DULUTH, Minn. – The Ichabods led by as much as five in the first two sets then were up 16-15 in the third set but seven-time defending national champion Concordia-St. Paul came back each time to sweep Washburn, 25-22, 28-26, 25-21.
The seventh-seeded Ichabods ended their season at 24-7 while No. 2 Concordia improved to 27-5 and will play No. 3 Southwest Minnesota State Friday in the semifinal. Top-seeded Minnesota Duluth is hosting the eight-team NCAA Central Region tournament.
Leanna Willer had her second straight double-double with team highs of 12 kills and 13 digs.
Marissa Cox had 10 kills and
Sarah Vicory added seven kills and a game-high .375 attack percentage.
Taylor Selk added seven kills.
Natalie Bates set 36 assists and
Alyssa Carney tied Willer with 13 digs.
The Ichabods led 9-4 early in the first set and then 14-8 for a six-point lead. The Golden Bears answered with a 6-1 run to get within a point. They later tied the set at 18-18 and, after a Willer kill, went on a 5-0 run to pull away with a 23-19 lead.
The Ichabods once again controlled the first half in the second set and were up 14-9 after a block from Vicory and Selk. The Golden Bears slowly chipped at Washburn's lead and had the match tied at 20-20. The Ichabods then scored three straight to go up 23-20. CU then scored two straight but Washburn got to set point and had a chance to tie the match after a kill from Willer. Concordia scored three straight after that to take away the advantage and later won 28-26.
Concordia kept momentum in the third set and led 11-5 after an early 6-0 run. Washburn later responded with seven straight points to go up 14-13. CU then scored six of the next eight points and then a 3-0 run gave the Bears a 23-18 lead. Willer answered with a kill and then she served two straight Washburn points to get her team within two but CU scored two straight after that to clinch the match.
Riley Hanson led CU with 20 points and a .471 attack percentage. Anna Schlaak had 13 kills and nine digs. The Bears led Washburn in blocks, 9-7 and hit .264 while Washburn hit .215 as a team.
Mattie-Ann Swenson led Washburn with four blocks and Cox added three. She ended her career 15th total blocks with 327 and 11th with 1,254 kills. Her .318 attack percentage is the sixth best in school history. Vicory ended her second season with Washburn with a .333 attack percentage, the second best in school history.
