By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Washburn University volleyball will open the 2024 season at the Kansas City Classic with three matches in three days Thursday through Saturday.
Washburn volleyball opens its 2024 season with three matches over three days in the Kansas City Classic. [File photo/TSN]
The Ichabods' first two matches will be played at Rockhurst University, with the final match on Saturday against the co-host, William Jewell.
Washburn, which is coming off a 17-11 season, will open the season against Sioux Falls (S.D.) at 4 p.m. Thursday before facing Winona State at 10 a.m. on Friday, with both matches played at Mason-Halpin Field House on the campus of Rockhurst University. WU wraps up the weekend at 11 a.m. on Saturday against William Jewell in Liberty, Mo.
Washburn junior setter Sydney Conner ranked No. 2 for the Ichabods in assists last season with 484. [Photo courtesy of Washburn Athletics]
"We are eager to play,'' said junior setter Sydney Conner, who ranked second for WU in assists last fall with 484 while playing in all 28 matches. "We've been playing the last two weekends (scrimmages against Rockhurst and Central Missouri) but now that it counts we're really ready to go, geared up for that point that's going to be shown on our record.''
The 2024 Kansas City Classic will be made up of six teams -- Washburn and Emporia State from the MIAA, Rockhurst and William Jewell from the GLVC and Winona State and Sioux Falls representing the NSIC.
Washburn is 39-15 all-time in season-openers and 27-6 since joining the NCAA and MIAA in 1989.
The Ichabods were picked to finish fourth in the MIAA Preseason Coaches Poll, just behind Nebraska-Kearney. Washburn received one first-place vote in the poll after finishing fifth in the 2023 MIAA regular-season standings with an 11-9 record.
The 2024 roster is the most balanced by class in the Chris Herron era, with at least four players from each class on the roster.
The Ichabods have 13 returners with 12 letter-winners from a season ago, with the returning roster including five seniors, three juniors and five sophomores.
Washburn senior Jalyn Stevenson (10) is a returning two-time first-team All-MIAA pick for the Ichabods. [File photo/TSN]
Senior two-time All-MIAA first-team pick Jalyn Stevenson, an outside hitter, returns for her senior year after leading the Ichabods with 342 kills (3.32 per set) last season. She recorded 338 digs (3.28 per set), served 33 aces and was a part of 31 total blocks. Stevenson was the only player to start in all 28 matches a season ago. She finished second in the MIAA in points per set (3.81), fourth in kills per set and sixth in total kills.
Junior setter Corinna McMullen earned All-MIAA second-team honors as a sophomore, posting a team-high 625 assists (6.07 per set) while also leading the team with 51 service aces. She posted 284 digs (2.76 per set) while playing in all 28 matches with 23 starts. She finished first in the conference in aces per set (.50) and total aces.
Former Shawnee Heights standout Taylor Rottinghaus begins her sophomore year as a libero after capturing a spot on the All-MIAA second team as a freshman. She led the Ichabods with 444 digs (4.63 per set) a year ago and also chipped in 78 assists and served seven aces on the year. Rottinghaus played in all 28 matches, finishing the year with six straight matches of 20-plus digs. She posted the third most digs per set in the MIAA last season with the seventh most digs in the conference overall.
Washburn adds eight newcomers to the 2024 roster, with seven incoming freshmen and one transfer coming to WU.
Alex Dvorak joins the Ichabods as a junior middle hitter after spending two seasons at William Jewell. In 2023 she hit .316 for the Cardinals with 272 total kills and 85 blocks.
The Ichabods' freshman class includes Brynne Topolski (Lincoln, Neb.), Keilah Rivers (Olathe), Emery Keebaugh (Ottawa), Taryn Marcum (Paola), Josie Cleveringa (North Bend, Neb.), Shannon Frakes (Overland Park) and Abby Leaf (Ramsey, Minn.).
"We've brought in some really great freshmen but in every position we've got a lot of players who could see the floor,'' Conner said. "It's really competitive in every position so it's just making us better.
"Coach says he's got a lot of decisions to make but that's making us better every day, just competing in practice, and that's going to get us back to where we normally need to be.''
Veteran Washburn volleyball coach Chris Herron enters the 2024 season with a career record of 603-132 with the Ichabods. [File photo/TSN]
Herron enters his 23rd season at Washburn with a career record of 603-132 with the Ichabods. He has led the Ichabod to 17 NCAA Tournament appearances and six combined MIAA titles (five regular season and one tournament). Led the Ichabods to the NCAA National Championship match in 2021.
Sioux Falls enters the new year after posting a 13-15 (9-9 NSIC) record a year ago and advancing to the first round of the NSIC Tournaments. They went 3-2 in neutral court matches. They were picked to finish eighth in the Northern Sun Conference.
Winona State begins 2024 after going 18-10 (10-8 NSIC) a season ago and advancing to the quarterfinals of the NSIC Tournament. They were 6-1 in neutral court matches last year. They were picked to finish sixth in the NSIC preseason poll and are receiving votes in the AVCA preseason ranking.
William Jewell posted a 12-17 (4-9 GLVC) record in 2023, missing out on the GLVC Tournament. They were 5-9 in matches at the Mabee Center. The Cardinals were picked 13th in the GLVC Preseason Coaches poll.
Next weekend Washburn will head west for four matches at the Mountaineer Volleyball Classic in Gunnison, Colo., opening against Western Colorado University next Friday.
Washburn's 2024 home opener will come in the 13th match of the season against Pittsburg State on Thursday, Oct. 3.
