TOPEKA, Kan. – No. 9 Washburn Volleyball saw its nine-game winning streak snapped on Saturday, Nov. 7 in a 3-0 (25-15, 25-16, 25-23) loss to No. 13 Central Missouri at Lee Arena.
 
Tied at 13 midway through the first set, WU allowed a 6-0 run by the Jennies and couldn't recover, dropping the opening frame, 25-15.
 
A hot start for the Jennies in the second carried them to 25-16 set two win.  WU fell behind, 7-2 early and though WU climbed back to within four (14-10), the early deficit was too much to overcome in a 25-16 set two loss.
 
In the final set, Washburn again fell behind early, 11-6, before clawing back to tie it at 17.  During that stretch, the Ichabods had two runs of four unanswered and ended the burst on a 6-1 rally.  UCM recovered with two straight to put the lead back at two (19-17), but WU hung tough and stayed within striking distance, cutting the lead to one at 21-20 and 22-21.  The Ichabods looked to force a win-by-two situations with two straight points after trailing 24-21, but a kill for the Jennies ended WU's comeback bid, 25-23.
 
Natalie Bates posted a double-double with 12 assists and 12 digs, while Alyssa Carney led the team with 13 digs.  Leanna Willer just missed a double-double, finishing with eight kills and nine digs, second on the team in kills behind Sarah Vicory, who had nine kills to go with four blocks.
 
Liz Powell had 16 assists and Korie Thopmson added nine digs on a night the two of them and fellow senior McKenzie Hartzog were honored prior to the game for Senior Day.
 
WU (26-3, 12-3 MIAA) is now in a three-way tie for second in the conference standings with UCM and Nebraska-Kearney.  Central Oklahoma moves into the lone first place spot with one week remaining the regular season. 
 
Washburn falls to 2-2 on the year in matchups with ranked opponents.
 
The Ichabods close the regular season with two road games next weekend, traveling to Pittsburg, Kan., on Friday, Nov. 13 to take on the Gorillas before the season finale at UCO on Saturday, Nov. 14.