TOPEKA, Kan. -- Washburn volleyball finished its regular season schedule inside of Lee Arena with a sweep over Fort Hays State on senior day. The Ichabods will play the final week of the regular season on the road beginning with Central Oklahoma at 6 p.m. on Nov. 15.
Before the first set the five Washburn seniors, Emma Williams, Jalyn Stevenson, Maddie Steiner, Taryn Pridgett and Austin Broadie were recognized on the court. After the celebration the Ichabods (19-5, 10-4 MIAA) got to work with 25-13, 25-15 and 25-17 set victories over the Tigers (12-11, 4-10 MIAA).
The first four points of the match all went to the home squad as Stevenson and Bella Limback combined for a block for the fourth point. Back-to-back kills by Alex Dvorak pushed the early lead to 9-2 in favor of Washburn. The lead grew to double digits as part of a 5-0 run to make it 21-10. Both sides traded blows down the stretch as the Ichabods eased into a 25-13 victory.
A 6-1 run capped off by a kill from Emery Keebaugh gave Washburn an 8-3 lead in the second. Fort Hays State hung within four points until a kill by Stevenson began another 6-1 stretch to go up 18-9. The Ichabod offense hit .364 as a team with 14 kills in the set as they took a commanding 2-0 lead with a 25-15 win.
The Tigers held a brief lead to begin the third set before Austin Broadie slashed a kill to jumpstart a 5-0 run. Washburn extended the lead to as many as nine points at 15-6 before the Tigers began to chip away, pulling within four at 19-15. The steady senior Stevenson found the floor twice in a row after that, part of a four-point burst for the Ichabods to close the door on the set and match.
Washburn hit .317 as a team with 47 kills to only nine errors. Fort Hays State was limited to a .065 attacking percentage on 30 kills and 23 errors. The Ichabods had advantages in assists, 43-30 and in blocks, 9-2, while the Tigers tallied 51 digs, two more than the 49 for Washburn.
Emery Keebaugh had a match-high 12 kills and hit .346 in the match. Corinna McMullen had a 23 assist-11 dig double-double while Taylor Rottinghaus added 15 digs. Jalyn Stevenson was also in double figures on the offensive side with 10 kills.
Gracie Rains had 11 kills to lead Fort Hays State, Kirsten Evans had a team-high 13 digs.
