ST. JOESPH, Mo. --- Offensive struggles doomed Washburn volleyball as it hit .160, registering 52 kills on 169 attempts with 25 errors in a 3-1 loss Saturday to Missouri Western. As result of the overcome, the Ichabods' record slipped to 15-9 overall and 5-6 in conference action.
After dropping the opening set, 25-17, the Ichabods stormed out to a 5-1 lead in the second. The advantage however was short-lived as the Griffons overtook the lead with 9-3 run to make it 10-8.
Washburn eventually reclaimed the lead thanks in part to a 7-2 run. During the stretch,
Genna Berg accounted for three of the Ichabods' seven points. Down the stretch, Washburn led 19-17 before MWSU chipped in five of the next six points to move out front, 22-20.
Berg and
Taylor Selk helped Washburn regain a lead at 23-22 before an assisted block from
Erica Montgomery and
Allison Maxwell secured a 25-23 win, knotting the match at 1-1.
A 3-0 lead for Washburn to start the third was dashed away as Missouri Western sprinted past with a 7-1 run and never looked back. The Ichabods reduced the deficit to two midway through as
Makayla Maxwell kill made it 17-15 before another spurt from the Griffons pushed them to 20-17 before taking a 2-1 match lead by winning the third, 25-18.
Tic-tac scoring to open the fourth saw the Ichabods eventually claim a narrow 6-4 lead behind consecutive kills from
Makayla Maxwell. The Griffons however responded with a 5-2 run en route to taking a 10-8 lead pushing the score to 16-9. Trailing 22-13 late, Washburn cut into the MWSU advantage beginning with a 3-1 spurt. After MWSU made it 24-16, took a deeper cut in the margin with a 5-0 run narrowing the deficit to 24-21. Hope of forcing a fifth set however quickly evaporated as the Griffon attack registered the match's final kill to win the set 25-21.
Washburn was held to sub-.100 during the final two sets as it hit a combined .092. MWSU hit .248 for match with 59 kills, 20 errors on 157 attempts.
Taylor Selk paced the Washburn offense with a team-best 14 kills while
Allison Maxwell and
Genna Berg followed with 12 and 10 respectively.
Allison Sadler finished with 45 assists and 11 digs. Maxwell led the defense with six blocks while
Faith Rottinghaus had a team-high 22 digs.
Washburn returns to Lee Arena on Tuesday as it hosts its annual ThinkPink Breast Cancer Awareness game when Emporia State comes to town.
