ROLLA, MO. --- The Washburn volleyball team moved to 4-2 on the season as it split day one of the Missouri S&T Middle of Everywhere Classic as it swept William Jewell before succumbing to the same fate against Upper Iowa. The Ichabods will return to action 12pm Saturday as they face Ohio Dominican.
 
#18 Washburn 3, William Jewell 0
The Ichabods controlled the match early in often including a 4-1 run to open. William Jewell then snagged an 8-7 advantage behind a 7-3 swing. The momentum was however short-lived for the Cardinals as Washburn registered off seven of the next nine points to claim a 14-10 lead before closing out the frame 25-19.
 
During the set, Washburn outhit WJC .239 to .174. Freshman Allison Maxwell recorded four kills while setter Shayla Conner had two and 10 assists.
 
In the second set, WU jumped out front 5-2. The Ichabods pushed the margin to 15-9 until William Jewell accounted for six of the next seven trimming the WU advantage to 16-15. Unable to shake WJC, the Ichabods saw their lead evaporate as the Cardinals used back-to-back kills tying the set at 21. Washburn pulled head shortly after en route to winning the set 25-22 as consecutive WJC errors nudged the Ichabods in front before a Kelsey Gordon capped the set.
 
Makayla Maxwell and Gordon combined for six of Washburn's 12 kills during the set while posting a .212 hitting percentage.
 
William Jewell claimed a 5-2 lead to begin the third set before three-straight kills from Makayla Maxwell saw Washburn tie the frame at 5-5. The Ichabods then tallied eight of the next 12 points taking a 12-9 lead. WJC swooped back with five straight to regain the lead at 14-12. The Ichabods mimicked the Cardinals and strung five unanswered of their own to lead 17-14 and never looked back. Washburn secured the match victory with a 25-20 set win.
 
Erica Montgomery had six kills in the third set en route to finishing with nine for the match. Makayla Maxwell followed with eight overall, while Allison Maxwell finished with six. Shayla Conner posted her third double-double of the season as she registered 28 assists and 14 digs. Faith Rottinghaus finished with a match-best 21 digs. Carley Swan also had a match-best with three blocks.
 
Washburn outhit WJC, .236 to .158 while also controlling digs (70-59) and service ace (4-1) categories.
 
Upper Iowa 3, #18 Washburn 0
The Ichabods began their second match of the day where they left by taking an early 4-1 lead. Upper Iowa immediately struck back by tallying five of the next six points to garner its first lead of evening, 6-5. Possession then see-sawed as each side either traded point-for-point or enjoyed small spurts. Trailing 18-16, Washburn used a pair of kills from Erica Montgomery to knot the set at 18. The Peacocks then strung together four straight points to snatch a 22-18 advantage before taking the set 25-22.
 
In the second, Washburn again led early first 3-0 before pushing to 6-3. Four unanswered midway through the set gave the Ichabods their largest margin at 14-8. Upper Iowa chipped away with small spurts before drawing level late in the frame at 20-20. Possession again went back-and-forth as scoring opportunities flip-flopped. UIU then took a 24-23 lead but Washburn evaded the set point tying it at 24. This sequence occurred twice more as the Ichabods eluded set points while trailing 25-24 and 26-25 though a fourth time was not in the cards their dropped the frame 28-26.
 
Upper Iowa controlled the third set as it began on a 3-0 run, though brief as Washburn recorded four unanswered including a pair of service aces from Montgomery. The Ichabods pushed the score to 17-16 but did so by maintaining a narrow margin. A four-point swing for Upper Iowa saw the gap disappear as it overtook the lead at 20-17. Washburn nipped at UIU's heels as it got within one at 23-22 but it was not the Peacock picked up the final two points.
 
Washburn collectively had more service aces in the match, 8-4, while also edging out UIU in blocks, 5-4, and digs, 61-60. Upper Iowa however outhit the Ichabods, .315 to .238 and posted above .300 hitting percentages during the second and third set.
 
Individually, Shayla Conner finished registered her second double-double of the day as she finished with 25 assists and 17 digs. Erica Montgomery followed suit as with a team-best 14 kills and 14 digs while also drawing up five aces.