TOPEKA, Kan. -- The fifth-ranked Washburn volleyball team claimed a 3-1 victory over Missouri Western Saturday afternoon at Lee Arena. Washburn had three players reach double-digit scoring as well as two players that finished with double-doubles. The Ichabods improve to 11-1 overall and 3-1 in the MIAA while the Griffons fall to 7-5 (1-3 MIAA).

Missouri Western took a quick 4-1 lead to start the match, but Washburn answered with four consecutive points and didn't trail again as the Ichabods went on to take set one, 25-17. The Ichabods finished the set on a 9-2 scoring run and capped off the win with a service ace from Taylor Antonowich.

The Griffons came out strong again in the second set, grabbing a 7-1 advantage. Trailing by seven (15-8), the Ichabods started to chip away at the deficit and put together a five point rally highlighted by an Erica Montgomery kill and three huge Washburn blocks in a row. Yet another Washburn block, this time by Sydney Fitzgibbons and Genna Berg, cut Missouri Western's lead to 22-20, but the Ichabods were unable to complete the comeback and lost the second set 25-21.

The third frame was all Washburn from start to finish and the Ichabods had a .295 hitting percentage in the set. Holding an 11-8 advantage, the Ichabods captured nine of 10 points to go up 20-9. During the scoring run, Berg recorded two service aces and two kills while Antonowich also notched two kills. Washburn took the final three points of the set for the 25-16 win.

Similar to the first and second set, Missouri Western took an early lead and went up 5-1 and led for the first half of the fourth set. The Griffons were on top 13-11 when Berg sparked a five point run. She started with a kill and then had three consecutive aces and a Fitzgibbons added a kill to put Washburn up 16-13. Both teams went back and forth scoring and Missouri Western trailed by just one until Berg and Montgomery recorded back-to-back kills for a 23-20 lead. The Griffons answered with the next two points to get within one yet again at 23-22. Montgomery hammered down a kill that was originally ruled Missouri Western's way, but after review, it was awarded to the Ichabods to give them set point. The Griffons added one more point before Montgomery put the set and match away at 25-23 with her 22nd kill of the day.

Montgomery led the team in kills and tied her career-best with 22 total. She also added three blocks, including one solo stop. Berg achieved a double-double with 19 kills and 17 digs. She also served up five of the Ichabods' nine aces. Allison Sadler also had a double-double, her fourth of the season, with 50 assists and 17 digs. Kelsey Gordon was a wall for the Ichabods as she finished with nine blocks.

Washburn will be on the road for the next five matches, first traveling to Wichita, Kan., on Oct. 4 to take on Newman for the first time as an MIAA opponent. The match against the Jets is slated for 6 p.m.