TOPEKA, Kan. – No. 2 Washburn volleyball finished the match with a .404 hitting percentage as the Ichabods defeated Fort Hays State in straight sets on Tuesday evening in Lee Arena. During the victory, senior middle hitter Allison Maxwell made six blocks and became the fifth Washburn player in program history to record over 1,000 kills and 400 blocks in her career.
 
The Ichabods won by the set scores of 25-19, 25-14, and 25-18 to improve their record to 19-2 (11-1 MIAA). Washburn is also now 12-0 when playing in Lee Arena this season.
 
Fort Hays State (10-11, 4-8 MIAA) won the opening point and jumped out to a 14-9 advantage. A kill from Jalyn Stevenson sparked a run of five-consecutive kills from four different Ichabods to level the set at 14-all. The teams traded points and Washburn took its first lead of the game at 17-16 after a Tiger error. With the score tied at 18, Sydney Fitzgibbons hammered down a kill that propelled Washburn to win seven of the final eight points of the frame and to a 25-19 victory.
 
The Tigers started things off strong again by winning the first point and going in front 5-3 early in the second set when a service error committed by Fort Hays State started a run of six straight points for the Ichabods to tip the score in their favor, 9-5. Washburn later put together a 7-1 run and a 5-0 run to cruise to the 25-14 set win.
 
Faith Rottinghaus kicked off the third set with a service ace, but Fort Hays State showed its early fight again and took the lead right back. Trailing 6-4, Fitzgibbons landed a kill to spark a 9-2 run as Washburn created some space with its lead. Maxwell closed out the sweep with one final kill for the 25-18 third set win.
 
Washburn's .404 hitting percentage is the second-highest it has recorded this season while the Ichabods held an opponent to an attacking percentage below .100 for the 10th time this fall as Fort Hays State hit .092. The Ichabods led in kills, 50-30, and digs, 49-31.
 
The trio of Genna Berg, Maxwell, and Stevenson recorded 10 kills apiece. Berg registered 10 kills on 16 attempts with zero errors for a scorching .625 attacking percentage. Kelsey Gordon contributed nine kills and hit .500.
 
In addition to her double-digit kills, Maxwell was a part of six blocks and now has 403 total blocks in her career. The four other Washburn players to achieve the feat of over 1,000 career kills and 400 total blocks are Shanna Haslett (1988-90), Mandy Chester (1993-96), Jill Gassen (1998-2001), and Sarah Vicory (2013-16).
 
Setter Allison Sadler finished the evening with 39 assists, five digs, and three kills. In the back row, Rottinghaus had 16 digs and Chloe Paschal scooped up 10 digs.
 
For the Tigers, Isabelle Reynolds landed 12 kills and had four digs.
 
The Ichabods will host a top-three matchup on Thursday evening against No. 3 Central Missouri. Washburn defeated then-ranked No. 7 UCM earlier this season in four sets.