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BIG RAPIDS, Mich. -- The Ichabods won their 16th straight season opener and stretched it to two straight wins for the 13th straight year as they opened the season at the Ferris State Bulldog Invitational. Washburn beat Cedarville 25-17, 25-14, 25-18 and then defeated Ashland 25-18, 25-11, 22-25, 25-18.

The seventh-ranked Ichabods will continue action Saturday at 8:30 a.m. Central against California (Pa.) and then at 1:30 p.m. against Ferris State.

Marissa Cox had 15 kills against Ashland with no errors in 22 attempts to hit .682, the fourth highest attack percentage in school history. She then added 11 kills against Cedarville.

The opening set against Cedarville remained close until Washburn went on a 5-0 run to take a 20-12 lead. Korie Thompson had an ace on the second point of the streak and then Washburn scored on three straight Yellow Jacket attack errors. Three straight Washburn points later closed the set with redshirt freshman Callie Lowry getting an ace on the final point.

The Ichabods trailed 11-10 in the second set after a five-point Cedarville run then scored 15 of the final 18 points to get the win. Cox had four of Washburn's final six points off kills.

Washburn trailed early in the third set but used an 8-1 run to take the lead for good.

Abby Wittman led Washburn with 26 assists and Thompson and Kelsey Lewis each had eight digs. Thompson led with four blocks for Washburn.

Complete statistics for the Ashland match were not yet available but true freshmen Leanna Willer and Sarah Vicory joined Cox with double-digit kills. Willer led Washburn with 15, Vicory had 10 and Cox had 11. Vicory blocked seven Ashland attempts.

Wittman led Washburn with 15 digs while Willer had five service aces.