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Created: 11 September 2025

By TODD FERTIG

TopSports.news

The Cair Paravel Latin volleyball team took down two Topeka public school teams and then measured itself against the defending Class 2A champion Thursday at the Topeka West quadrangular.

Cair Paravel volleyball celebrates its victory over Topeka West in Thursday's Topeka West volleyball quadrangular. [Photo by Todd Fertig/TSN]

Cair Paravel junior Karsyn Hastert prepares to spike the ball in Thursday's Topeka West volleyball quadrangular. [Photo by Todd Fertig/TSN]

Maranatha Christian Academy from Shawnee, winners of the 2A title a year ago, swept through the field Thursday night, never giving up more than 16 points in a game.

Cair Paravel won what wound up being the tightest battle of the evening in their opening match with Topeka West. The Lions edged the Chargers, 25-19, 25-22.

“We’re a young team. We start two freshmen,” Cair Paravel coach Craig Congdon said. “I saw some girls grow in ways that I haven’t seen them play. I saw them compete. And it’s fun playing against local teams. Highland Park has really improved. They’re coming out with a lot more fire than in past years.”

Coach Isaach Johnson talks to his Highland Park volleyball team during Thursday's Topeka West quadrangular. [Photo by Todd Fertig/TSN]

Highland Park did not win a game, but it received a lot of praise for how competitive the Scots were in each match.

“Having more competitive teams to play against really helps us to be able to outshine the other teams in (the Meadowlark) League, which is our first goal,” said second-year coach Isaach Johnson. “Ultimately, we don’t want Highland Park to just stay at the same level forever. For the last two years, we’ve tried to continue to include more competitive teams (on the schedule). And it’s already shown that, whereas two years ago against a team like Topeka West where Highland Park was losing 25-0, now we’re actually having competitive games. So, this is a great way for us to be prepared against high level of play.”

Topeka West defeated Highland Park in their final match of the evening, sending the Chargers home on a high note.

Topeka West junior Sydney VanDyke serves the ball during Thursday's Topeka West quadrangular. [Photo by Todd Fertig/TSN]

“This is always a very fun home quad for us to kick off on,” said Charger coach Alyx Nash. “I’m kind of sad the way we competed tonight. That was definitely not the team that you will usually see in purple and the way we are expecting to play this year. But we had a lot of good competition tonight and saw some good things to build on.”

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Created: 11 September 2025

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

Veteran Silver Lake volleyball coach Sarah Johnson was happy with the way her Class 3A Eagles battled in five of six sets in Thursday's Shawnee Heights quadrangular against the 5A T-Birds, 6A Manhattan and 5A Seaman.

Silver Lake senior Paige Winsor spikes the ball in Thursday's match against Seaman. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]

And Johnson was even happier with the way her Eagles bounced back after hitting their only stumbling block of the night.  

After dropping a tight 25-23 decision in its first set of the night against Shawnee Heights, Silver Lake got steamrolled 25-12 by the T-Birds in the match-clinching second set.

But that was the top-ranked (3A) Eagles' only loss, with Silver Lake, now 10-1, rebounding to take a 25-20, 25-23 win over Seaman and a 25-16, 25-19 win over Manhattan, handing the seventh-ranked (6A) Indians their lone loss.

Silver Lake senior Paige Heiman (15) blocks a spike attempt in Thursday's match against Seaman. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]

"Overall, I'm very pleased,'' Johnson said. "There were a couple of moments at the beginning of the night that didn't go our way and we weren't playing like ourselves. We were a completely different team that Shawnee Heights match, especially that second set, than we were against Manhattan.

"I was really happy to see these girls just like level up. They were ready for the competition and they gave it their all and it was all of them on the court. I couldn't find a weakness, a weak girl, and I was really proud of all of them on the court. They didn't get down on themselves and I really see this crew as that kind of team. They're going to have errors, we're okay with it, and then we rally back.''

Junior setter Kylie Hanni was also proud of her team's performance, particularly after the loss to Heights.

"We did a good job of forgetting our mistakes and we just really pushed through it and I'm really happy with how it ended,'' Hanni said.

"This (playing bigger schools) really gives us a challenge and it always makes us better because we learn what we need  to work on and just facing good competition is really good for us.''

Shawnee Heights senior Jadyn Euwer makes a return in Thursday's Shawnee Heights volleyball quadrangular. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]

Host Shawnee Heights also went 2-1 in the quadrangular and came within a third-set Manhattan rally of a perfect night.

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Created: 11 September 2025

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

The Washburn University women's soccer team will hit the road again on Friday to face off against the Drury Panthers in a 5 p.m. non-conference matchup.

Washburn soccer will play at Drury on Friday before coming home for a three-game homestand. [File photo/TSN]

"Drury will be another great test for our team. They are well coached and organized," said Washburn coach Davy Phillips. "I'm looking forward to seeing our growth from a really good week of training this week.

"We are learning some really good things about the potential of our team and games like Drury present such a great learning environment as we continue to push our performances and efforts against teams that will prepare us for MIAA play."

The Ichabods spent last weekend in St. Louis, where they tied 1-1 against No. 25 Maryville on Thursday evening and lost 3-0 to Missouri-St. Louis on Saturday afternoon. 

The Ichabods feature two freshmen in the starting lineup -- midfielder Bricelyn Betts and forward Kate Hinck.

Washburn also includes many freshmen off the bench, one being Leah Henke, who scored the equalizer in the final seconds of the opening game of the season.

Both WU goalkeepers, senior Alli Harrington and freshman Lili Everley, have played 90 minutes this season, each totaling three saves.

Washburn has out-shot opponents 26-17 and corner kicks 10-5, so far this season.

The Panthers opened their season with a 1-0 home victory over Emporia State.

Drury was previously ranked 14th in the USC preseason polls and received votes this past week.

Last season Drury was knocked out in the NCAA third round by Grand Valley State. 

Washburn will play their home opener at 1 p.m. Sunday at Yager Stadium against the University of Mary. 

Sunday's match will open a three-game homestand for the Ichabods.

Details

Created: 11 September 2025

By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news

FRIDAY'S GAMES

(All kickoffs at 7 p.m.)

Shawnee Heights senior quarterback Aiden Scott threw for 428 yards and four touchdowns in last Friday's 51-41 loss to Washburn Rural. [File photo/TSN]

Topeka West junior Damon Webb is one of the area's top running backs. [File photo/TSN]

TOPEKA WEST (0-1, 0-1 UKC) at SHAWNEE HEIGHTS (0-1, 0-0 UKC)

Topeka West opened its season with a home 47-12 United Kansas Conference loss to De Soto while Shawnee Heights dropped a 51-41 home non-league decision to city rival Washburn Rural. Heights senior quarterback Aiden Scott completed 30 of 52 passes for 428 yards and four touchdowns against Rural while senior David Wakes carried the ball 21 times for 67 yards, senior Tyren Parker caught seven passes for 172 yards and two TDs and senior AJ Gallegos caught 10 passes for 113 yards. Top players for Topeka West include senior lineman Logan Hunninghake, senior wide receiver Gad Munganga and junior running back Damon Webb.

Junior running back G'Honi Montgomery rushed for 113 yards in Highland Park's 32-6 win at KC-Wyandotte last Friday. [File photo/TSN]

KC-SUMNER (0-1, 0-1 Meadowlark) vs. HIGHLAND PARK (1-0, 1-0 Meadowlark)

At Hummer Sports Park 

Highland Park opened its quest for a fourth straight winning season with a 32-6 Meadowlark Conference road win at Kansas City-Wyandotte while KC-Sumner is coming off a 62-20 Meadowlark loss to KC-Washington. Highland Park junior running back G'Honi Montgomery rushed for 113 yards on 12 carries while junior JoJo Kingcannon had 103 yards on just four attempts and senior quarterback Dontrail Fox threw for a TD. Defensively junior Rayshon Pollard had seven tackles with two sacks.

OSAGE CITY (1-0, 0-0 Flint Hills) vs. CAIR PARAVEL LATIN (1-0, 1-0 Flint Hills)

At Yager Stadium, Washburn University

Cair Paravel rolled to a 60-14 Flint Hills League win over West Franklin in its 2025 opener at Washburn's Yager Stadium while Osage City opened with a 41-13 non-league win over Olpe. The Lions opened up a 20-0 first-quarter lead, led 26-8 at halftime and 52-8 at the start of the fourth quarter. Cair Paravel is one win away from equaling its win total in a 2-7 season last fall in its first season in the 11-man ranks.

SM EAST (1-0) at SEAMAN (0-1)

Seaman dropped a 33-22 United Kansas Conference home decision to Piper in its 2025 season-opener and will go outside league play to host Class 6A Shawnee Mission East Friday night. The Lancers are 1-0 after a 31-28 win over Olathe Northwest. Seaman junior quarterback Cale Ketter completed 30 of 42 passes for 192 yards against Piper while sophomore Quentin Moravec rushed for 112 yards and three touchdowns on 18 carries and junior Josh Brown caught 10 passes for 74 yards.

Junior Jadyn Baum (26) rushed for 84 yards and scored two touchdowns in Washburn Rural's 51-41 season-opening win over Shawnee Heights. [File photo/TSN]

BLUE VALLEY (1-0) at WASHBURN RURAL (1-0) 

Washburn Rural outlasted city rival Shawnee Heights 51-41 at Heights last week while Blue Valley opened with a 28-21 win over Blue Valley Southwest. Rural senior quarterback John Hoytal completed 11 of 20 passes for 201 yards and a pair of touchdowns while senior TJ Minikwu was 28 for 77 yards rushing and junior Jadyn Baum picked up a game-high 84 yards on 12 attempts. Minikwu and Baum scored two TDs apiece, while senior Nate Selm also had two TDs, including a 47-yard return of an onsides kick attempt.

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