By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Technically, this is Washburn University Hall of Fame volleyball coach Chris Herron's time off before the Ichabods open preparations for the 2026 season on Aug. 8.
The Topeka Hype Black 13 and under team tied for fifth in the recent USA Volleyball Girls National Championship and was ranked No. 13 in the final USA Volleyball national rankings. [Topeka Hype Volleyball]
But Herron is happy to give up free time to coach what he calls his "littles,'' the 13 and under Topeka Hype Black team, which recently posted a tie for fifth place among 48 teams in the USA Volleyball Girls National Championship in Minneapolis, Minn.
The Hype, which represents the Kansas Networks Volleyball Club, finished its season 37-10 and garnered the No. 13 spot in the final USA Volleyball National Rankings after posting a 7-2 record in the national tournament.
Team members include local up-and-comers Breagan Ballard, Harmony Dimick, Ashlyn Lee, Rylin Leonard, Peyton McIntosh, Madeline Meitner, Gabby Pryer, Berkley Rutherford, Kolby Simoneau and Macy Sorensen.
Herron, who has a 651-145 career record at Washburn with seven MIAA championships and 19 NCAA Tournament appearances, said he also has high expectations for his Hype team.
"I've got to be honest with you, I coach them just like I coach my college team,'' Herron said. "We get after it. The practices are intense and they're focused.''
Herron is in his third season coaching the Hype after being approached by former Ichabod Wendy (Kobbeman) Rutherford.
"They just asked me one day to coach them when they were 11, so I coached them through the first season at 11, I coached them last year at 12 and then this year at 13 and we've just got progressively better,'' Herron said.
Herron, who donates his time to coach the club team, said he continues to have a great time with the Hype.
"Really it's because I have a great group of kids, and they get it,'' Herron said. "They understand what it takes. They want to be better, they want to be really, really good and they want to be the best.
"They're fun, they're a lot of fun.''
