By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Washburn University gets another opportunity to show off the No. 4 nationally-ranked Ichabod volleyball team as well as recently renovated Lee Arena Friday and Saturday when Washburn returns home for the Ichabod Classic, the second home tournament in three weeks.
Junior Emma Siron and No. 4-ranked Washburn volleyball will host the Ichabod Classic Friday and Saturday in Lee Arena. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
The Ichabods will play Missouri-St. Louis at 11:30 a.m. and University of Arkansas at Monticello 4:30 p.m. on Friday before playing Southwestern Oklahoma State at 10 a.m. and Drury at 3 p.m. on Saturday.
"It is very unusual and it's the first time it's ever happened here,'' Washburn coach Chris Herron said of the two home tournaments. "We've never done it before.
"But it was hard work, I'm going to tell you that right now because nowdays you've got to tell them you get free hotel rooms and all this other kind of stuff, so it's not easy but we're real fortunate to be able to do it and our field is good.''
The Ichabods enter the tournament with a perfect 8-0 record on the year after finishing 4-0 in last weekend's Sioux Falls Classic.
Emma Siron leads the Ichabod offense with 113 kills (4.19 per set) while hitting .289 on the outside. She has started in seven matches and played in all eight while serving a team-high 11 aces and also recording 71 digs and making nine blocks.
The Sedalia, Mo. native has tallied seven double-digit kill matches with three double-doubles. She is 12th in the nation and first in the MIAA with 4.81 points per set while ranking 13th in the nation in kills per set and also leading the conference.
Shannon Frakes leads Washburn with team-high 320 assists (11.85 per set) and is second on the team in digs with 90 (3.33 per set) while also recording 26 kills, 11 blocks and serving eight aces.
The Spring Hill product has three matches with 40-plus assists and has recorded a team-high five double-doubles. She leads the nation in assists per set.
Brynne Topolski is second on the team with 99 kills (3.67 per set) while hitting .318. She has added 56 digs (2.07 per set) along with making 14 blocks, second most on the team.
The Lincoln, Neb. native has recorded double-figure kills in six matches with one double-double. She is third in the MIAA in kills per set while ranking fourth in the conference in points per set. She is also 11th in the MIAA in hitting percentage.
Brooklyn Morrisey is hitting a team-high .350 and has 67 kills (2.39 per set) and leads the team with 30 blocks (1.07 per set). The Lenexa native has recorded two double-digit kill matches and has five or more blocks in three matches. She ranks sixth in the MIAA while ranking sixth in the conference in hitting percentage.
Shawnee Heights product Taylor Rottinghaus, the MIAA defensive player of the week, has played in six matches at libero, recording a team-high 99 digs (4.95 per set). She has two matches with 20-plus digs. Rottinghaus has also added 22 assists with four aces served. The senior ranks third in the MIAA in digs per set.
The Ichabods lead the nation in kills per set at 15.61 and 14.25 assists per set.
Missouri-St. Louis enters the weekend with a 2-5 record on the year after going 0-4 last weekend at the Tampa Volleyball Classic.
Last season the Tritons went 26-5 overall with a 13-0 mark inside the GLVC. They won the GLVC Conference Tournament before falling in the opening round of the NCAA Regional.
Arkansas at Monticello is 2-7 on the year after losing 3-0 last time out to Southwest Baptist in the final match of the SBU Invitational.
Last season the Cotton Blossoms went 3-24 overall and 0-16 inside the GAC, missing out on the conference tournament.
Southwestern Oklahoma State is 6-3 on the year after a Tuesday night win.
Last season the Bulldogs went 16-15 overall with a 12-4 record inside the GAC, falling in the GAC Tournament Championship match.
Drury enters the tournament with a 7-1 record on the year after sweeping four straight matches at the SBU Invitational last weekend.
Last season the Panthers went 17-13 overall and 7-6 inside the GLVC, falling in the first round of the GLVC Tournament.
Washburn will remain at home to open MIAA play next Friday, Sept. 18, with a 6 p.m. meeting against Fort Hays State in Lee Arena.
