TOPEKA, Kan. -- No. 8 Washburn claimed a share of its seventh MIAA title and sixth MIAA Regular Season Championship with a 3-0 senior day sweep of Arkansas-Fort Smith on Saturday afternoon. The Ichabods share the regular season title with Nebraska Kearney and Missouri Western and head to the MIAA Tournament as the No. 3 seed to take on No. 6 Central Missouri at 2:30 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 20 in St. Joseph, Mo. at Civic Arena. 

Washburn (24-3, 13-3) breezed through the first two sets with 25-14 and 25-9 wins. They were slowed in the third before pulling away late to sweep the Lions (13-16, 3-13 MIAA) with a 25-23 win in the third. Prior to the match senior day recognitions were given to the six Ichabod seniors: Kali Henry, Corinna McMullen, Sydney Conner, Alex Dvorak, Bella Limback and Austin Broadie.  

The Ichabods got to work right away in the first set leading 8-3 after Bella Limback and Natalie Hedlund combined for a block. Later on Corinna McMullen served an ace that capped off a 3-0 run and Washburn led 18-10. The offense went on to hit .333 in the set as they eased into a 25-14 first set win.  

After Arkansas-Fort Smith took the first point in the second set the next seven came from the Ichabods with the run wrapped up on a kill by Austin Broadie on a pass from McMullen. Shortly after a 6-0 run pushed the lead to double figures at 14-3. Washburn led by as many as 16 points in the set and would go on to win 25-9.  

The third set began the same with the Ichabods leading 6-2 after a pair of kills by Broadie and one by Limback. This time the Lions answered back, rallying to tie the set at seven. Washburn built the lead up to four but Arkansas-Fort Smith responded, forcing three ties in the middle of the set and taking a 22-21 lead after scoring three in a row. Brynne Topolski slashed kills on three of the next four points to force match point and Broadie finished the regular season with a kill at 25-23. 

For the match Washburn hit .296 with 52 kills while holding Arkansas-Fort Smith to 19 total kills and a .047 hitting percentage. Digs went in favor of the Ichabods 47-36 along with assists, 43-18.  

Austin Broadie led the way on senior day with 15 kills while hitting .444, Brynne Topolski added 14 hitting an even .500. Bella Limback also had nine and hit a team-high .643. Sydney Conner had 19 assists while Corinna McMullen had 17 with six digs. Taylor Rottinghaus had a team-high 13 digs.  

Crystal Smith led the Lions with six kills in the match.