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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.

 

 

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. 

Emporia State has entered the rankings for the first time this season at No. 25 in the latest AVCA poll.

Nyia Anderson leads the Hornets with 209 kills (3.07 per set) while starting in 19 matches and playing in all 20. She is second on the team with 190 digs (2.79 per set) and has 18 blocks. She is fifth in the MIAA in kills per set. 

Boglarka Rady tops ESU with 306 digs (4.31 per set) while playing in all 20 matches. She has added 78 assists with 14 aces. She is fifth in the MIAA in digs per set. 

Brailee Bogle controls the passing attack with 442 assists (6.23 per set) while starting in all 20 matches. She has served 17 aces and scooped 136 digs (1.92 per set). She is ninth in the MIAA in assists per set. 

Emporia State has a 55-44 edge in the all-time series although Washburn has won the last 15 meetings and is 26-21 against the Hornets in Topeka. 

Washburn will be back on the road next week, beginning by taking on Missouri Western State at 6 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 31 in St. Joseph, Mo.