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Season Statistics

JOPLIN, Mo. -- Washburn cruised to easy wins in the first and second sets on the way to a 25-15, 25-19, 25-23 win Friday afternoon against East Central on the first day of the Missouri Southern Invite.

The 13th-ranked Ichabods won their 10th straight match and improved to 17-3. They'll play Arkansas Tech Saturday at 9 a.m. and Southeastern Oklahoma State at 1 p.m. to finish a four-match stand in Joplin.

Freshman Leanna Willer led Washburn once again with 12 kills and she hit .333 with three erros in 27 attempts. Marissa Cox had 11 kills and three blocks. Sarah Vicory led Washburn above the net with five blocks and Natalie Bates led for the first time this year with 17 assists. Kelsey Lewis led the back row with 12 digs.

The Ichabods led 20-16 looking for a sweep in the third set. The Tigers then scored five of the next seven points to get within a point at 22-21. Two straight ECU errors got Washburn to match point but the Tigers scored two more before Vicory put the match away with a kill.

Washburn ended the first set on a 7-1 run and started the second set on a 7-0 run. The Ichabods built the second set lead to 15-3 before the Tigers scored five straight and nine of 12. That run only got them within six points at 18-12 but they closed Washburn's lead to two points with a 5-1 run that made the score 21-19. Cox then got a kill and Sami McHenry served an ace before two straight ECU errors ended the set for Washburn.

Washburn hit .262 as a team while ECU had a .143 attack.Washburn led in blocks, 8-5 and kills, 42-34. The Tigers were led by Hayler Gerken with nine kills.