KEARNEY, Neb. --- For the second time in three seasons, Washburn volleyball will appear in the title bout of the MIAA Championships, after topping third-seeded Central Oklahoma in four sets for a 23-25, 25-18, 25-19, 25-13 victory.

Already the program's all-time leader in coaching victories, Friday's result was also personally special to head coach Chris Herron as he recorded his 500th win at Washburn.

Genna Berg led the attack as she finished with 19 kills. She also registered her 10th double-double performance of the season with added 10 digs. Allison Maxwell and Erica Montgomery also posted double-digit kill efforts with 12 and 11 respectively. Shayla Conner directed the offense with 49 assists.

Faith Rottinghaus anchored the defense with 28 digs while Katie Heeter dug up 15. At the net, Makayla Maxwell had a match-high seven blocks with Allison Maxwell posting six while Kelsey Gordon finished with four. 

The Ichabods (29-3) opened the match with a Conner ace and back-to-back kills from Makayla Maxwell, while Berg buried three more as part of an early 7-3 run. Leading 10-6, the Washburn advantage disappeared as the Bronchos put together a 9-1 rally, pulling out front, 15-11. 

Trailing 20-17, Allison Maxwell fired off three kills a part of a 6-0 run by the Ichabods as they claimed a 23-20 lead late. The WU effort however fell short as Central Oklahoma took the opener as it closed on a 5-0 run.

In the second, Washburn fell behind early, 6-2, before Berg shouldered a 5-0 run with three-straight kills for a narrow one-point margin. UCO immediately tied it at seven but that was the closest it got as Berg responded with a kill and ace to push the Ichabods out front 9-7. 

Back-to-back points by UCO drew it within one, but it was short-lived as Montgomery and Makayla Maxwell contributed with consecutive kills making it 13-10.  

Leading 18-17, Washburn surged late with a 7-1 run, tying the match at one-set apeice. The run was sparked with a kill from Gordon before being fueled with Alaina Dunlavy scoring an ace while the Maxwells had two kills each.

Tied at 7-7 after anip-and-tuck to start the third, Washburn broke the dead lock witha 5-1 run. A UCO timeout did little to slow the Ichabod effort as it forged ahead with a 4-1 exchange pushing the advantage to 16-11.

Central Oklahoma trimmed the Washburn advantage to 20-18 late behind a 4-1 run of its own. The rally however stalled out as Washburn closed with a 5-1 run with help from Montgomery who registered a pair of kills and an assisted block to finalize the 25-19 decision.

A back-and-forth exchange began the fourth before Washburn strung together a 5-1 rally, moving out front 7-4. From there it was an all out assault as the Ichabod attacked blitzed the Bronchos with a 12-1 run, including five points from Allison Maxwell. 

A late attempt to rally from UCO quickly fell short as Montgomery buried a kill and punched Washburn's ticket into the championship.

Washburn will play a rematch of the 2016 MIAA finals, as it will face top-seeded Nebraska-Kearney at 6 pm. The Ichabods are 2-0 against the Lopers this season, including a 3-1 victory on UNK's home court three weeks earlier.