TOPEKA, Kan. --- Attack woes hampered the Washburn Ichabod volleyball team on Friday night as it fell, 3-1, to No. 19 Central Missouri in Warrensburg, Mo. With the result the Ichabods slipped 17-11 on the season and 7-8 in league play.
Washburn hit for a match-best .432 in the first set before subsequently held to .142 hitting in the second with sub-.100 during the final two sets. Collectively, the Ichabods hit .168 for the match with 49 kills and 25 errors on 143 swings.
The Jennies (21-7, 11-4 MIAA) meanwhile were recorded 57 kills on 160 attempts with 21 errors as they hit .225 for the match. The Washburn defense managed to hold UCM to a .102 hitting mark in the second, its lowest for the match.
Falling behind early in opener, Washburn overcame a 6-3 deficit as consecutive kills from
Genna Berg sparked a 5-2 run giving it a 9-8 lead. UCM tried to quickly retake the lead as it forced ties at 9-9 and 10-10 but the effort fell short as the Ichabods used a 3-0 and 4-0 spurt to build a 19-13 advantage. The Jennies narrowed the margin to three late, 23-20, but the effort was not enough as Berg tallied the final two points to secure the first set for the Ichabods.
After a brief tussle to begin the second set Washburn, registered three unanswered to take a 10-7 lead with
Makayla Maxwell contributing a pair of kills. Central Missouri then took over the set with a 10-3 run giving itself to a 17-13 lead an never looked back en route to tying the match with a 25-22 set win.
The Ichabod struggles continued early into the third as UCM led 10-4 before pushing the score to 15-7. A Central Missouri error then sparked a 9-3 run for the Ichabods allowing them to cut the deficit to 18-16 down the stretch. Hopes of a Washburn rally however were quickly dashed as UCM closed the set with a 7-1 run.
Washburn jumped out a 5-2 advantage to start the fourth. Central Missouri overtook the Ichabods with an 8-2 run. In spite of their efforts, Washburn was quickly kept at arm's length as the Jennies pulled away en route to taking the set, 25-19.
Berg led the Ichabod offense as she tied a match-high with 14 kills.
Allison Maxwell followed with 10 kills while
Makayla Maxwell finished with eight. Berg also added a pair of aces, while the Maxwells combined for seven blocks.
Allison Sadler and
Shayla Conner shared setting duties and finished with 24 and 19 assists respectively.
Olivia Powell posted a career-best 22 digs.
Washburn returns to action tomorrow after as it takes on Lindenwood at 3 p.m. from Hyland Arena in St. Charles, Mo.
