LAWRENCE, Kan. – The Washburn volleyball team had a strong showing in the exhibition match at Division I opponent Kansas on Friday evening, displaying strong effort despite falling 3-0.
 
The Jayhawks won by the set scores of 25-23, 25-20, and 25-19.
 
The opening set saw 14 tie scores and six lead changes as both teams battled for the lead. Trailing by one, 21-20, Genna Berg knocked down back-to-back kills to give Washburn the lead and force a Kansas timeout. The Jayhawks regrouped and came out of the timeout to finish the frame on a 4-1 in the 25-23 decision.
 
The second set looked similar to the first as neither team led by more than three points until KU went in front, 22-18. A kill from Allison Maxwell put the Ichabods within three again at 23-20, but a Washburn service error and a Kansas kill gave the Jayhawks a 2-0 overall advantage.
 
The Jayhawks put together several scoring runs to start the third frame and jumped out to a 14-7 lead before a kill from Maxwell sparked an 8-0 run for Washburn. Kansas pushed back in front with two-straight points, but Berg evened the score at 16-all with her 15^th kill of the night. The Ichabods got within one at 20-19, but the Jayhawks rattled off five points to secure the sweep.
 
Washburn hit .254 for the match while Kansas finished with an even .300 attacking percentage. Berg led the Ichabods with a double-double, registering 16 kills and 10 digs. Maxwell also landed double-figure kills with 10 and had four blocks. Setters Allison Sadler handed out 22 assists and Payton Nutter recorded 12. Faith Rottinghaus had a team-high 16 digs.
 
The Ichabods' 2021 season officially kicks off at home on Thursday, September 2 against Cameron.