TOPEKA, Kan. -- No. 4 Washburn volleyball secured a spot in the MIAA Tournament with a resounding 3-0 sweep of Emporia State on Tuesday night. The Ichabods improve to 20-2 overall and are now 12-2 in MIAA matches while the Hornets fall to 5-17 on the year and 1-13 in conference play.
Washburn won by the set scores of 25-7, 25-15, and 25-11 as the home team finished with a .395 attacking percentage and held Emporia State to just .011 in the match. The Ichabods led in kills, 40-21, and in digs, 47-32.
The Ichabods made quite the opening statement to start the match as they won the first set, 25-7, and hit a scorching .692 as a team. Washburn recorded 19 kills on 26 swings and had just one error. The Ichabods led 9-2 and then double-digits at 14-4 before winning the eight final points of the set. Leading the way was
Allison Maxwell, who had five kills on five attempts.
After Washburn won the first point of the second set, the Hornets tied it up at 1-1 and then trailed by one point (3-2), but that's as close as it would get as the Ichabods pulled away once again.
Madison Johnson had two aces in a row to put Washburn in front, 9-4. A kill by
Emma Palasak sparked a four point burst extend the lead to 18-11. Washburn finished out the 25-15 set two victory on a 6-1 scoring run which was capped off by an Maxwell kill.
The Ichabods jumped out to an early lead yet again, going up 6-1 after three errors by the Hornets. Holding a 11-7 lead, Washburn rattled off 10 unanswered points to extend its lead. A service error by Emporia State gave Washburn the 25-11 final frame victory to complete the sweep.
Palasak led all scorers with 10 kills and finished with a .429 attacking percentage. Four Ichabods contributed seven kills and hit .417 or better. Maxwell was a part of six assisted blocks at the net to go with her seven kills.
Allison Sadler registered 27 assists and
Faith Rottinghaus had a team-best 15 digs. Johnson landed all four of Washburn's service aces.
The Ichabods are now one of three teams who have clinched a place in the MIAA Tournament, which will be held in Kansas City, Mo., Nov. 21-23. Nebraska-Kearney leads the conference standings with an unblemished record of 14-0 in MIAA matches this season. Central Missouri also earned a place in the tournament tonight and is 11-3 in conference play.
Washburn continues its homestand this weekend against Central Oklahoma and Newman. The Ichabods host the Bronchos on Friday, Nov. 1, at 6 p.m. before taking on Newman on Saturday, Nov. 2, at 3 p.m.
