TOPEKA, Kan. -- No. 17 Washburn volleyball defeated Christian Brothers (1-4) 3-0 in its 2023 home opener and the first match of the Washburn Invitational. The Ichabods (3-1) will play two more matches on Friday beginning with Midwestern State at 11:30 a.m.
Washburn's margin of victory grew with each set winning by scores of 25-11, 25-10 and 25-9. It's the Ichabods second sweep of the season and second in a row.
After the first set started 3-3 Washburn went on a 16-3 run with four early kills coming from Taryn Pridgett. The Ichabods served well, with six aces in the first set. A kill from Pridgett ended the first set at 25-11. Washburn hit .414 as a team in the first set with only two errors.
The second set was the Ichabods strongest offensive set of the season, on the whole they knocked down 15 kills on only 22 attempts with two errors to hit a blistering .591. Two straight aces from Bella Limback sparked an 8-0 run putting Washburn up 12-2. The Bucs knocked down four straight points but the Ichabods responded with seven in a row capped off by an Austin Broadie kill. Another service ace, this time from Corinna McMullen who had four in the match, ended the set at 25-10.
Christian Brothers took its first lead of the game by winning the first point of the third set and holding a 2-1 lead. Three straight kills from Rachel Schwensen made up half of a 6-0 run to stabilize the Ichabod lead. Washburn was able to control the game on the defensive end in the third set, with the Bucs hitting -.172 in the set and only tallying three kills with eight errors. Sophia Cavanaugh picked up two straight kills to complete a 6-0 run that finished off a 25-9 set and match win.
Washburn hit .438 as a team in the match with 42 kills compared to only seven errors, a season low. The Bucs were held to .030 hitting, managing only 15 kills in the match. Washburn set a season-high mark with 15 aces in the match and had a 37-13 assist advantage.
Eleven players for Washburn logged at least one kill while all 17 active players got time on the court. Schwensen led the way with nine kills, hitting .671 and adding two assisted blocks. Pridgett knocked down six kills and hit .600.
Limback had five kills on seven attempts along with four blocks and tied for the team lead with six digs. Corinna McMullen led with 19 assists and chipped in four digs and two kills.
Christian Brothers was led offensively by Addison Waggoner who had four kills and a block.
