On Monday, Nov. 6, 2023, Washburn volleyball took down the Emporia State University Hornets for the second time this year, bringing the Ichabods’ record to 16-10 on the season thus far.
Head coach Chris Herron was pleased with how his team played against a team that has greatly improved since last season.
“They are so much better than they were last year, this is a completely different program,” Herron said. “You really have to play your best to win and I think we did great against them.”
Washburn stayed on top for most of the game, but they especially had control of the first set. The Ichabods started off with Jalyn Stevenson, junior outside hitter, placing a kill in the perfect spot to give them an 11-1 lead. Stevenson was the top player for the Ichabods with 13 kills and 13 digs. She had some added motivation playing their conference rivals.
“Oh yeah, it’s always an exciting match. They needed this win, we wanted this win, so it was gonna be a great competition,” Stevenson said.
It wasn’t until three points later that Emporia’s Sandora Sasaki could place a serve into the Ichabods’ court and break the streak. However, Iyannah Jackson, sophomore middle hitter, didn’t give the Hornets any time to breathe, as she got a kill to keep the Washburn’s momentum rolling.
Washburn continued to outperform the Hornets as Stevenson found the gap between two Emporia State players and punched it through for the kill, giving the Ichabods an 18-11 lead. Austin Broadie, sophomore middle hitter, also kept the train rolling with a bigtime block that gave Washburn the possession with only three points left to take the first set. In the end, it was Rylee Unruh, freshman outside hitter, who secured the kill to give the Ichabods the first set of the game.
In the second set, the Hornets were able to capitalize on the serves from Washburn, and it cost them.
“We were serving the ball so poorly. And when I say poorly, the ball was in, but my mom could pass it,” Herron said. “You gotta serve the ball with some pace, intention and tempo, and we didn’t do that the second set.”
The Hornets were the ones to jump out to a good start this time. They took advantage of Washburn’s miscommunication and took the lead 8-5 before Herron was forced to call a timeout. Washburn came out of the timeout and were able to tie things up at eight with a block from Jackson. However, Emporia’s Sasaki split the defense with a kill and continued to climb the scoreboard for the Hornets.
Washburn kept the game close and even tied it back up at 17, but Emporia’s Tasiah Nunnery put them ahead by two points with back to back aces. Washburn was having a hard time playing from behind and Emporia took advantage of that. They were able to reach match point with the Ichabods trailing by three, but it was Washburn’s own Sophia Cavanaugh, freshman outside hitter, who sent the ball into the net, allowing Emporia to win the second set.
The Ichabods shook off the rust from the second set and started off the third set taking a 13-6 lead with an ace from both Stevenson and Corinna McMullen, sophomore setter, as well as a perfectly placed kill from Bella Limback, sophomore outside hitter. The Ichabods continued to hold on to a substantial lead with plays from Stevenson, Limback and McMullen. Washburn closed out the third set 25-16 with a kill from Unruh.
With a 2-1 lead, the Ichabods were ready to end the match for good. Taryn Pridgett, junior outside hitter, earned the first point by placing the ball right over the top of the Hornet defense. Pridgett would add another point later in the set to give the Ichabods an 11-5 lead and force Emporia to call a timeout. The Hornets began to gain some momentum, but Broadie turned the tide as her running kill electrified the Washburn crowd and gave the Ichabods a 15-11 lead.
Emporia’s Sasaki was determined to keep the Hornets in the game, earning seven kills in the fourth set alone, but it wasn’t enough. Limback’s kill gave the Ichabods’ a 23-18 lead and forced Emporia to call a timeout. As the crowd rose to their feet for match point, Stevenson was the one to deliver the final blow and end the final set 25-18.
Even though the team played great, there are still aspects of the game that Washburn could improve.
“It’s always about the serve and pass game, so serving and receiving,” Stevenson said. “I think we struggled with both of those [in the second set] but after that we definitely refocused and we ended up winning.”
Washburn is now on a two-game win streak and plans to extend that streak Saturday, Nov. 11, against the Newman Jets in Wichita.
Edited by Jayme Thompson and Cheyenne Hittle
