TOPEKA, Kan. -- Washburn volleyball (15-10, 9-9) got back in the win column Saturday afternoon defeating Pittsburg State (9-18, 4-14) on senior day, 3-1. The Ichabods will wrap up the home slate against Emporia State on Monday, Nov. 6 at 6 p.m.
The lone senior Rachel Schwensen was recognized before the match but was inactive missing her first contest of the season. Both sides split the first sets with WU taking the first 25-17 and falling 25-19 in the second. The Ichabods took the final two sets 25-23 and 25-17 to wrap up the match.
After the Gorillas won the first two points of the match Washburn responded with four in a row with both sides going back and forth and splitting the first 20 points each way. The match stayed that way until the Ichabods won five straight points beginning with a kill by Jalyn Stevenson. The momentum continued into another 4-0 run with a set ending kill from Corinna McMullen setting up Taryn Pridgett.
A 3-0 run ending with a Sydney Conner ace tied the second set at five before Pittsburg State won four points in a row. Washburn was able to go in front on a 3-0 run ending with a kill by Conner but the Gorillas took the lead right back with a 4-0 run. The burst for the visitors started a 9-2 run which carried into the end of the set with a 25-19 win.
The Ichabods rebounded quickly and got out to a 6-1 lead in the third set with Iyannah Jackson and Pridgett combining for a block to cap off the run. PSU quickly tied the match with a 5-0 streak and eventually were able to pull ahead at 16-13 after another 4-0 run. Pridgett responded with a kill which sparked a 5-1 run by Washburn to go back ahead. The set continued back and forth and Pitt State was able to go ahead at 23-22 before Rylee Unruh knocked down a kill to spark a 3-0 run to finish the set.
The match stayed close early in the fourth set, the largest lead being four points for the home team after a solo block by Unruh. The Ichabods outhit the Gorillas .263 to .089 but PSU was able keep it close, tying the set at 16 after a 2-0 run. After that point Washburn let Pitt State serve only one more time as they ended the match on a 9-1 run with the final blow coming on a kill by Unruh.
Both teams were tied in kills with 49 while WU outhit Pitt State .222 to .098 in the match. The Ichabods held advantages in digs 71-64 and 46-45 in assists.
Jalyn Stevenson led Washburn with 11 kills and added 10 digs for another double-double. Austin Broadie was also in double figures with 10 kills and hit .368. Corinna McMullen and Sydney Conner each had 17 assists in the match while Conner notched a double-double with 10 digs. Taylor Rottinghaus led all players with 21 digs.
Janae Thurston paced the Gorillas with 11 kills while Jadyn Jackson had a match-high 30 assists.
