HAYS, Kan. -- No. 25 Washburn (14-7, 8-6) lost its first of three road matches of the week to Fort Hays State (10-14, 4-11) on Tuesday evening, 3-1. The Ichabods will take on Northwest Missouri State on Oct. 27 at 6 p.m.
Both teams split the first two sets, the Tigers winning 25-19 in the first and Washburn 25-17 in the second. The final two sets went to the home team 25-23 and 25-22.
A 3-0 Bella Limback run which included a kill and two aces put Washburn up 7-4 early. Fort Hays State reeled off a pair of 3-0 runs with a 3-0 burst from the Ichabods in between. The second streak was part of a 7-1 Tiger run putting them up 19-14. Washburn had 10 hitting errors in the first set which ended the final chance at a comeback with a 25-19 loss.
The Ichabods bounced back offensively in the second set with Rachel Schwensen leading the way. Kills by her made up three points in a 5-0 run to go up 8-3. The Ichabods doubled the score of the Tigers shortly after with a 4-0 run that started with a kill by Jalyn Stevenson. After hitting .024 in the first set Washburn bounced back to hit .333 in the second with just two errors. The efficient offense led to a 25-17 win to even the match.
The first 20 points of the third set were split 10 each way and both teams stayed within one point of each other until a 4-0 Tigers run made it 18-14. Washburn won three straight points beginning with a block by Austin Broadie and Taryn Pridgett and ending with a kill from Broadie to pull within one. They were able to tie the match at 22 and 23 points but lost the next two points to fall in the set.
Washburn got off to a 4-1 start in the fourth set on two attack errors and two blocks. FHSU quickly won five straight points and went up 8-6. Rylee Unruh knocked down a kill in the middle of the set to go back up 13-12 but the lead was short lived with Fort Hays State going on another 5-0 run to go up by four. Washburn won four straight points to tie it but gave up four straight immediately after. The Ichabods got within one point at 23-22 but once again lost the final two points in the set to lose 25-22.
Fort Hays State outhit the Ichabods by percentage .172 to .134 but Washburn held a 51 to 49 advantage in kills overall. They also out-assisted FHSU 51 to 42 but were out-dug 71 to 69.
Rylee Unruh led Washburn with 12 kills and added nine digs as well. Jalyn Stevenson was one of two Ichabods to finish with a double-double, knocking down 11 kills with 10 digs. Corinna McMullen led Washburn in both assists and digs finishing with 21 and 16 respectively.
Gradie Rains led Fort Hays State with 14 kills and Cayla Stucky led all players with 39 assists for the Tigers.
