Nebraska-Kearney enters the week on a five-match winning streak and is 23-2 overall and 10-2 in the MIAA while Fort Hays State is 15-9 overall and 4-8 in the MIAA.
Senior Austin Broadie leads the Washburn offense with 251 kills (3.30 per set) while hitting .344, third best on the team. She has started all 23 matches and also has logged 50 blocks with 49 digs. The senior has twelve double-digit kill matches and ranks third in the MIAA in hitting percentage. Broadie is third among conference players in kills per set and points per set.
Bella Limback is slashing a team-high .493 with 147 kills (1.99 per set) while playing and starting in all 23 matches. She has also added 85 blocks (1.15 per set), also a team-high, and served 12 aces. She has hit over .400 in all but six matches this season with three double-digit kill efforts. Limback leads the nation in hitting percentage and is fourth in the MIAA in blocks per set.
Corinna McMullen has started all 23 matches this season and leads Washburn with 482 assists (6.43 per set). She has also chipped in a team-high 29 service aces while ranking second on the team with 196 digs (2.61 per set). The senior has delivered 13 matches of 20-plus assists with nine double-doubles. She ranks sixth in the conference in aces per set and seventh in assists per set.
McMullen needs seven more aces to become the all-time program leader.
Taylor Rottinghaus leads Washburn with 311 digs (4.09 per set) and has chipped in 95 assists while serving 25 aces, second-most on the team. The junior has three matches making at least 20 digs. She ranks seventh in the MIAA in digs per set and 11th in total digs.
Washburn leads the nation with a .297 team hitting percentage as a team.
The Ichabods are 14th nationally and third among MIAA teams with 2.49 blocks per set.
On the defensive side Washburn is limiting opponents to a .129 hitting percentage, good for 11th nationally and No. 1 in the MIAA.
The Ichabods are dishing out 13.68 assists per set on offense, good for seventh in the nation and second in the MIAA.
Washburn knocks down 14.57 kills per set to rank ninth in D-II and second among MIAA programs.
Serving up 1.95 aces per set, the Ichabods are first in the MIAA.
No. 16-ranked Washburn soccer set to host Hornets in Senior Night clash
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
The No. 16-ranked Washburn University soccer team hosts rival Emporia State at Yager Stadium at 6 p.m. on Wednesday evening for Senior Night, looking to wrap up the MIAA regular-season title.
Washburn, 11-2-4 overall and 8-0-3 in the MIAA, can clinch the championship with a win over the Hornets (8-5-4, 5-2-4).
Multi-time MIAA pick Belle Kennedy (12) is one of 10 Washburn soccer seniors who will be recognized before Wednesday's Senior Night match against Emporia State in Yager Starium. [File photo/TSN]
Washburn will recognize seniors Sydney Achilles, Shandon Carr, Londyn Furnish, Alli Harrington, Belle Kennedy, Hunter McWilliams, Lakin Rold, Brooke Powell, Aubrey Tanksley and Shaye Taylor.
"I'm excited that our ladies have earned the chance to compete for something really special on Senior Night,'' Washburn coach Davy Phillips said. "This senior class has been an incredible class for our program. They're the winningest class in WU soccer history (with 57 wins), they played for a national championship, and now get the chance to earn a third MIAA trophy.
"It's a really special class that I feel fortunate to have had the opportunity to coach. Thank you, ladies."
Washburn extended its unbeaten streak this past weekend to 13 with a 2-0 win last Friday at Northwest Missouri and a scoreless draw against Missouri Western on Sunday.
"We are looking forward to the opportunity to continue to grow into our DNA in pursuit of another MIAA title,'' Phillips said. "Emporia is a good team and well-coached, and it's always a battle."
During their unbeaten streak, the Ichabods have only allowed three goals.
Washburn moved up three spots to No. 16 in the USC national poll and remained second in the USC Central Region poll.
