EMPORIA, Kan. -- No. 20 Washburn (12-4, 6-3) needed only three sets to stay in the win column Tuesday night sweeping Emporia State (8-9, 2-7) on the road to complete a three-match road swing. The Ichabods have a quick trip home and host Newman at 6 p.m. on Thursday.
Washburn jumped out to a quick first set victory winning 25-11 and needed extra points in the second but prevailed late 27-25 and wrapped up the match in the third with a 25-15 sweeping win.
The Ichabods offense dictated the first set jumping out to an 8-2 lead after back-to-back kills from Rylee Unruh who had five kills in the first 10 points of the match. The whole team was efficient with Washburn hitting .581 in the first set and knocking down 19 kills to just one error. Another kill by Unruh capped of a 3-0 burst that pushed the lead to double-digits at 16-6 and five straight points at the end for the visitors won the opening set 25-11.
A service error and an ace gave the Hornets a quick start and they were able to lead 3-0 in the second set. Rachel Schwensen knocked down a kill to tie the set back up at four and from that point the Ichabods never trailed by more than one point. An ace from Unruh won Washburn a fourth straight point in the longest streak for either side in the set and put WU up 10-6.
The back-and-forth point trading continued throughout the middle and late stages of the set until the Ichabods reached set point at 25-24. Emporia State had an answer to extend the set once but that was all, a kill from Jalyn Stevenson and an attacking error on the Hornets ended the set.
Washburn got out to a faster start in the third set going up 4-2 on a block by Schwensen and Bella Limback. This time Emporia State came back to tie the set twice, making it 7-7 after a kill. A kill from Stevenson sparked a 4-0 run to give the Ichabods cushion through the middle of the set and the end belonged to Washburn as they reeled off nine of the last 10 points, finishing the match with Stevenson and Iyannah Jackson combining for a block.
Washburn hit .354 in the match, the second most proficient offensive attack of the season for the team on its way to 50 kills with just 10 errors. The Hornets were held to .136 hitting with 32 kills. The Ichabods also held double-digit advantaged in assists and digs.
Stevenson paced Washburn offensively with 13 kills while hitting .545, she added 13 digs as well for a double-double. Austin Broadie hit .321 and had 12 kills of her own. Schwensen added eight kills on 18 attacks with only one error. Sydney Conner led Washburn in both assists and digs with 24 and 16 respectively, notching her second double-double on the year.
Sandora Sasaki led Emporia State with 15 kills hitting .154. Brailee Bogle had a match-high 28 assists.
