ST. JOSEPH, Mo. – No. 17-ranked Washburn volleyball was unable to hold on to early leads in the first two sets and fell in the regular season finale at Missouri Western, 3-1. Washburn will return to St. Joseph next week for the MIAA Tournament as the No. 5 seed and will take on the No. 4 seed Central Oklahoma on Thursday, Nov. 10 at 7:30 p.m.
Washburn lost by the set scores of 19-25, 22-25, 25-17, and 18-25 and finish out the regular season 21-7 (13-7 MIAA).
The Ichabods got off to a quick 4-1 lead to start the match after three-consecutive errors by the Griffons. Washburn led 15-12 when Missouri Western (11-17, 8-12 MIAA) started its comeback with a 7-2 run to take its first lead of the set, 19-17. The Ichabods knocked down back-to-back kills to level the score, but the Griffons closed out the win with six-straight points.
Just like the opening set, Washburn jumped out to a 4-1 lead and held a 9-5 advantage when Missouri Western rattled off an 11-2 run to take its first lead at 16-11. The Griffons benefited from six Ichabod errors during that run. The Ichabods spoiled the Griffons' set point four times and pulled within two, 24-22, but Missouri Western held on for the 25-22 set win.
It was back-and-forth scoring to start the third set with neither team leading by more than one point until Washburn put together a run of five-consecutive points to lead, 12-8. The Ichabods used a 6-1 run to extend their lead to 19-12. The closest Missouri Western would get was a four point deficit as Washburn finished out the 25-17 set on a 4-0 run.
For the first time in the match, Missouri Western led from start to finish in the fourth frame. The Ichabods made it a two point game at 17-15, but the Griffons scored eight of the final 11 points to win the match.
The Ichabods hit .169 on the afternoon and the Griffons finished slightly lower with a .157 attacking percentage. The Ichabods landed two more kills, 48-46, and the Griffons had one more dig, 73-72. Missouri Western had the advantage in blocks, 8-2, and in aces, 9-3.
Offensively, the Ichabods were led by
Halle Meister and
Austin Broadie who finished with 11 kills each. Meister had a .444 attacking percentage and made two solo blocks.
Jalyn Stevenson also had double-figure kills with 10 and added a team-best 18 digs.
Corinna McMullen achieved her 12th double-double of the season with 28 assists and 12 digs.
The Griffons were paced by Danielle Moje's 15 kills. She also had three blocks, including two solo stops.
