KEARNEY, Neb. --- The Washburn volleyball team dropped its conference opener on Friday with a 3-1 loss to No. 5 Nebraska-Kearney as the Ichabods and Lopers squared off in a AVCA top 25 match-up in Kearney, Neb. As a result, No. 25 Washburn slipped to 9-4 on the season and 0-1 in MIAA action.
 
The Ichabods were led offensively by Erica Montgomery and Allison Sadler as Montgomery recorded a team-best 11 kills with Sadler registered 35 assists. Genna Berg and Allison Maxwell also contributed with seven kills each. Defensively, Maxwell paced the team with five blocks while Berg and Montgomery tallied a pair each. Faith Rottinghaus had a team-high 19 digs with Jade Hodge and Olivia Powell following with 13 and 11 apiece.
 
Washburn trailed the match early as UNK took a 5-3 lead, before it rattled off four unanswered to push ahead, 7-5. The Lopers then forced three ties before a 4-0 run of their own granted them a 14-12 advantage. Washburn eventually tied the frame at 15 thanks to a block from Allison Sadler and Makayla Maxwell. Nebraska-Kearney however responded with a three straight to take an 18-15 lead.
 
Trailing 22-19, Washburn accounted for the next four points and took a slim 23-22 lead late thanks in part to consecutive UNK attack errors. After UNK tied the set at 23, Allison and Makayla Maxwell buried back-to-back kills to secure a 25-23 set victory and gave the Ichabods a 1-0 match lead.
 
Trailing 21-12 in the second set, the Ichabods attempted to steal a 2-0 match lead late as they strung together a 5-0 run cutting the UNK advantage to 21-19. The rally however fell short as the Lopers leveled the match with a 25-17 decision.
 
From there on, the Nebraska-Kearney overwhelmed Washburn as it took the final two sets, 25-13 and 25-11.
 
UNK was led by Tara Ziegelbein's 18 kills and nine blocks.
 
Washburn returns to action tomorrow when it faces Fort Hays State at Gross Memorial Coliseum. The match is slated for a 6:30 p.m. start.