ST. JOSEPH, Mo. -- No. 3 Washburn volleyball won its fourth-consecutive match on Thursday night with a 3-1 road victory against Missouri Western. The Ichabods move up to 19-2 (11-2 MIAA) on the season while the Griffons drop to 11-9 (5-7 MIAA).

The Ichabods won by the set scores of 25-21, 25-22, 22-25, and 25-19. Washburn held a slight advantage in hitting percentage at .206 while Missouri Western finished with a .192 attacking percentage. The Ichabods led in kills, 61-44, and in digs, 92-80. 

Washburn took an early 6-2 lead in the match when Missouri responded with four-consecutive points to even the score. The teams exchanged points and jockeyed for the lead until Kelsey Gordon recorded a kill to start a three point run for Washburn, giving the Ichabods a 14-11 advantage. After a Missouri Western serving error, Washburn won four of the next five points to go in front 20-14. The Griffons had three series of two points to chip away at Washburn's lead, but the Ichabods won the first set, 25-21.

Although Washburn scored the opening point of the second set, Missouri Western held a lead until the middle of the frame. Trailing 10-7, Allison Maxwell sparked a 7-2 scoring run with three kills to help the Ichabods go in front, 14-12. The Griffons responded by winning six of the next seven points, four of which were Ichabod errors, to retake the lead at 18-15. The Ichabods were down by two points (20-18) when they put together timely 5-1 scoring run with four kills and a service ace to go up 23-21. The Griffons would score just one more point as the Ichabods completed the comeback with a 25-22 triumph.

The Ichabods jumped out to a quick 5-1 lead, thanks to three kills and two Missouri Western errors. The Griffons stormed back into the match, however, and led by six at 16-10. A kill by Genna Berg cut the deficit to 22-18 and the Ichabods kept it close by going on a three point run to hold the Griffons at set point (24-22), but Missouri Western got the final kill to win the set, 25-22.

The fourth set was a back and forth battle as there were seven lead changes and nine tied scores by the time the score was knotted at 10-10. Washburn landed three kills in a row and then a service ace by Taylor Antonowich put the Ichabods in front 13-10. The Ichabods put together a 5-1 rally to hold the biggest lead of the set at 20-15. Washburn capped off the 25-19 fourth set victory by knocking down three kills in a row from three different Ichabods. 

Berg led all players with 22 kills and added 15 digs to complete her 10th double-double of the season. Maxwell landed 15 kills on 23 swings and committed just three errors for a .522 attacking percentage. Montgomery also recorded double-figure kills with 11. Sadler also finished with a double-double with 53 assists and 13 digs. She now has nine double-doubles on the year.  Antonowich served up two of Washburn's four aces and had a team-high 21 digs.

The Ichabods will play the next five matches at home, starting with rival Emporia State on Tuesday, Oct. 29. The match in Lee Arena is set for 7 p.m.