Box Score | Season Stats | Photos
TOPEKA, Kan. -- The sixth-ranked Lady Blues outlasted seventh-ranked Central Missouri 3-2 (21-25, 25-16, 25-17, 22-25, 15-13) in a slugfest on Friday night at Lee Arena. Central Missouri entered the game as the No. 1 ranked team in the South Central Region, while the Lady Blues were ranked No. 2 in the regional poll.
This was the second time this season that Washburn has snapped a Central Missouri winning streak. In the Lady Blues' victory at UCM it snapped the Jennies 15-match home court winning streak. Tonight's win snapped the Jennies' 14-match winning streak, which started after their loss to Washburn.
Central Missouri (23-4, 13-2 MIAA) pulled ahead early in set one grabbing the lead for good at 5-4. The Jennies stretched their lead to as many as five before finishing off the set 25-21.
Washburn (25-2, 13-2 MIAA) rallied to win set two in convincing fashion. The Lady Blues went ahead 10-9 and extended the lead throughout the set winning 25-16. The third set was back-and-forth in the early going with UCM holding the early lead 10-7. Washburn rallied to tie the set, which had seven ties and four lead changes, at 13-all as part of a 7-0 run which put them in front for good. WU closed out the third set 25-17 and led 2-1.
Central Missouri rallied in the fourth set, out-hitting the Lady Blues .378 to .262 to force a fifth and deciding set. In the fifth set, neither team could gain control early. UCM led 9-7 before a 5-0 by the Lady Blues put them in front for good. The Jens rallied to within a point at 14-13, but a service error gave Washburn the win.
Jessica Fey led Washburn with 15 kills and hit .469 as she had no attacking errors.
Hillary Hughes recorded a double-double with 13 kills and 17 digs.
Mollie Lacy had 11 kills, while
Breanna Lewis added 10.
Amanda Guess and
Abby Wittman each recorded double-doubles. Guess had 29 assists and 10 digs, while Wittman finished with 27 assists and 11 digs.
Molly Smith had a game-high 28 digs to lead the Washburn defense.
Allie Huffman led UCM with a match-high 19 kills. Paula Harris added 15 kills and Bradye Peniston had 11. Julia Bates finished with 57 assists and 10 digs, while Rachel Fister had 22 digs.
Washburn out-hit Central Missouri .259 to .199 as each team finished with 66 kills.
