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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Washburn University soccer coach Davy Phillips puts a talented starting lineup on the field every time the Ichabods take the field.
But the talent doesn't stop there, and Phillips credits the Ichabods' depth for being a big factor in the Ichabods' 11-2-4 start, including a league-leading 8-0-3 MIAA record and 13-match unbeaten streak, entering Wednesday's 6 p.m. regular-season finale against Emporia State in Yager Stadium.
Junior Kylie Hinrichs (19) scored her first career goal, the game-winner, in Washburn's recent 2-1 soccer win over Fort Hays State. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Washburn sophomore Sam Searcey has five goals and three assists on the season for the MIAA-leading Ichabods, [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
"The strength is in the collective in this group, truly,'' Phillips said. "We've said it for a couple of years, but I just feel like we got deeper this year. Our depth is definitely a strength of ours.''
Washburn players who primarily come off the bench have accounted for nine of the Ichabods' 28 goals on the season while providing six of the team's 13 assists.
Washburn freshman Bricelyn Betts is mobbed by her teammates after scoring a goal in the Ichabods' 2-1 MIAA win over Fort Hays State. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Sophomore Sam Searcey (Lincoln, Neb.), who has come off the bench in 13 of 17 games, ranks second on the team with five goals and has also contributed a team-leading three assists, while freshman Jules Wardlaw (Olathe West) has a pair of goals, freshman Bricelyn Betts (Raymore, Mo.) has a goal and two assists and junior Kylie Hinrichs (Elkhorn, Neb.) has one goal, a game-winner, for the Ichabods.
"There's zero dropoff and it makes for really hard conversations as a coach explaining to players how fine that line is and why certain players get to start versus not, but if you can get past that and just concentrate on the strength it gives our team being that deep at every position, it's an incredible strength for us,'' Phillips said.
A perfect example of that bench strength was on display in Washburn's most recent home game, a 2-1 win over Fort Hays State, as Betts and Hinrichs both recorded their first career goals while Searcey provided the assist on both goals.
"It's kind of crazy how we have such a good second lineup that it's almost like you barely see a dropoff when we go in, which is really unique at this level,'' Hinrichs said.
Betts said the key for the players coming off the bench is to provide energy and a spark when possible.
"It's just like there'a already momentum going and we just want to keep it going,'' Betts said. "Energy coming out and making a difference is definitely what we really strive to do and something that Davy emphasizes really heavily.''
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Washburn Rural soccer took care of business Monday night at McElroy Field, rolling to the Class 6A state semifinals with a 5-1 quarterfinal romp past Garden City.
Washburn Rural's soccer team celebrates Monday's 5-1 Class 6A quarterfinal win over Garden City at McElroy Field. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Now the 17-1-1 Junior Blues will get the opportunity to avenge their lone loss of the season in Wednesday's 6 p.m. state semifinal on the road against Blue Valley West, which rallied from a 2-0 halftime deficit to take a 3-2 double-overtime early-season victory over Washburn Rural.
Needless to say, the Junior Blues are looking forward to the challenge ahead.
"We're glad to get the win (tonight) and know that we're playing two more times,'' Washburn Rural coach Brian Hensyel said. "We'll be ready Wednesday. This team has been playing great for quite sometime, we've been scoring goals and we feel really confident in our chances.''
Hensyel said the earlier loss to Blue Valley West (17-2), which advanced to the semifinals with a 2-0 quarterfinal win over Blue Valley, provided a wakeup call for the Junior Blues.
"It was probably the turning point,'' Hensyel said. "It was just the third game and I think we thought we were going to be really good and that first half we were really good and dominated the game and then just gave it away.
"Blue Valley West is a good team obviously and one of the best teams in Kansas City and we felt like on that night we just handed them a win in the second half. I think we've gotten a lot better since then and we had a feeling we were going to see them again because they're a really good team, so (Wednesday) will be fun.''
Washburn Rural senior Draden Chooncharoen (23) had a goal and an assist in Monday's 5-1 Class 6A quarterfinal win over Garden City. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Rural never trailed in Monday's quarterfinal after senior Draden Chooncharoen scored at the 25:35 mark of the first half.
"(Hensyel) always talks about getting out early, the first 15 minutes you've got to have a goal, so getting that first goal and having energy and making them play from behind that gave us a good starter for the game,'' said Chooncharoen, who also had an assist in the win.
Junior Myles Didde scored Monday's second goal in Washburn Rural's 5-1 Class 6A quarterfinal win over Garden City. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Junior Myles Didde made it a 2-0 game just over five minutes later and an own goal at the 12:20 mark put Washburn Rural in command 3-0 at the half.
Senior Dylan Willingham, Washburn Rural's single-season and career scoring record-holder, scored two goals on penalty kicks in Monday's 5-1 Class 6A state quarterfinal win over Garden City at McElroy Field. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Garden City (15-3-1) got on the scoreboard 6:44 into the second half on a goal from junior Saul Ortega, but Washburn Rural star Dylan Willingham converted penalty kicks with 12:40 and 3:50 remaining to account for the final margin.
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Eight Shawnee County standouts from Class 3A state champion Silver Lake, 4A runnerup Hayden and 2A participant Rossville have earned All-State Tournament recognition from the Kansas Volleyball Association.
Kylie Hanni, Silver Lake [Photo by Scott Paske/KSHSAA Covered]
Jaylie Whitehead, Silver Lake [Photo by Jesse Bruner /Special to TSN]
Jaiden Wise, Silver Lake [Photo by Jesse Bruner/Special to TSN]
Silver Lake, which completed a 46-1 season with the 10th state volleyball championship in school history Saturday at the Hutchinson Sports Arena, is represented on the All-3A state tourney team by 5-foot-3 junior setter Kylie Hanni, 5-5 junior libero Jaylie Whitehead and 5-8 senior outside hitter Jaiden Wise.
Ella Foster, Hayden [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Hailey Schmidtlein, Hayden [Photo by Scott Paske/KSHSAA Covered]
Mallory Tanking, Hayden [Photo by Scott Paske/KSHSAA Covered]
Blakely Walter, Hayden [File photo/TSN]
Hayden, 33-10 after a three-set loss to Andale in the championship match at Hutchinson, is represented on the All-4A state tournament team by 5-4 senior libero Ella Foster, 5-11 sophomore rightside hitter/middle blocker Hailey Schmidtlein, 6-0 junior outside/rightside hitter Mallory Tanking and 5-9 sophomore setter Blakely Walter.
Schmidtlein and Walter earned all-state tournament honors for the second straight season.
Nora Burdiek, Rossville [Photo by Jesse Bruner/Special to TSN]]
Rossville 5-11 junior outside hitter Nora Burdiek was named to the 2A all-state tournament team after leading the Bulldawgs to a 1-2 record in pool play at Dodge City.
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Class 3A state champion Silver Lake and 2A state qualifier Rossville combined for three first-team spots on the All-Big East League volleyball team, selected by league coaches.
Kylie Hanni, Silver Lake [Photo by Scott Paske/KSHSAA Covered]
Jaylie Whitehead, Silver Lake [Photo by Jesse Bruner/Special to TSN]
Nora Burdiek, Rossville [Photo by Jesse Bruner/Special to TSN]
Silver Lake is represented on the all-league first team by junior setter Kylie Hanni and junior libero Jaylie Whitehead while Rossville put junior outside hitter Nora Burdiek on the first team.
Silver Lake senior outside hitter Jaiden Wise and Rossville freshman setter Kenna Perine were named to the all-league second team and Lake senior middle hitter Paige Heiman and Rossville junior libero Ady Henry were third-team picks.
Silver Lake sophomore Karys Deiter received all-league honorable mention.
ALL-BIG EAST LEAGUE VOLLEYBALL
First team
Nora Burdiek, jr. OH, Rossville; Kylie Hanni, jr. S, Silver Lake; Jaylie Whitehead, jr. L, Silver Lake; Kiwe Miller, so. OH, Royal Valley; Addison Schwinn, sr. MH, Jefferson West; Macie Corcoran, jr. OH, Perry-Lecompton.
Second team
Jaiden Wise, sr. OH, Silver Lake; Khloe Black, so. OH, Holton; Macy Holthaus, so. OH, Nemaha Central; Harriet Dean, jr. S, Jefferson West; Audrey Holle, so. OH, Riley County; Kenna Perine, fr. S, Rossville.
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Seaman, Shawnee Heights and Topeka West all put a player on the All-United Kansas Conference volleyball first team while Seaman senior Kinsley Smith was named the conference defensive player of the year.
Kinsley Smith, Seaman
Smith also earned a spot on the eight-member All-UKC first team along with Shawnee Heights senior Avery Willey and Topeka West junior Sydney Van Dyke.
Avery Willey, Shawnee Heights
Sydney Van Dyke, Topeka West
Shawnee Heights senior Brooke McCabe was named to the All-UKC second team while Seaman senior Addison Sibley, Shawnee Heights junior Clara Morgan and senior Jaidyn Euwer andTopeka West senior Breonnah Keeling and sophomore Kendall Munoz received honorable mention.
Lansing senior Avery Sands was named the UKC offensive player of the year while De Soto senior Kylie Groves was named the setter of the year and Lansing's Whitney Pakenham was voted coach of the year.
ALL-UNITED KANSAS CONFERENCE VOLLEYBALL
