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By KYLE MANTHE
The Washburn Review
Starting off a fourth consecutive week at No. 1, Washburn University volleyball was faced with a matchup against No. 15 Nebraska-Kearney Tuesday night.
The match ended a five-game homestand as the Ichabods are hitting their stride while entering the thick of conference play.
“Just be humble, play, and enjoy the dadgum year. It's been a good year, so lets just keep enjoying it,” said coach Chris Herron.
The Ichabods did keep having fun Tuesday on the way to completing a sweep over the Lopers in three sets, all ending 25-22.
Washburn senior Allison Maxwell (8) goes up for a kill during Tuesday's 3-0 MIAA sweep over Nebraska-Kearney. [Photo by Kyle Manthe/The Washburn Review]
The win continued Washburn’s undefeated march through MIAA play, as well as completed a regular-season sweep for the Ichabods over their previously top-ranked conference rivals.
“Our class, we want to win everywhere we go at this point, so beating them on our floor one last time was really good, you know I hope we get them in the postseason again, beating a team three times is really hard, but I’m so excited for that opportunity as well,” senior setter Allison Sadler said.
The match looked murkey to start, with the Ichabods in a 4-0 hole from the jump. That is when Washburn’s offense came alive to the tune of 16 kills and a .314 attack percentage in the set. The attack came from the middle as the trio of Kelsey Gordon, Allison Maxwell and Sydney Fitzgibbons combined for 14 kills.
“I think Syd and Kelsey came through for us and did a tremendous job and that was the difference in the match,” Herron said.
The second set started with Washburn out in front 3-0 and they would have Kearney on its heels the entire set before closing the door on another 25-22 set. The set was nearly spotless for the Ichabods, as they committed only two errors compared to nine from the Lopers.
There was no separation early on in the third set as the two sides split the first 12 points before Washburn broke it open. The offensive attack was balanced, with five players recording at least three kills, and it was all orchestrated by Sadler who notched 17 assists in the set.
Washburn senior Allison Sadler sets the ball during the Ichabods' 3-0 sweep over Nebraska-Kearney. [Photo by Kyle Manthe/The Washburn Review]
“They just make my job so easy and that’s incredible to say. I mean we have two All-Americans, and they just make my job so easy,” Sadler said.
Maxwell led the way for the Ichabods with 12 kills while Gordon and Fitzgibbons added nine and 10 kills, respectively, with an attack percentage above .550 for both.
In the back row, senior libero Faith Rottinghaus had 22 digs, while Sadler had 40 assists at a .400 assist rate to go along with nine digs.
No. 1-ranked Washburn celebrates a point against Nebraska-Kearney Tuesday night. [Photo by Kyle Manthe/The Washburn Review]
The win moved the team to 17-1 on the year, with nine wins in a row led by fifth-year seniors all-around.
“I’m the one that’s benefiting from this more than anything,” said Herron on all of the seniors who returned for a fifth year. “I like them so dang much that I don’t know what the hell I’m going to do without them next year.”
Next up for Washburn is a road trip to take on No. 9-ranked Northwest Missouri State on Oct. 15.
MATCH RESULTS
Washburn def. Nebraska-Kearney, 25-22, 25-22, 25-22
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
The juggernaut that is Washburn Rural volleyball continued to roll Tuesday night, with the Junior Blues improving to 30-0 on the season with three straight-set wins in Hayden's quadrangular.
But as good as the Junior Blues have been all season, veteran Rural coach Kevin Bordewick firmly believes that his team can still get better with postseason rapidly approaching.
"I think we're in a good spot, but man there's a lot of things that we can sure work on,'' Bordewick said. "You see film every day and you see something new that maybe we can get a little bit better at.''
Washburn Rural's volleyball team, celebrating a point, improved to 30-0 Tuesday night with a 3-0 night in the Hayden quadrangular. [Photo by Doug Walker/Special to TSN]
The Junior Blues opened Tuesday's quad with a 25-10, 25-10 romp past host Hayden before dispatching Lawrence, 25-10, 25-6, and ending their night with a 25-15, 25-12 win over Manhattan.
Rural got a solid performance from every player it put on the floor, including a dominating performance at the net from juniors Brooklyn DeLeye and Taylor Russell and sophomore Jada Ingram and a solid night from sophomore Zoe Canfield as the Junior Blues' setter.
Washburn Rural's Taylor Russell (1) and Jada Ingram (6) team up for a block Tuesday night against Hayden. [Photo by Doug Walker/Special to TSN]
Rural's win streak has now reached 31 straight matches, dating back to the third-place match at state last fall, but Bordewick said he doesn't worry about his team feeling the pressure of the unbeaten streak.
"No, because we don't talk about it and we just approach it as the next thing is tomorrow's practice,'' Bordewick said. "We're going to get some stuff done and work and then we'll see what happens Thursday (triangular at Olathe West, with Topeka High).''
Lawrence went 2-1 on the night, taking a 25-15, 23-25, 25-7 win over Manhattan and ending the night with another three-set win over Hayden, 25-17, 20-25, 25-16.
Manhattan's lone win was a 25-19, 25-22 win over Hayden while the Wildcats went 0-3 against their three Class 6A opponents.
MATCH RESULTS
Washburn Rural def. Hayden, 25-10, 25-10; Lawrence def. Manhattan, 25-15, 23-25, 25-7; Washburn Rural def. Lawrence, 25-10, 25-6; Manhattan def. Hayden, 25-19, 25-22; Washburn Rural def. Manhattan, 25-15, 25-12; Lawrence def. Hayden, 25-17, 20-25, 25-16.
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
A recruiting process that started before NiJaree Canady even started her high school career reached its completion Tuesday night, with the Topeka High multi-sport senior star announcing her oral commitment to the Stanford softball program.
Canady, a multi-time All-State selection in both softball and basketball, made her announcement in front of friends and family in the Topeka High cafeteria.
Topeka High star NiJaree Canady (center) orally committed to Stanford softball Tuesday night at High. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Canady was first contacted by college recruiters while still attending middle school.
"My seventh and eighth-grade years, that's when coaches kind of contacted me and then a rule went into effect where coaches couldn't contact me at all, so it was kind of dry freshman year through Sept. 1st of my junior year,'' Canady explained.
But as soon as the calendar reached Sept. 1, 2020 things really heated up and stayed that way until Tuesday's announcement.
"That's the moment that coaches can contact you and as the clock struck 12 going to Sept. 1st I think I got seven text messages from D-I coaches,'' Canady said. "It's been an experience. Ever since Sept. 1st, that's when everything took off.''
The recruiting process can definitely be a grind for top prospects, but Canady said she was treated very well by the schools that recruited her, even when she had to start narrowing down her college options.
"Honestly, the coaches I was in contact with were 100 percent supportive,'' she said. "I didn't have one coach get mad at me or anything. They all completely understood.''
Canady eventually narrowed down her colleges choices to Stanford, Arizona and UCLA after also taking unofficial visits to Kansas and Oklahoma State and didn't make her final decision until last weekend.
"This past Saturday is when I decided and Sunday is when I let the coaches know,'' Canady said.
And although she enjoyed the recruiting process, Canady said she's glad to put it behind her.
"My first softball tournament is next weekend and I'll be happy not to have any coaches behind the backstop just watching me,'' she said. "Now I'm just playing softball because I love it.
"I'm not worried about scholarships or recruiting or anything, I'm just playing the game I love.''
Canady was named TopSports.news' Shawnee County player of the year in softball as a junior after helping lead the Trojans to an undefeated season and the school's first Class 6A state softball championship.
Canady posted a perfect 21-0 pitching record with an 0.26 earned run average and 226 strikeouts while also hitting .478 with 13 home runs.
Canady was at her best in the 6A state tournament, not allowing an earned run in three complete-game pitching performances while hitting a solo home run in a 1-0 semifinal win over Gardner-Edgerton. High followed the semifinal win with a 7-1 victory over Olathe North in the state championship game.
Canady also headlined TopSports.news' first-ever All-Shawnee County girls basketball team as a junior after leading Topeka High to a second-place finish in the 6A state tournament and a 23-2 record overall.
Canady averaged 20.6 points, 12.3 rebounds, 2.5 steals and 1.8 blocks.
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Sitting on the sidelines while his Hayden teammates competed in the Class 4A state track and field championships last spring was probably the toughest day of Tanner Newkirk's athletic career.
Coming off a monster cross country season, the 4A state champ fought through injuries off and on throughout track season, but was still able to qualify for state in the 800, 1,600 and 3,200-meter runs and was poised for his first state track meet since his freshman year after the 2020 season was canceled due to COVID-19.
Newkirk made the trip to Wichita, but his injury tightened up and prevented him from competing in any of his events.
Not being able to run at state still hurts to this day, but Newkirk has tried to use that heartbreak as motivation for his final prep cross country season.
"I was so hungry just to come out here and get some redemption,'' said Newkirk, a three-time state medalist in cross country and a multi-time state medalist in track as a freshman.
"I've just been trying to do my best because that really hurt me. It was a hard time.''
Hayden senior Tanner Newkirk is happy to be back running, and winning, after missing the state track meet with an injury. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Newkirk has been dealing with a respiratory issue in recent weeks, but has continued to excel, recording his second straight individual city title by just under 20 seconds in a five-kilometer time of 15 minutes, 22.0 seconds last Saturday at the Kanza Park Course.
"My breathing has just been really off and I've struggled to get deep breaths, but obviously I'm still able to come out and compete, which is great,'' said Newkirk, who led Hayden to a second-place team finish in the city meet.
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
The Washburn University volleyball team holds down the No. 1 spot in the AVCA Top 25 NCAA Division II Poll for the fourth straight week after picking up two victories last week to extend its winning streak to eight in a row and improve its record to 16-1 overall and 8-0 MIAA.
Washburn received 40 first-place votes and 1,163 total points to remain atop the AVCA Top 25 Poll.
Washburn's volleyball team remains No. 1-ranked in NCAA Division II for the fourth straight week. [File photo]
Metro State-Denver and Angelo State remained No. 2 and No. 3, respectively, while MIAA member Central Missouri moved up one place to fourth Wayne State also moved up one spot to round out the top five.
In addition to the Ichabods and Jennies, the MIAA continues to be well-represented in the national rankings as Northwest Missouri moved up to No. 9 and Nebraska-Kearney dropped one place to check in at No. 15. Central Oklahoma continues to receive votes and is just outside the Top 25.
The Ichabods face another week of tough competition as they host Nebraska-Kearney Tuesday in Lee Arena before traveling to Northwest Missouri and Missouri Western this weekend.
Washburn is 4-1 this season against teams ranked in the Top 20, including two victories against teams ranked in the Top 10.
