By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Washburn University's volleyball team bid farewell to six seniors, including three All-Americans, from its 2025 team that posted a 27-5 record, earned a share of the MIAA regular-season championship and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
Junior outside hitter Brynne Topolski (3), a second-team All-MIAA pick last season, is a top returner for a Washburn team that posted a 27-5 record in 2025. [Photo courtesy of Washburn Athletics]
But the Ichabods still return a key nucleus of players from that team, including second-team All-MIAA outside hitter Brynne Topolski, who feels like Washburn has the potential to turn in another banner season this fall.
"This summer we've had a couple practices together as a team and our new freshmen look really good and we have a lot of good returners,'' said the 5-foot-11 Topolski, a product of Lincoln, Neb. East.
"I think we just have a lot of depth on our team this year like we did last year, so I'm really excited to get started and just see what we can do this year.''
Topolski played in all 32 matches and 105 sets last season, ranking second on the team with 270 kills while hitting .270 and recording double-digit kills in 11 matches with 54 blocks and 53 digs.
And with the graduation of MIAA Player of the Year and first-team AVCA All-America middle hitter Austin Broadie as well as All-America hitters Bella Limback and Alex Dvorak, Topolski knows that she needs to step up her game even more this fall.
"It's definitely tough to see them go and I feel like I am going to have to pick up more responsibility, but I'm just excited for it,'' Topolski said. "I think it will be good.
"My personality is a little bit more quiet, so in the past I've been more of a leader by actions rather than like a leader by words and having a lot to say so that's definitely something I'll work on this year, just having more things to say for my team as well as leading by my actions.''
In addition to Topolski, the Ichabods return three-time second-time All-MIAA defensive specialist/libero Taylor Rottinghaus, a former Shawnee Heights star, honorable mention all-conference outside hitter Keilah Rivers and sophomore middle blocker Brooklyn Morrisey, who came on strong late last season.
The Ichabods have also added transfer setter Lauren Tyler from Drury and transfer first-team All-MIAA first-team outside hitter Emma Siron from Central Missouri State and Topolski said she feels like WU is well on its way to blending together as a team.
"Last year we had really good chemistry and it's just one of our most important things about our program is just having good chemistry and being able to bond,'' Topolski said. "I think we will have that again this year.
"So far over the summer and all the Monday nights that we've had practice I feel like we've meshed pretty well, so I'm not worried about our chemistry. I think we'll mesh well again.''
Washburn will open its season with four matches in three days in the Washburn Invitational Aug. 27-29 in Lee Arena.
The Ichabods will open their season at 6 p.m. Aug. 27 against Oklahoma Christian and will face Arkansas Tech (2 p.m.) and William Jewell (7 p.m.) on Aug. 28 and close out the tournament at 2 p.m. Aug. 29 against Westminster.
"I'm so excited,'' Topolski said. "I'm very, very excited.''
