By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Washburn University volleyball coach Chris Herron did everything he could to get Emma Siron in an Ichabod uniform three seasons ago.
Junior outside hitter Emma Siron was named the Most Valuable Player in last week's Washburn Invitational while making her debut for Washburn. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
That didn't pan out, with Siron going on to star at Central Missouri State, but when the All-MIAA first-team pick entered the transfer portal following the 2025 season, Herron and the Ichabods got another chance at the Sedalia, Mo. native and this time the 5-foot-9 outside hitter ended up in Topeka.
It's a move that has paid immediate dividends for both Washburn and Siron, who has led the No. 6-ranked Ichabods to a perfect 4-0 record while being named the most valuable player in the Washburn Invitational and the MIAA Offensive Player of the Week.
"I recruited her hard out of high school,'' Herron said. "And I'm going to be honest with you, I've only had this happen to me twice in all my 25 years, but when she told me she wasn't coming here I lost sleep because I really thought she was coming here.
"And her parents did, too. Now that it's over with, her parents go, 'Yeah, we did, too. We thought she was coming to you.' We're just fortunate that she's here now because she's a great player and obviously she can take over a match. And the kids love her, she fits in perfect.''
Siron leads the Ichabod offense with 58 kills (4.14 per set) while hitting .307. She has started in three matches and played in all four while serving a team-high seven aces and also recording 37 digs (2.64 per set) and making three blocks.
She has tallied three double-digit kill matches with one double-double. She is 14th in the nation and first in the MIAA with 4.79 points per set while ranking 18th in the nation in kills per set and also leading the conference.
Siron began the process of getting familiar with her Washburn teammates over the summer.
"I came here every Monday in the summer, traveled here every Monday,'' Siron said. "It was a great opportunity to get to know the girls and get the awkwardness out, 'What's your name?' and that kind of stuff. It was helpful.''
Siron said she's now completely comfortable in her new role.
"It feels amazing, it feels like I've got my spark back and the love for volleyball back,'' she said. "The girls have just been great and welcoming. They're already my best friends and I can't wait to grow that relationship even more.''
Siron and the Ichabods head to South Dakota for this week's Sioux Falls Classic, beginning with a 4 p.m. Thursday match against Black Hills State in the first of four matches over the three-day event played between the Sanford Pentagon and the Stewart Center on the campus of the University of Sioux Falls.
The Ichabods will face Upper Iowa at 10 a.m. and Sioux Falls at 7 p.m. on Friday before taking on Augustana 1 p.m. on Saturday.
Augustana and the University of Sioux Falls are the host schools while Upper Iowa, Mary, Black Hills State, Emporia State and Chadron State join Washburn in the eight-school field.
Junior setter Shannon Frakes was named the MIAA Setter of the Week after registering a team-high 162 assists (11.57 per set) in the Washburn Invitational. Frakes has played in all four matches while starting in three. She leads the team in digs with 52 (3.71 per set) while also recording 15 kills, seven blocks and serving four aces.
The Overland Park native had two matches with 40-plus assists and has recorded a team-high three double-doubles. She ranks sixth in the nation and leads the MIAA in assists per set while ranking 13th in the conference in digs per set as well.
Junior Brynne Topolski has played in all four matches while making three starts and is second on the team with 51 kills (3.64 per set) while hitting .298. She has added 33 digs (2.36 per set) along with making 11 blocks.
The Lincoln, Neb. native has recorded double-figure kills in all four matches with one double-double.
Sophomore Brooklyn Morrisey is the only Ichabod to start all four matches and is hitting a team-high .375. She has slashed 37 kills (2.47 per set) and leads the team with 20 blocks (1.33 per set). The Lenexa, Kan. has recorded one double-digit kill match and has five or more blocks in two matches.
Black Hills State enters the match with a 2-2 record on the year after falling 3-0 to Bemidji State last time out on Aug. 29. Last season the Yellow Jackets went 6-20 on the year and 2-12 inside the RMAC, missing out on the RMAC tournament.
Upper Iowa is off to a 3-1 start to the season after defeating Union 3-1 last time out on Aug. 29. Last season the Peacocks went 7-19 overall with a 5-8 record inside the GLVC, missing out on the conference tournament.
Sioux Falls is 3-1 on the year after finishing the opening weekend with a 3-1 win over Dominican on Aug. 29. Last season the Cougars went 20-10 on the year and 14-6 inside the NSIC, falling in the semifinal round of the NSIC tournament.
Augustana is off to a 4-0 start to the season after defeating Cameron 3-0 last time out on Aug. 29. Last season the Vikings posted a 14-14 record while going 8-12 inside the NSIC, missing out on the conference tournament.
Washburn returns home to Lee Arena for another tournament next week. They will play four matches across two days at the Ichabod Classic beginning Sept. 11.
The first MIAA match of the season will come on Friday, Sept. 18, with Washburn facing off with Fort Hays State at 6 p.m. inside Lee Arena.
