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No. 4 seed Washburn soccer to open NCAA Central Region bid against Missouri Western
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Washburn University soccer will face MIAA foe Missouri Western at 10 a.m. Friday in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament in Mankato, Minn.
Washburn soccer will open its NCAA Tournament bid at 10 a.m. Friday in Mankato, Minn. against Missouri Western. [Photo courtesy of Washburn Athletics]
The 11-3-5 Ichabods are the No. 4 seed in the Central Region while 12-2-7 Missouri Western is the No. 5 seed.
"I'm very proud of this year's team and the journey that we have been on to earn the chance to compete on the national stage tomorrow,'' Washburn coach Davy Phillips said. "I'm excited for the ladies to execute our brand of soccer and continue to grow within our game model as we compete for a national championship.
"Missouri Western is a good team and well coached and it should be a really high-level college soccer game.''
Washburn enters the match after failing to win their past two matches, both against rival Emporia State, with a scoreless draw on Senior Day and a 3-2 loss in the first round of the MIAA Tournament.
Washburn and Missouri Western met earlier this year in St. Joseph, Mo., where the match ended in a 0-0 draw.
Washburn's defense has been its focal point, allowing just three goals during the MIAA regular season and scoring 20 during that span. The Ichabods allowed only 60 shots on goal all season, while they put 125 shots on goal.
Defenders Rilyn Snyder and Shaye Taylor are one-two in minutes played this season while senior Belle Kennedy anchors the Ichabods from the heart of the midfield.
The Washburn Rural alum earned MIAA Defensive Player of the Year and All-MIAA first-team honors.
Washburn is led in goals and points by freshman Leah Henke, who has nine goals on the year and has added an assist.
Sophomore Sam Searcey has five goals and four assists while freshman Kate Hinck has also found the back of the net five times this year and junior Mackinly Rohn has three goals and an assist. Hinck and Rohn are both former Washburn Rural stars.
The Griffons are coming off an MIAA Tournament title, which booked their place in the NCAA Tournament.
Washburn leads the all-time series with Western, 16-12-1. The Ichabods have won five of the last eight matches with the Griffons.
The Washburn-Missouri Western winner will advance to a 1 p.m. match on Sunday to face the winner between No. 1 seed Minnesota State-Mankato and No. 8 seed Harding.
No. 3 seed Washburn volleyball advances to MIAA Tournament semifinals with 3-1 win
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
No. 3 seed Washburn University volleyball snapped a two-match MIAA Tournament losing streak on Thursday afternoon in St. Joseph, Mo., taking a 3-1 quarterfinal win over No. 6 seed Central Missouri.
Washburn volleyball is headed to the MIAA Tournament semifinals after a 3-1 win over Central Missouri Thursday in St. Joseph, Mo. [File photo/TSN]
The 25-3 Ichabods, who had been eliminated in the MIAA quarterfinals the previous two seasons, now move into the semifinal round where they will face No. 7 seed Pittsburg State at 5 p.m. on Friday.
A strong start for Washburn led to a 25-17 win in the opening set. The Jennies (20-8) took control early in the second set to win 25-11, but the Ichabods were able to bounce back, winning 25-17 in the third and closing out the match, 25-12.
An early four-point burst capped off by a block by Bella Limback and Austin Broadie gave Washburn a 4-1 lead. The lead grew to six points at 12-6 after three more points in a row by the three seed.
Natalie Hedlund found the floorboard for a kill that pushed the lead to 19-11 but was followed by a 6-2 run for Central Missouri to pull within four. The Ichabods closed out the set with the final four points, and final three on kills coming on passes from Corinna McMullen.
The Jennies got out to a 7-2 start in the second set, with the lead growing to 15-4 after an 8-1 run. Washburn didn't score consecutive points in the set as the Central Missouri offense hit a blazing .394 in the set.
After falling behind 3-1 early in the third set, a four-point run gave the Ichabods control of the set. The Jennies hung around and pulled within one point at 14-13 before Limback started a three-point burst with a kill. Washburn took control of the set with five more in a row, leading 23-15 after a Broadie and Brooklyn Morrisey block. They wrapped up the set to lead 2-1 in the match.
TopSports.news’ girls basketball players to watch in 2025-2026
- Details
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
BRYNN ANDERSON, Washburn Rural
A 5-foot-11 freshman guard/forward, Anderson has yet to take the basketball court for the Junior Blues, but made an immediate impact in volleyball, earning TopSports.news All-Shawnee County and All-Centennial League first-team honors while also being named the county and league newcomer of the year as Washburn Rural won the Centennial League title and advanced to the Class 6A state tournament for the ninth straight season.
SAMI BAUM, Shawnee Heights
A 6-1 junior, Baum will make her high school basketball debut in the 2025-2026 season after joining the T-Birds. Baum, who has been home schooled, played for the Shawnee Heights volleyball team this fall and has extensive experience in club basketball, receiving interest from college recruiters.
Nora Burdiek, Rossville
NORA BURDIEK, Rossville
Burdiek, a 6-0 junior forward, missed 11 games of the 2024-2025 season with an injury, but still earned All-Shawnee County honorable mention and was a third-team All-Class 2A and All-Big-East League honoree after averaging 16.5 points and 12 rebounds for 10-12 Rossville. Burdiek was a first-team All-Shawnee County and 2A All-State pick in volleyball, helping lead the Bulldawgs to the state tournament.
Pearmella Carter, Shawnee Heights
PEARMELLA CARTER, Shawnee Heights
A 5-10 junior, Carter starred at Highland Park the past two seasons before transferring to Shawnee Heights for the 2025-2026 season. Carter was a Second 10 All-Shawnee County selection for the Scots last winter after averaging 19.7 points, 9.6 rebounds, 3.7 steals and 2.1 assists and shooting 50 percent from 2-point field goal range while connecting on 14 3-pointers.
Hailey Caryl, Topeka High
HAILEY CARYL, Topeka High
Caryl, a 5-10 sophomore, received All-Shawnee County Second 10 honors as a freshman after helping Topeka High post a 14-8 record and a nine-win improvement over the 2023-2024 season. Caryl averaged 10.5 points and 8.4 rebounds as a freshman while shooting 58 percent on 2-point field attempts and averaging 2.0 assists and 1.6 steals. Caryl is also a tennis and soccer standout for the Trojans.
KARYS DEITER, Silver Lake
A 5-7 sophomore guard, Deiter earned All-Shawnee County Second 10 recognition for the 23-3 Eagles as a freshman starter, averaging 12.5 points and 4.7 rebounds as Silver Lake overcame big graduation losses from its 2024 Class 3A state championship team to post a runnerup state finish. Deiter was a first-team all-county pick in volleyball this fall after the Eagles won the state title with a 46-1 record, including 37 straight wins to end the season.
Rylee Dick, Rossville
RYLEE DICK, Rossville
A 5-6 senior guard, Dick was a first-team All-2A and All-Big East League pick last season and was an All-Shawnee County second-team selection after averaging 20.4 points with 68 made 3-pointers and 89-percent shooting from the free throw line for the 10-12 Bulldawgs while eclipsing the 1,000-point mark for her career. Dick, who has received all-league, all-county and All-2A recognition three straight seasons, has signed a letter of intent with Division II Rockhurst.
KK Emmot, Shawnee Heights
KK EMMOT, Shawnee Heights
Emmot, a 5-8 junior, moved up to the All-Shawnee County Top 10 last season after earning second-team honors as a freshman. Emmot, who led the T-Birds to a 14-8 record, also earned first-team All-United Kansas Conference honors this past season after averaging 17.1 points, 4.8 rebounds, 2.3 steals and 3.2 assists while connecting on 46 3-pointers.
Maddie Gragg, Seaman
MADDIE GRAGG, Seaman
A 5-10 senior, Gragg was an All-Shawnee County Top 10 selection for the third straight season after helping lead Seaman to a 24-1 record and a runnerup finish in Class 5A. Gragg, also a three-time All-United Kansas Conference first-team pick, averaged 13.3 points, 4.3 rebounds and 2.4 assists while shooting 57 percent on two-point field goal attempts and shooting 83 percent from the free throw line while hitting 39 3-pointers.
Kailyn Hanni, Silver Lake
KAILYN HANNI, Silver Lake
Hanni, a 5-7 senior guard, led Silver Lake to a 23-3 record and a runnerup finish in the Class 3A state tournament this past season after helping the Eagles post a perfect 26-0 record en route to the 3A state championship in 2024. Hanni was a repeat All-Shawnee County Top 10 selection as well as a repeat first-team all-league pick. A Fort Hays State basketball signee, Hanni is a multi-sport standout, earning first-team all-county honors in golf this fall.
