[Photo courtesy of Washburn Athletics]
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Even though Washburn University junior volleyball star outside hitter Jalyn Stevenson had already earned All-MIAA recognition two straight seasons, including first-team honors in 2022, she wasn't taking a third all-conference award as a certainty.
But the MIAA put any worries Stevenson might have had to rest on Wednesday, with Stevenson a first-team repeat pick and one of four Washburn players to earn all-conference laurels.
"I was getting a little worried there for a second,'' Stevenson said. "I try not to look at stats because it gets into my head and I'm like, 'Oh, I'm not where I'm supposed to be. But with All-American stuff and with MIAA it's all about your team. If your team doesn't win you don't win.
"It feels great. It gives you a lot of confidence and especially knowing that other teammates got it, too.''
Both Stevenson and Rachel Schwensen were first team selections while Shawnee Heights product Taylor Rottinghaus and Corinna McMullen earned second-team honors.
Stevenson, who received honorable mention as a freshman before the back-to-back first-team honors, leads Washburn in kills with 324 (3.27 per set) and is hitting .217. She has played in every set and started all 27 matches for Washburn and is fourth in the conference with 3.76 points per set. Stevenson has 32 service aces this season, is second on the Ichabods with 408 digs (3.08 per set) and has helped out on 30 blocks.
Schwensen joins Stevenson on the first team in her first season with Washburn after transferring from Northern Colorado. The graduate student rightside hitter finished the regular season second on the Ichabods with 247 kills (2.81 per set) and was second in hitting percentage at .297. Schwensen played in 24 matches making starts in 19 and was second on Washburn with 60 blocks on the year and also made 53 digs. Her 23 kills against Northwest Missouri State are the most by any Ichabod in a match this season.
McMullen is a second-team All-MIAA selection in her sophomore year after earning honorable mention honors as a freshman. The setter from Bucyrus has played in all 27 matches, making 23 starts and leading Washburn with 593 assists (5.99 per set). McMullen was third on the Ichabods with 271 digs (2.74 per set) while also leading WU and the MIAA in aces, serving up 49 this season. She recorded a team-high 13 double-doubles on the year while also chipping in 17 kills.
Rottinhaus lands on the All-MIAA second team in her freshman season after making appearances in all 27 matches. The libero led Washburn with 408 digs (4.43 per set) and also dished out 78 assists on the year with seven aces. She finished the regular season reaching the 20 dig mark in five straight matches and reached 26 digs three times, the most for any Washburn player in a match this season.
Former Washburn Rural standout Taylor Russell, who helped lead the Junior Blues to the 2022 Class 6A state championship, earned second-team All-MIAA honors for Missouri Western.
Washburn, 17-10 overall and 11-9 in the MIAA, begins postseason play as the No. 5 seed in the MIAA Championship Tournament on Thursday facing No. 4 Missouri Western at 7 p.m. at the Civic Arena in St. Joseph, Mo.
2023 MIAA Volleyball Postseason Awards
Player of the Year: Olivia Olson, Central Missouri, S, Jr.
Defensive Player of the Year: Jaedynn Evans, Central Oklahoma, L/DS, Gr.*
Setter of the Year: Olivia Olson, Central Missouri, Jr.
Freshman of the Year: Molly Heldt, Missouri Western, OHCoach of the Year: Caitlin Peterson, Central Missouri*Indicates Unanimous Selection
First teamAbby Brunssen, MB – Northwest Missouri
Emersen Cyza, OH – Nebraska KearneyElinor Engel, MB – Central MissouriJaedynn Evans, L/DS – Central Oklahoma*Jaden Ferguson, RS – Nebraska Kearney*Holly Heldt, OH – Missouri WesternSydney Huck, OH – Central OklahomaJenna Karp, MB – Central OklahomaPeyton Neff, S – Nebraska KearneyKersti Nix, OH – Central Missouri*Olivia Olson, S – Central Missouri*Sandora Sasaki, OH/RS – Emporia State*Rachel Schwensen, RS – WashburnJalyn Stevenson, OH – WashburnAnna Weberg, L/DS – Missouri WesternRachel Ziesman, MB – Central Missouri-- Reflects Ties in Voting*Indicates Unanimous Selection
Second teamMia Berg, MB – Nebraska KearneyFernanda Canedo, OH – Missouri SouthernEmily Ellis, MB – Fort Hays StateLindsey Houran, S – Central OklahomaNessa Johnson, S – Missouri WesternAvery Kemp, MB – Northwest MissouriMallorie Koehn, OH – Central OklahomaSydney Lierz, OH – Central MissouriCorinna McMullen, S – WashburnDanielle Moje, MB – Missouri WesternAmelia Neels, MB – Missouri SouthernTaylor Rottinghaus, L/DS – WashburnTaylor Russell, OH – Missouri WesternEmma Siron, OH/RS – Central MissouriLauren Taubenheim, L/DS – Nebraska KearneyJanae Thurston, OH – Pittsburg StateAddison Wimmer, OH – Central Oklahoma-- Reflects Ties in Voting
Honorable mentionCentral Missouri: Grace Southern, MB; Grace Winkelmann, L/DSEmporia State: Brailee Dogle, SFort Hays State: Riley Tinder, OH; Gracie Rains, OHMissouri Southern: Kyla Randall, L/DSNebraska Kearney: Asha Regier, OH; Jensen Rowse, L/DSNewman: Ozioma Ajekwu, MBNorthwest Missouri: Ella Caffery, S; Kyah Luhring, L/DSPittsburg State: Josie McCroskey, L/DS
