TOPEKA, Kan. -- The third-ranked Washburn volleyball team collected its eighth-straight win on Friday night as the Ichabods shut out Pittsburg State in Lee Arena. With the victory, Washburn improves to 23-2 overall and 15-2 in MIAA play while the Gorillas fall to 12-14 (7-10 MIAA).

The Ichabods won by the set scores of 25-15, 25-12, and 25-13. The home team finished with a .312 hitting percentage while Pittsburg State was limited to just .037 attacking. Washburn led in kills, 45-23, and in aces, 6-2. WU also led defensively in blocks, 7-4, and digs, 59-46.

Pittsburg State started the match with a service aces and fought back to tie the match at two and four before Washburn knocked down four-straight kills, three of which were by Allison Maxwell, to take an 8-4 advantage. Holding a 10-9 lead, setter Allison Sadler snuck over a kill that ignited an 8-1 scoring run to go in front 18-10. Washburn remained in control of the set and finished with back-to-back kills to win by 10.

The Gorillas went up 2-1 after an Ichabod attacking error, but Washburn responded with six-consecutive points to go up 7-2. The Ichabods put together another lengthy run as they went on a seven point burst to lead by double-figures, 17-7. Emma Palasak capped off the second set with a kill and gave Washburn a 2-0 lead. The Ichabods hit .375 in the frame and held the Gorillas to just .050.

Washburn rattled off the first three points to start the third set and never trailed. Pittsburg State got within one at 4-3, but Washburn won the next three points with a kill from Montgomery and Genna Berg and a service ace by Taylor Antonowich. The Gorillas went on a 4-0 run to chip away at Washburn's lead, but the Ichabods earned the next six points to go up 22-11. The Gorillas struggled in the set as they finished with a -.028 attacking percentage with four kills and five errors, with their fifth error of the frame giving Washurn its fourth-straight sweep.

Montgomery paced the Ichabods with 11 total kills, followed by Berg who recorded 10. Sadler guided the offense for 29 assists and added four kills of her own and Faith Rottinghaus made a team-best 21 digs. 
 
Washburn will conclude its home schedule for the 2019 season tomorrow (Saturday, Nov. 9) with senior day against Missouri Southern. The team's lone senior Erica Montgomery will be recognized before the 6 p.m. match.