TOPEKA, Kan. -- No. 2 Washburn secured its eight straight sweep in a row, running its sets won streak up to 24 in a row in the process with a 3-0 takedown of No. 25 Emporia State at home on Friday night. The Ichabods are off for a week before hitting the road to take on Missouri Western State at 6 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 31.
Washburn (20-1, 9-1 MIAA) took control early in the first two sets, winning 25-17 and 25-15, but would need to battle back from a deficit in the third to earn the sweep over the Hornets (17-4, 8-2 MIAA) with a 25-23 third set win.
The first three points of the match all went to the Ichabods on kills set up by Corinna McMullen. A kill by Alex Dvorak sparked an 8-0 run, culminated with an ace from McMullen putting Washburn up 16-6. Emporia State battled to bring the score within six but were held to just a .100 hitting percentage as a team. The final two points of the set came on kills by Keilah Rivers ending the set at 25-17.
The Ichabods got out to an early lead in the second with the Hornets staying close, pulling within one at 10-9 after a three-point burst. Dvorak once again started a rally with a kill, this time it was a 7-2 run putting Washburn up 17-11 after Sydney Conner landed an ace. After hitting just .194 in the first set the Ichabods offense hit .407 in the second pulling away down the stretch with Dvorak ending the set on a kill.
Emporia State started the third set quicker, leading 9-6 after two straight points. A four-point rally for Washburn put them in front 11-10 after two aces by Taylor Rottinghaus but the visitors quickly flipped it back with three in a row of their own. The Ichabods were able to come back for good and create some separation with a 6-1 run capped by a kill by Austin Broadie to lead 22-18. Washburn reached match point at 24-21 and twice the Hornets held firm until a kill by Sydney Buscher ended the match with a 25-23 third-set win.
After hitting over .400 in each of the final two sets the Ichabods finished the match hitting .326 as a team with 44 kills. Emporia State hit .259 with 35 knockdowns. Washburn led 32-26 in digs and had a big 12-4 advantage in aces.
From the outside Keilah Rivers led the way with 10 kills while hitting .421 and adding six digs. Sydney Buscher came off the bench to land a career-high seven kills on eight swings to hit .875. Alex Dvorak also had seven kills while hitting .667. Both setters, Corinna McMullen and Sydney Conner dished 17 assists while McMullen served four aces.
Emma Klett led Emporia State with 10 kills and hit .471 for the match.
