TOPEKA, Kan. -- The No. 1-ranked Washburn volleyball team pushed its winning streak to seven in a row after defeating Missouri Southern in four sets in Lee Arena on Friday evening.
 
The Ichabods won by the set scores of 25-8, 25-8, 22-25, and 25-14 to improve to 15-1 (7-0 MIAA) on the year.
 
The Washburn offense was firing on all cylinders to start the match as the Ichabods knocked down 18 kills and committed just one error on 34 attempts en route to the opening set win.
 
Missouri Southern (3-13, 0-6 MIAA) knotted up the score at three and four early in the second game, but a kill by Genna Berg started a 6-0 run in which she would hammer down four kills and push Washburn's lead to 10-4. An 8-0 burst and then a 5-0 run extended the Ichabods' lead and the final point of the set was won on a kill by Madison Johnson.
 
Needing a win to stay alive in the match, the Lions rattled off the first five points of the third set to take their first lead of the match. The Ichabods responded with five of their own and then put together a 4-0 mini run to go in front, 9-6. Missouri Southern continued to fight and went back in front and led by as many as four points. Trailing 22-18, a big block by Berg and Allison Maxwell sparked a 4-1 run to pull within one point, but the Ichabods were unable to complete the comeback.
 
The Lions held another early lead of 4-3 when a kill from Maxwell was the first of nine points in a row for the Ichabods. A 9-1 run pushed Washburn's lead to 22-8 and the final point of the match was won on a service error committed by Missouri Southern.  
 
Washburn finished the night hitting .374 and recorded 61 kills while Missouri Southern landed 21 kills, but committed 21 errors on 103 attempts to finish with a level .000 hitting percentage. There were a combined 13 service aces with the Ichabods holding a slight 7-6 edge.
 
Berg led all players with 18 kills and finished with a blistering .571 attacking percentage to go with seven digs. Maxwell also registered double-figure kills with 12 and hit .478 while defensively playing a part in five blocks. Allison Sadler had 35 assists and Faith Rottinghaus scooped up a team-high 22 digs.
 
For the Lions, Irina Alekseeva led the team with seven kills and had three block assists.
 
Washburn wraps up the weekend tomorrow evening against Pittsburg State with first serve scheduled for 6 p.m. in Lee Arena. Former Washburn volleyball All-American Kate Hampson will be recognized on the court after the first set as she is one of six former Washburn student-athletes who will be inducted into the Washburn Hall of Fame on Saturday, Oct. 9.