TOPEKA, Kan. ---- The Washburn University volleyball team picked up its ninth sweep of the season on Friday evening as it blanked Southwest Baptist for a 3-0 victory. As a result, the Ichabods improved to 13-7 overall and climbed to .500 in MIAA action as they pushed their conference record to 4-4.
Genna Berg led the Washburn offense as she finished with a match-best eight kills.
Taylor Selk followed with seven, while
Erica Montgomery had six as eight Ichabods in total found themselves on the scoresheet. Â
Makayla Maxwell tied a career-high as she accounted for three of Washburn's five service aces.
Allison Sadler distributed a match-best 20 assists, while
Mariah Grunert chipped in with eight.
The Ichabod offense was efficient as it put away 37 kills on 87 attempts and just 11 attack errors to finish with a .299 hitting percentage.
Faith Rottinghaus had a match-best 10 digs, while
Olivia Powell,
Makayla Maxwell and Berg finished five apiece as Washburn edged SBU in digs, 49-47. Maxwell had a match-best eight blocks.Â
As a result of the Ichabod defense, Southwest Baptist was limited to 19 kills for the match. Bearcat hitters committed 28 attack errors on 102 swings and were held negative hitting percentages in each of the first two sets before finishing at -.088 for the match.Â
Washburn took sound control of the opening set with as it rolled out to a 12-3 lead before securing the 1-0 match advantage with a 25-9 victory thanks in part to hitting .500 for the first set.
SBU took a suprising 7-3 lead early in the second set. Trailing 15-10, Washburn went 7-2 run to level the frame at 17 before rattling off eight unanswered to the set, 25-17.
The Ichabods following up their .143 hitting percentage in the second with a .333 mark in the third as they cruised out to a 7-1 to open the set before a kill from Berg doubled the their advantage to 14-7 en route to a 25-12 set win.
Washburn will conclude its six-match home stand on Saturday when it welcomes Missouri Southern to Lee Arena. The match is slated for a 2 p.m. start.
