By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
No. 15-ranked Washburn University volleyball returns to Lee Arena for two MIAA matches this weekend, hosting Missouri Western at 6 p.m. on Friday and Northwest Missouri State at 2 p.m. Saturday.
Washburn, now 9-2 on the season and 3-1 in the MIAA, had its first conference road trip of the season last weekend, earning a split. The Ichabods defeated Missouri Southern 3-1 last Friday before falling to Central Missouri 3-0 last Saturday.
The Ichabods, who are undefeated at Lee Arena, are tied with Central Oklahoma and Nebraska-Kearney for second place in the conference.
Washburn junior Jalyn Stevenson leads the No. 15-ranked Ichabod volleyball team in kills. [Photo courtesy of Washburn Athletics]
Jalyn Stevenson registered a pair of double-doubles last weekend and led the Ichabods in kills in both matches. Against Missouri Southern she knocked down 13 kills with 14 digs and against Central Missouri she had a 17 kills while scooping up 11 digs.
Stevenson is fourth in the MIAA in kills per set at 3.37 as well as sixth in points per set with 3.84.
Corinna McMullen tied the Washburn aces record set earlier this season by Rylee Unruh after she had eight against Missouri Southern. Against the Lions she also dished out 27 assists and had a double-double with 15 digs.
McMullen is ninth in the nation in aces per set at .66, whick is highest among MIAA players.
Rachel Schwensen had 11 kills while hitting .333 and added four blocks against Missouri Southern.
Shawnee Heights product Taylor Rottinghaus notched 20 digs against Southern and 23 digs against Central Missouri.
Rottinghaus is averaging 4.64 digs per set, fourth most in the MIAA.
Missouri Western is 9-4 overall and 2-1 in the MIAA on the year.
Former Ichabod volleyball All-American and assistant coach Jessic Fey is in her second season as head coach of Missouri Western. Fey will be inducted into the Washburn Athletics Hall of Fame on Oct. 7
Washburn Rural product Taylor Russell, who helped lead the Junior Blues to the Class 6A state title last season, has 116 kills for Missouri Western (2.82 per set) and is hitting .279 on the year. She has also contributed to 23 blocks.
Holly Heldt leads the Griffons with 124 kills (2.82 per set) and has 11 aces.
Northwest Missouri is 7-5 on the year after sweeping Newman on Saturday. Northwest is 2-2 in MIAA play.
In 2022 Northwest Missouri went 24-7 overall and 17-3 in the MIAA, losing in the semifinals of the conference tournament to Washburn, and losing in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
Abby Brussen leads the Bearcats in kills with 106 (2.36 per set) and blocks with 29. She also hits a team-high .308 among qualified hitters.
Washburn heads south to face Central Oklahoma and Pittsburg State next Thursday and Friday.
