TOPEKA, Kan. -- The No. 5 nationally ranked Washburn volleyball team advanced to the MIAA Tournament semifinal after sweeping Pittsburg State in the quarterfinal match on Tuesday evening.  
 
No. 3 seed Washburn will have another rematch against the No. 2 seed and No. 4-ranked Northwest Missouri in the MIAA Tournament semifinal on Friday, Nov. 19 at top-seeded Central Missouri in Warrensburg, Mo. First serve at the Multipurpose Building is slated for 8:30 p.m.
 
Washburn won its 19th sweep of the season by the set scores of 25-19, 25-17, and 25-20 to improve its overall record to 26-4.
 
The Ichabods broke an early 2-2 tie with a 7-1 run and led for the remainder of the game. Washburn closed out the victory winning five of the final six points all on kills. Kelsey Gordon notched seven kills on eight swings with zero errors in the set.
 
After the Gorillas (15-14) won the opening point of the second set, Genna Berg got things going for Washburn with three straight kills. Pittsburg State pulled within three points at 15-12, but an 8-2 run added some cushion to Washburn's lead. The final point of the set was won after a service error by Pittsburg State.
 
Washburn won the first point and jumped out to a 5-2 advantage in the third frame. Back-and-forth scoring ensued and the Gorillas knotted up the score at 10 when Berg came through again with a timely kill to start a 9-2 run and return the lead to Washburn. The final set ended just like the second as the Ichabods benefited from a service error to secure the sweep on their home court.
 
Washburn closed out the night with a .325 attacking percentage while Pittsburg State hit .238. The Ichabods led in kills, 54-34, and recorded 18 in all three sets.
 
Berg led all players with 16 kills. Allison Maxwell knocked down 13 kills and hit .435 while playing part in three blocks in the match. Gordon also had double-figures in kills with 11 and hit a sizzling .526 after committing just one error on 19 attempts.
 
Allison Sadler recorded her eighth double-double of the year with 43 assists and 10 digs to go with three kills and an ace. In the back court, libero Faith Rottinghaus led all players with 17 digs and she also had four assists.
 
For the Gorillas, both Meg Auten and Janae Thurston registered eight kills.