TOPEKA, Kan. – No. 15 Washburn Volleyball opened its four-game homestand with a 3-0 (25-17, 25-21, 25-23) sweep of MIAA opponent Northwest Missouri State on Friday, Oct. 16 at Lee Arena.
 
Washburn improved to 19-2 on the year and 7-2 in the MIAA, remaining third in the conference standings.  NWMSU (11-7, 4-4 MIAA) is now sixth in the MIAA.
 
Tied at 12-all in the first set, a NWMSU service error and Carley Swan's first service ace of the night provided separation for the Ichabods that lasted the rest of the set.  Leading by one (14-14), Korie Thompson and Sarah Vicory combined for a block that started a 5-1 run for Washburn, making it 20-15.  From there, NWMSU ended the run but gave up three more WU points soon after Washburn stretched its lead to eight (25-17) at set point.
 
WU built a three-point lead early in the first (7-4) and held strong the rest of the way, allowing the Bearcats within one two more times in the match (13-12 and 14-13) but never gave up the lead.  The Ichabods' longest run of the set was just three unanswered (twice), but the largest lead of the set (24-19) came just before Washburn took a 2-0 lead in the match with a 25-21 victory in the second frame.
 
Out of the intermission, Washburn looked poised to roll towards the sweep with a 4-0 run to start, but NWMSU climbed back late to keep things close. Ahead by three (13-10), a kill from Vicory opened a five-point burst for Washburn that pushed the score to 18-10, but down 20-13, the Bearcats rallied with an 8-1 run to tie it at 21 and make things interesting down to the wire.  All square at 23-23, a Bearcat setting error and a Leanna Willer kill ended things, 25-23.
 
Swan hit .417 on the night with five kills, four digs, five block assists and two service aces.  Willer's 12 kills led the team and came with two block assists, while Korie Thompson and Taylor Selk each added eight kills and three block assists.  Sarah Vicory also had three block assists to go with seven kills in the middle.  Swan went over the 100-career blocks mark on the night, needing just five entering the weekend to hit that threshold, while Vicory is now just four blocks away from No. 300 in her career.
 
Setter Liz Powell had a double-double of 35 assists and 12 digs, third on the team in that defensive category behind McKenzie Hartzog (13 digs) and Alyssa Carney (17 digs).
 
Washburn hosts Missouri Western on Saturday, Oct. 17 at 3 p.m.  The Griffons (15-4, 7-1 MIAA) remained one half-game ahead of Washburn in the conference standings after defeating Emporia State, 3-2 (25-22, 23-25, 25-22, 24-26, 15-10) on Friday night.