JOPLIN, Mo. – The No. 8-ranked Washburn volleyball team won the opening set before losing the next three sets by five or fewer points to fall at Missouri Southern, 3-1, on Friday evening. The Ichabods will wrap up the weekend at Pittsburg State on Saturday at 6 p.m.
 
The Ichabods lost by the set scores of 25-22, 20-25, 21-25, and 25-27 and are now 12-3 (4-3 MIAA).
 
Washburn jumped out to a 7-2 lead to begin the match and later used a 5-0 spurt to extend its lead to 15-7.  Missouri Southern (7-8, 2-4 MIAA) started clawing its way back into the match by claiming 14 of the next 20 points to level the score at 21-all. The Ichabods benefited from three errors by the Lions and closed out the set on a 4-1 run to win, 25-22.
 
The Ichabods kicked off the second set with five unanswered points and held a 10-7 advantage when the Lions went in front on a 6-1 run. Missouri Southern did not trail again and finished off the 25-20 game with back-to-back kills.
 
In the third set, Washburn trailed 9-8 when a kill from Halle Meister started a 6-2 run. The Ichabods were unable to hold on to that lead, though, as the Lions put together another lengthy rally, winning 12 of the 16 ensuing points to go up 23-18. Washburn could get no closer than a three-point deficit as Missouri Southern went up 2-1 in the match with a 25-21 set win.
 
Similar to the second set, Washburn won the first five points of the fourth frame and went in front, 9-4, after a trio of Missouri Southern errors. Trailing 14-9, the Lions made their move using an 8-2 run to go up, 17-16. The Ichabods regained the lead at 22-19 with a 6-2 stint, but the Lions would not go away and tied up the score at 23 and 24. A Washburn attacking error gave Missouri Southern match point, 25-24, when Taryn Pridgett spoiled it with a kill to tie it up at 25. The Lions' momentum carried them through the set, though, as they won the final two points on a Washburn blocking error and then a successful block of their own to put away the victory.
 
The Lions out hit the Ichabods .179 to .145. Missouri Southern led in kills, 59-50, and in blocks, 12-6, while Washburn had the advantage in digs, 75-68. Both teams landed three service aces.
 
Ten different Ichabods had at least one kill in the match. Pridgett led Washburn with a career-high eight kills. Sophie McMullen and Meister each added seven kills. Sydney Pullen scooped up a team-best 23 digs and chipped in five assists.
 
The setter duo of Sydney Conner and Corinna McMullen notched another double-double. In her first collegiate start, Conner handed out 25 assists and had 12 digs, both of which were season-highs. McMullen recorded 15 assists and 10 digs.
 
Four from Missouri Southern finished in double-figure kills, led by Jaryn Benning, who had 19 kills and also contributed 10 digs.