COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – No. 4-ranked Washburn volleyball improved to 7-0 after defeating a pair of Lone Star Conference teams on the first day of the Mountain Lion Invitational, hosted by Colorado-Colorado Springs. The Ichabods will wrap up their time in Colorado tomorrow (Saturday, Sept. 11) taking on William Jewell at 10 a.m. and then No. 15 Colorado School of Mines at 5:30 p.m.

MATCH 1 (Washburn 3, Lubbock Christian 1)
The match got off to a rocky start for the Ichabods as the Lady Chaps (3-2) jumped out to a 4-1 lead, all on Washburn miscues. Lubbock Christian led 8-5 when a kill from Madison Johnson sparked a 9-1 scoring rally to give Washburn a 14-9 advantage. The Ichabods stayed in the driver's seat and went on to win the opening set, 25-15, and closed out the frame with back-to-back service aces from Samantha Moburg.

The Lady Chaps grabbed another early lead in the second set and despite the Ichabods tying it up at 12 and then later at 22 and 23, Lubbock Christian recorded two-straight kills to win the game, 25-23.

The third set was a close back-and-forth battle from the beginning with nine ties and five lead changes while neither team led by more than two points. Down 15-13, Allison Maxwell knocked down a kill that started a 5-0 run to give Washburn the lead. Lubbock Christian retaliated with five-straight points of its own to go back in front, 20-18. An attacking error by the Lady Chaps knotted up the game at 21-all, but three-straight kills by LCU set it up for game point. With their back against the wall, the Ichabods stayed resilient and closed out the frame with five-straight points, book-ended by kills from Genna Berg, to take the 26-24 victory.

Washburn carried that momentum into the fourth set and won the opening point on an ace by Allison Sadler. Lubbock Christian held its only lead of the set at 3-2 before Washburn went on a 5-1 run to retake the lead. Errors began to plague the Lady Chaps and the Ichabod defense stood tall at the net, recording five blocks in the set, as Washburn went on to clinch the win with a 25-17 victory.

The Ichabods hit at a 32.9 clip on the day while the Lady Chaps finished with a 21.7 attacking percentage. Both teams were nearly even on kills, as Washburn finished with 63 and Lubbock Christian had 60. The Ichabods had a block party at the net with 11 on the day while the Lady Chaps had four.

Three Ichabods finished in double-figure kills, led by Berg who recorded a double-double with 15 kills, 11 digs. Kelsey Gordon hit .480 in the match with 13 kills and one error. Stevenson finished with 10 kills and had eight digs. Allison Sadler set 34 assists and landed three of Washburn's seven service aces.

For the Lady Chaps, Aaliyah Gray led all scorers with 21 kills and scooped up 17 digs.

MATCH TWO (Washburn 3, Texas A&M International 0)
Although the Ichabods led from start to finish of the opening set, the Dustdevils (0-6) stayed close throughout the frame. Two consecutive Washburn kills created some space and made it 19-14 and then Berg went on a 4-2 scoring run herself to get the Ichabods to game point, 24-19. Two points later, the Ichabods won the set, 25-20, on a bad set by the Dustdevils.
 
Washburn led 4-1 before Texas A&M International chipped away at the deficit and tied up the game at 6 and 8, but timely kills and huge blocks helped the Ichabods go back in front. Leading 15-13, freshman Jalyn Stevenson knocked down a kill to start a 4-0 scoring run. Another four-point burst late in the game by the Ichabods held the Dustdevils at bay and Sydney Fitzgibbons recorded a kill for the final point of the 25-18 win.
 
Texas A&M International started the third set in front, 4-2, when Berg got things rolling for the Ichabods again with a kill that started an 8-1 run. The Ichabods stayed in control for the remainder of the set and won four of the final five points to secure the three-set sweep with a 25-19 decision.
 
Washburn had a .337 attacking percentage compared to TAMIU's .190 clip. The Ichabods landed 45 kills and the Dustdevils knocked down 40. Yet again, Washburn's defense at the net was overpowering as the front row finished with eight blocks and Texas A&M International had one.
 
All 19 available Ichabods played in the match. Berg led the team with 14 kills and finished with a .364 attacking percentage. Sadler had a team-high 23 assists and Faith Rottinghaus scooped up 21 digs.
 
Thirty-five of the Dustdevils' 40 kills came from three players who all finish in double-digits, led by Mackenzie Cataline with 13.