Washburn University Athletics

TOEPKA, Kan. ---- The Washburn volleyball team rolled past Pittsburg State Friday evening in three sets each by the score of 25-17. As a result, the 13^th-ranked Ichabods improved to 25-5 on the season, 16-2 in conference play and stretched their consecutive win streak to five matches.
 
Washburn picked up the win behind an efficient attack as it posted back-to-back hitting marks over .400 including a match-best .444 in the third set. The Ichabods finished the evening with a team hitting percentage of .369 compared to PSU's .131.
 
Sarah Vicory paced all players with an astounding .706 hitting percentage as she tallied 12 kills on 17 swings. Kelsey Barrick finished with 11 kills while Taylor Selk and Makayla Maxwell followed with eight and six respectively. Maxwell also had a team-best five blocks, while Natalie Bates and Shayla Conner each had 18 assists. With a match-high 12 digs, Alyssa Carney surpassed 1,700 career dig milestone.
 
In the first set, Washburn bolted out to an 8-3 lead with four points coming off Gorilla errors during the run.  The Ichabods remained tough as they pushed the score 13-5. Scoring five the next six points, Pittsburg State sliced the lead to 14-10. Back-to-back kills from Barrick helped Washburn open a nine-point margin as it led 21-12. The Gorillas then posted five the next seven to creep within six, but the effort was not enough as WU slammed the door to win the set and take a 1-0 match lead.
 
Behind a 5-0 run PSU grabbed a 7-5 lead early in the second set. WU then responded with four unanswered to move out front 9-7. After jostling to a 15-13 WU advantage, the Ichabods rattled off four straight and made it 19-13. Despite earning four of the next seven points the Gorillas continued to trail 22-17, until registered the final three points.
 
Tussling to a 6-6 tie to start the third, Washburn pulled ahead 11-6 behind back-to-back kills from Leanna Willer. Leading 17-11, the Ichabods saw its margin shrink to four as PSU as a 3-1 spurt by PSU made it 18-14. A late rally by the Gorillas however developed as Washburn closed out the set and match as it accounted for seven of the finals 10 points.
 
Washburn returns to Lee Arena on Saturday for its regular season finale when it takes on nationally-ranked Central Oklahoma at 6:30 p.m. Prior to the match, the Ichabods will celebrate the careers of their five seniors.