TOPEKA, Kan. --- The No. 7 Washburn volleyball team were on the wrong end of a three-set match on Saturday evening, falling to No. 17 Central Missouri, 22-25, 22-25, 24-26. With the result, the Ichabods dropped their second match of the year, slipping to 26-2 overall and 14-2 in MIAA play. 

Despite the scoreline, the match was relatively nip-and-tuck as Washburn and UCM (21-6, 11-4 MIAA) combined for 31 ties and 18 lead changes. 

The opening set was the most back-and-forth, featuring 19 ties and eight lead changes with neither side holding a lead a greater than two until UCM notched the final point, winning the frame, 25-22.

In the second, Washburn strung together an early 5-1 run to claim a 6-3 lead, with Erica Montgomery contributing with a trio of kills. She finished the night with a match-high 15. Leading 8-6, Washburn saw its margin disappear behind a 4-0 run from the Jennies. Trailing 20-15, Washburn began to rally with consecutive kills from Kelsey Gordon, Montgomery and Shayla Conner in addition to a UCM attack to trim the deficit to one. That however was the closest they would get as the Ichabod effort fell short with UCM taking the stanza, 25-22.

Trailing, 9-6 after a Jennies 4-0 run, the Ichabods responded with their longest run of the night, as they strung together seven-straight points to roar back and claim a 13-6 lead. During the stretch, Makayla Maxwell registered two of her six kills of the night, while Montgomery added also had a pair to her total. With WU leading 16-13, UCM used a 4-0 run of its own to pull out to a slim 17-16 advantage. Washburn then regain the lead behind a quartet of UCM attack errors plus a kill from Genna Berg as it piece together a 5-1 run to lead 21-18. 

Another run of five straight for the Jennies pushed them out front late at 23-21. Back-to-back UCM attack errors allowed the Ichabdos to pull even at 23, before an ace from Berg position them with set point. The Washburn effort was however not enough as UCM closed the match on 3-0 run.

Collectively, Washburn was out hit by the Jennies, .232 to .160, as it commited 19 attack errors. The Ichabods were also edged out in aces, 4-3, and kills, 49-40, while claiming a narrow 66-61 advantage in digs. Faith Rottinghaus has a match-best 21 digs. 

Washburn will conclude its four-match home stand next week with it plays host to Central Oklahoma on Friday, before welcoming to Pittsburg State to Lee Arena for the regular season finale.