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By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

EDITOR'S NOTE: TopSports.news' list of the top Shawnee County volleyball players to watch in 2026, based on performances in the 2025 season and coach recommendations, will be updated as needed after practice begins on Aug. 17 and more information is received from county coaches. 

Brynn Anderson, Washburn Rural [Photo by Doug Walker/Special to TSN]

BRYNN ANDERSON, Washburn Rural

Anderson, a 5-foot-11 sophomore hitter, was a first-team TopSports.news All-Shawnee County and All-Centennial League selection and named the county and league newcomer of the year last season after helping lead the Junior Blues to the Centennial League championship and a ninth straight Class 6A state tournament berth. Anderson registered 397 kills on the season along with 20 block kills, 96.3 percent serving with 29 aces and 229 digs. Anderson was also a first-team all-county pick in basketball and a state qualifier in track and field.

Nora Burdiek, Rossville [Photo by Jesse Bruner/Special to TSN]   

NORA BURDIEK, Rossville

A senior hitter, Burdiek is a two-time TSN All-Shawnee County first-team selection after being named the county newcomer of the year and earning second-team honors as a freshman. Burdiek has registered 1,373 total kills in her career with 936 digs. Burdiek was a first-team All-Big East selection as a junior after helping lead the Bulldawgs to a Class 2A state berth and earning All-State Tournament and All-2A first-team recognition from the Kansas Volleyball Association. Burdiek is also a basketball and softball standout, helping Rossville advance to the state tournament in both of those sports.

Campbell Dawson, Topeka High [File photo/TSN]

CAMPBELL DAWSON, Topeka High

Dawson, a senior, earned second-team All-Shawnee County and All-Centennial League honors last fall in her third season as a varsity player. Dawson also earned second-team All-Shawnee County and All-Centennial League recognition as a sophomore. Dawson was a first-team TSN All-Shawnee County and second-team Class 6A All-State selection this past spring in softball after helping lead the Trojans to a third-place state finish.

Karys Deiter, Silver Lake [Photo by Scott Paske/KSHSAA Covered]  

KARYS DEITER, Silver Lake

Deiter, a junior hitter, helped lead the Eagles to the Class 3A state championship with a 46-1 record, including a 37-match winning streak to end the 2025 season. A first-team TSN All-Shawnee County pick and second-team 3A All-State honoree, Deiter finished the year with 313 kills, a 34.7 kill percentage, 18 blocks and 253 digs. Deiter also earned All-Shawnee County first-team honors in basketball and track and field after helping lead Silver Lake to the 3A state championship in basketball and earning a 3A state medal in track.

Kylie Hanni, Silver Lake [Photo by Jesse Bruner/Special to TSN]

KYLIE HANNI, Silver Lake

A senior setter, Hanni was named the TopSports.news Shawnee County Player of the Year last season after helping lead Silver Lake to the Class 3A state championship with a 46-1 record, including 37 straight wins to end the season. Hanni was named to the 3A All-State Tournament team and All-3A first team by the Kansas Volleyball Association and was also a first-team All-Big East League pick after registering 1,181 assists, with 45 kills, 22 blocks, a 91.7 serving percentage with 33 aces and 174 digs. Hanni also helped the Eagles win 3A state titles in basketball and softball.

ADY HENRY, Rossville

Henry, a senior libero, helped Rossville reach the Class 2A state tournament last season while earning second-team TSN All-Shawnee County and third-team All-Big East League recognition. 

HADLEY KILGORE, Washburn Rural

Kilgore is expected to be a key contributor for the Junior Blues at middle hitter this fall in her first season at the varsity level. Kilgore joins a Washburn Rural team that won the 2025 Centennial League championship and advanced to the Class 6A state tournament for the ninth straight season.

Clara Morgan, Shawnee Heights [Submitted photo]   

CLARA MORGAN, Shawnee Heights

A senior setter, Morgan was a second-team TSN All-Shawnee County selection last season while also receiving All-United Kansas Conference honorable mention. Morgan surpassed the 1,000 assist mark for her career last season.

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By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

Washburn University was picked eighth in both the MIAA Preseason Football Coaches and Media Polls released Monday by the conference office as part of the MIAA Football Media Day hosted by Washburn in the Bill Sneed Indoor Athletic Facilty.

Zach Watkins' Washburn Ichabods were picked No. 8 in the MIAA preseason football polls, released Monday. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]

The Ichabods, coming off a 3-8 season (2-7 in the MIAA) will open the 2026 season on Aug. 29, going on the road to face former MIAA foe Truman State (6 p.m.). The Ichabods will make their home debut on Sept. 5 at Yager Stadium with a non-conference tilt against Colorado School of Mines (12 p.m.).

Now the Ichabods, who dropped five games by seven or fewer points last season, will be looking to take a big jump in Year 2 of the Zach Watkins era, building around 12 returning starters and 55 lettermen.

Former Washburn Rural star Ty Weber returns for his senior season at tight end for Washburn football. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]

"We've got the right guys, we've had the right preparation,'' said Washburn senior tight end Ty Weber. "I think the biggest thing for us is not necessarily proving people wrong but proving us right.

"We know the work we've put in, we know what we've done, and I think now it's just the year that we take off and really project into what we can do in the next couple of years.''

Washburn star junior linebacker JC Heim, a Washburn Rural product, ranked No. 2 in the nation in tackles last fall. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]  

Junior linebacker JC Heim, who led the MIAA and ranked No. 2 in the nation in tackles last season, agreed with Weber that the Ichabods are poised for a big season.

"It all just comes down to how we worked this summer,'' Heim said. "We averaged 92 guys this summer and that's huge for us. We had a good spring, a good summer, so I'm just excited. All we can do is control what we can control and get out there on the field and show what we can do.''

Defending conference co-champion Pittsburg State, 10-3 overall, 8-1 in the MIAA, was tapped as the preseason favorite in the coaches' poll, receiving seven of 10 first-place votes, while 2025 conference co-champ Northwest Missouri State (9-3, 8-1) topped the media poll, receiving 19 of 30 first-place votes.

Central Oklahoma (6-5, 6-3) was tapped for the No. 3 spot in the coaches poll, followed by Fort Hays State (6-5, 5-4), Central Missouri State (5-6, 5-4), Emporia State (5-6, 4-5), Nebraska-Kearney (6-5, 4-5), Washburn, Missouri Western (3-8, 2-7) and Missouri Southern (3-8, 1-8).  

Pitt State was picked No. 2 in the media poll, receiving 10 first-place votes, while Central Oklahoma received the final first-place vote and was picked third.

Central Missouri and Fort Hays State went four and five, flipping spots from the coaches poll, while Emporia State was picked sixth, while Nebraska-Kearney, Washburn, Missouri Western and Missouri Southern rounded out the poll.

Read more …

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

Washburn University golf coach Ronnie McHenry has announced the addition of Jeff Straight, the director of golf at Winona State since 2018, as an assistant coach for the Ichabod golf programs.

"We are thrilled to hire Jeff Straight as our new assistant golf coach here at Washburn,'' McHenry said. "His resume speaks for itself. He's been the Central Regional Coach of the Year, a four-time NSIC Coach of the Year, with many NCAA appearances, team and individual tournament wins. Very few, if any, schools have that around their programs, and now we do.

"Jeff's experience, leadership, and championship mindset make him an outstanding addition to Washburn Golf, and I'm excited to have him join our staff as our assistant coach. His experience will have an immediate impact on our student-athletes, and I believe his addition will help elevate Washburn golf as we continue pursuing conference championships and national success."

Straight joined Winona State as an assistant coach in 2014, then became the head men's golf coach in 2015. In 2018, Straight was promoted to director of golf – overseeing both the Warrior men's and women's programs.

He has been named the NSIC Coach of the Year four times and led Winona State to NCAA appearances in nine of 11 years. He's also coached WSU to four NSIC Tournament Championships, including the 2026 title. In 11 seasons directing WSU he recorded a 1,015-383 overall record for the men's team recording 26 tournament titles. The women's team has gone 506-431 the past eight seasons with four tournament wins.

Straight played in many high-level amateur and open tournaments while caddying on the PGA, Korn Ferry, Nike and Celebrity Tours.

He lives in Topeka with his wife, Xenia, and has two sons, Eric and Austin.