TOPEKA, Kan. -- No. 8 Washburn began the final week of the regular season with a 3-1 win over No. 7 Central Oklahoma to keep its MIAA Regular Season Championship hopes alive. The Ichabods will finish out the regular season and play for a share of the title on Saturday at 2 p.m. against Arkansas-Fort Smith for senior day.  

Washburn (23-3, 12-3 MIAA) fell behind 1-0 losing 25-23 in the first set but responded by winning 25-22, 25-19 and 25-16 to knock off the No. 7 Bronchos (26-4. 12-4 MIAA) and pick up a second top-10 win of the season.  

Both sides went back and forth early on with nine ties in the first 22 points of the match. The Ichabods went in front with a 3-0 run that started and ended with kills by Brynne Topolski making it 14-11. Central Oklahoma answered right back going on an 8-2 run. Washburn pulled back within one point at 24-23 after two more kills in a row from Topolski but the Bronchos held on to take the first set.  

They carried the momentum into an early 7-3 lead in the second. The Ichabods came alive going on a 4-1 run to pull within one after Keilah Rivers landed an ace. Central Oklahoma came right back with three in a row and kept the lead between 4-5 late into the set. A kill by Bella Limback started another 4-1 run that ended with a solo block by Brooklyn Morrissey to pull within one. The Ichabods ended the set on a 6-0 run with three service aces by Autumn Gibbs including the final two points in the 25-22 win to even the match.  

Washburn quickly got in front in the third and led 12-6 after a 5-1 run that included three kills by Natalie Hedlund. The Bronchos came back to pull within two but were turned away with three straight kills from the Ichabod offense that hit .459 in the set. They rode each of the 19 kills in the set to win 25-19 and go up 2-1 in the match.  

The rally continued into the fourth set with Washburn leading 11-5 after Taylor Rottinghaus set up Hedlund for a kill. Central Oklahoma never got closer than five the rest of the set with the Ichabod defense holding them to .103 hitting as they closed out the 25-16 set to secure a 3-1 come from behind victory.  

 Washburn hit .235 in the match with 55 kills while holding the visitors to .190 hitting and 51 kills. The Ichabods also had a 81-71 advantage in digs and 54-49 in assists. 

Natalie Hedlund led the team with 15 kills, a new career high, while hitting .314 and adding three blocks. Brynne Topolski slashed 13 kills at a .333 clip and Austin Broadie had 10 kills. Sydney Conner led the team with 26 assists and added 16 digs for a double-double. Taylor Rottinghaus paced the team with 21 scoops from the back row.  

Sydney Huck had 15 kills to lead the Broncho offense while Lindsey Houran had 43 assists with 15 digs.