HAYS, Kan. --- For the 15th time this season the Washburn Ichabod volleyball won in straight sets, adding to its total on Friday evening with a 3-0 (25-17, 25-19, 25-16) victory over Fort Hays State at Gross Memorial Coliseum. With the decision, the Ichabods improved to 24-1 on the year and 12-1 in MIAA play while winning the season series.

With only 98 swings on the match, No. 11 Washburn was efficient hitting .296 with 39 and 10 errors, while Fort Hays State was charged with 23 attack errors on 101 swings and 33 kills for .099 hitting. The Ichabods also relied on a strong defensively finishing with an 8-3 advantage in blocking.

Genna Berg and Allison Maxwell paced the attacked, each finishing with 10 kills apiece while Erica Montgomery and Makayla Maxwell chipped in with six each. Shayla Conner distributed 28 assists and dug up 10 attacks for her 18th double-double of the year. Paced by Conner, Washburn finished with 11 Ichabods registering at least a dig. 

Set 1: The Ichabods took the opener, 25-17, out hitting FHSU, .250 to 111. Motngomery and Berg led the charge with four kills each. Back-and-forth early, Washburn used a 3-0 spurt to stake an 8-6 lead. The Tigers continued to linger twice pulling within one. WU then took a 16-12 lead after a trio of FHSU offense miscues. FHSU however quickly recovered as it rattled together four unanswered and drew level at 16. The Ichabods though slammed the door on a rally as it exploded for a 9-1 run.

Set 2: In spite of registering fewer kills, the Washburn attack efficiency climbed to .290 during the middle stanza as the Maxwells combined for six of WU's 11 kills. Another see-saw frame early, the sides battled to six ties during the opening 14 points. Knotted at 7-7, the the Ichabods moved out front on a 4-0 run and never looked back. Leading 12-10, Washburn widen the margin to eight thanks to a 6-0 rally. Fort Hays State responded by trimming the WU advantage to four, but were unable to pull any closer the rest of the way as the Ichabods took the set, 25-19, and a 2-0 match lead.

Set 3: The Washburn attack flourished in the finale hitting a match-best .370 with 13 kills on 27 swings with three errors. Berg and Allison Maxwell dig the majority of the heavy lifting tallying five kills apiece in the frame. Behind a 6-0 run the Ichabods jumped out to a 7-2 lead early with a trio of kills from Allison Maxwell. Leading 9-5, Berg added to the WU cause as she shouldered a 3-0 spurt. FHSU trimmed the margin to 17-13, though the margin quickly swelled to double-figures as Washburn pieced together a 6-0 run, taking a 23-13 lead, before completing the sweep with a 25-16 decision.

Up next: No. 11 Washburn will close its road schedule tomorrow at No. 2 Nebraska-Kearney. The Ichabods and Lopers are both tied atop the MIAA standings at 12-1. First serve is slated for 6 pm.