TOPEKA, Kan. — The postseason run continues for No. 10 Washburn volleyball after swatted rival Emporia State in the straight set during the quarterfinal round of the MIAA Championship on Tuesday at Lee Arena. With three Ichabods notching eight or more kills, as they dominated the Hornets in their 25-14, 25-16, 25-21 victory.
After a quiet few matches, Allison Maxwell was in form Tuesday evening blitzing the I-335 rival for 13 kills on 28 attempts for .250 hitting. Genna Berg and Erica Montgomery each followed with eight kills apiece. Berg had hit .219 on 32 swings, while Montgomery hit .300 with 20 attempts.
Shayla Conner dished out 33 assists with a pair of aces while adding 12 digs for her 21st double-double of the season.
The Washburn defense was solid all night as Faith Rottinghaus held down the back line, tying a match-high with 15 assists. Makayla and Allison Maxwell shared the match-high as each posted five blocks.
Collectively, Washburn dominated the stat sheet out hitting Emporia State, .245 to .088, while also holding a 9-3 advantage in blocking and pacing the Hornets from the service with an 8-3 margin in aces.
The match opened in nip-and-tuck fashion with five ties and a pair of lead changes before the Washburn attack exploded for a season-high 13-straight points after trailing 7-4. During the onslaught, Makayla and Allison Maxwell combined for five kills and two assisted blocks, with Shayla Conner registering a pair of aces and Montgomery chipping in with a kill. From there it was all Washburn as it maintained a healthy advantage or no less than seven en route to a 25-14 decision and 1-0 lead.
Following a 13-kill set that saw Washburn hit a solid .250, the attack upped the ante in the second with 16 kills and very efficient .389 hitting.
The Hornets notched the opening the point of the second before Berg shouldered a 5-0 run with three aces and a kill. Leading 5-1, the Ichabods quickly extended their margin to double-digits behind a 9-3 exchange. Allison Maxwell paced the run with three points all by way of kills with Berg, Montgomery and Makayla Maxwell contributing a points each, pushing the score to 14-4. Emporia State again trimmed the difference to single-figures but unable get any closer than a seven-point margin, never threatened the Ichabod advantage as they took a 2-0 set lead.
While the Ichabod attack dipped to a .130 hitting in the third, the defense stepped up and held a block party notching five blocks. Kelsey Gordon and Allison Maxwell were the masters of ceremony registering three each, including a pair of assisted denials to give WU a 2-1 lead early, before Gordon tallied a solo.
From this the Ichabods continue to roll as they pushed out to a 9-3 lead. Leading 15-10, the Washburn advantage was finally threatened as ESU began to buzz as the attack put together a 5-0 run tying the frame at 15. A pair of kills from Gordon helped fuel a 4-1 Ichabod run as and provide some breathing room. The Hornets though continued to lingered staying with a one to two-point window, though ended their chances of a rally with three-consecutive errors.
Washburn's MIAA postseason journey continues Friday, Nov. 9 as the Ichabods face third-seeded Central Oklahoma in the semifinal round as the tournament shifts location to Nebraska-Kearney as the Lopers will play host for the final two rounds. Match times have yet to be announced.
