By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Jalyn Stevenson was the newbie for Washburn University volleyball a year ago, surrounded by a veteran senior group, including four All-Americans, that led the 31-6 Ichabods to a runner-up finish in the NCAA Division II national tournament.
Jalyn Stevenson
But although she's still only a sophomore, the 5-foot-10 outside hitter knows that as Washburn's most experienced returner she'll need to step up as a leader for the Ichabods this fall, a role she's ready to embrace as WU gets set to open the 2022 season Friday and Saturday in the Nebraska-Kearney Fall Classic.
"I feel like I need to step up my leadership because I do have that play experience,'' said Stevenson, a former Spring Hill standout. "With the seniors that I had last year I will say they did a fantastic job of helping me through (last season) and even when I had no clue of what was going on they helped me through that, so I want to be that kind of person for the team and be able to help them through the tough times when when they don't necessarily understand what's going on and during game play when everything changes and everything starts going faster, slowing it down for the younger kids.''
Washburn sophomore outside hitter Jalyn Stevenson (10) celebrates a point with her teammates during the 2021 season. [Photo courtesy of Washburn Athletics]
Stevenson earned All-MIAA honorable mention as a freshman when she played in all 37 matches with 30 starts, finishing fourth on the team in kills with 263, third in digs at 259 and second in service aces with 32 on the year.
Stevenson, one of eight WU returners, said she feels like she picked up some valuable tips from last year's seniors that will help her this season.
"I did,'' Stevenson said. "It also helps this year that with Genna (Berg, an All-American hitter) still being here as our (graduate asssistant) I still get to pick up the tips that I didn't last year because I am still only a sophomore and I am still getting more experience as I go.''
Stevenson, who played for former Washburn standout Erica (Cowhick) Book at Spring Hill, said she needs to make sure she just plays her game this season while trying to continue to take steps forward.
"I can't put too much pressure on myself,'' she said. "I just want to play my game and I just want to play as hard as I can and do the best I can without putting any undue pressure on myself.''
Washburn University's volleyball team will open the 2022 season in this weekend's Nebraska-Kearney Fall Classic. [Photo courtesy of Washburn Athletics]
Stevenson and the Ichabods, who have 10 freshmen on their roster, will begin the 2022 campaign with four matches at the UNK Fall Classic this weekend.
On Friday, the Ichabods will face Central Washington (10 a.m.) and Minot State (4 p.m.) before wrapping up the tournament on Saturday against Midwestern State (10 a.m.) and Sioux Falls (4 p.m.).
The Ichabods, who lost 14 players off last year's team, will begin the new season right where they finished 2021, as the No. 2-ranked team in the nation. Washburn was voted No. 2 in the AVCA Coaches Preseason Poll that was released on Aug. 17.
