs and 10 team blocks.

Washburn Rural product Taylor Russell had 18 kills on .444 hitting Saturday night as Missouri Western handed the Ichabods their first loss of 2025 in four sets. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]

Shawnee Heights product Emily Loy (10) is congratulated by her Missouri Western teammates after registering one of her 13 kills Saturday night against Washburn. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]

Former Washburn Rural state champion Taylor Russell paced Missouri Western with a team-high 18 kills on .444 hitting

while former Shawnee Heights standout Emily Loy had 13 kills on .294 hitting.

Washburn fell to 12-1 overall and 1-1 in the MIAA while Missouri Western moved to 9-4 overall and 1-1 in league play.

Washburn will return to action at Pittsburg State on Oct. 2 and at Newman on Oct. 3 before wrapping up the road trip at Emporia State on Oct. 7.

The Ichabods will make their next appearance in Whiting Fieldhouse on Oct. 10 against Fort Hays State and will face Nebraska-Kearney the following day as part of a five-game homestand.

Derick Hammes, Rossville football coach, named an assistant coach for the 2026 Shrine Bowl East team.

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