KEARNEY, Neb. -- No. 6 Washburn battled early but came up short falling 3-1 on the road against No. 3 Nebraska Kearney on Friday night. The Ichabods will round out their road trip on Saturday against Fort Hays State with first serve set for 1 p.m.  

After the Lopers (24-2, 11-2 MIAA) took the first set, Washburn (21-3, 10-3 MIAA) battled back, winning the second set 25-17. Nebraska Kearney won the third 25-16 and finished the match with a 25-23 win in the fourth.  

The Lopers got off to a quick 7-3 start in the first set but the Ichabods were able to recover and tie the set up at 10. Washburn stayed close until a 4-1 run for the home squad put them up 23-17. The Ichabods responded back with four in a row, two coming off the hand of Brynne Topolski for kills to pull within two. That was as close as the close of the set would get with the Lopers taking the last point to win 25-22.  

Washburn used a 4-0 run to go in front 5-3 early in the second set. The Lopers quickly responded, tying the set up at 10-all. The Ichabods used a service error to jumpstart a 6-1 run that was capped off on an ace by Sydney Conner putting them in front 17-12. The offense controlled the rest of the way, hitting .464 as a team in the set to win 25-17.  

In the third, Washburn weathered an early storm from Nebraska Kearney to keep it tied at eight. The Lopers pressed on, scoring eight of the next ten points to lead 17-10. This set it was the home squad that hit over .400 as a team, as they took a 2-1 lead in the match winning 25-16. 

The Ichabods jumped out to an early 5-2 lead in the third after Austin Broadie landed a kill. They stayed in front until a three-point burst from Nebraska Kearney put them in the lead 11-10. Washburn stayed close, tying the match at 18 and then again at 22 after a kill by Natalie Hedlund. Both teams traded the next two points before the Lopers claimed the final two on a pair of kills to win 25-23. 

In the end the Ichabods narrowly trailed Nebraska Kearney in both hitting percentage, .250 to .253, and in kills, 56-59. Washburn trailed in digs, 67-64 and in assists, 57-54. They managed 10 blocks to eight for the Lopers.  

Austin Broadie led the Ichabods with 14 kills while hitting .316, Brynne Topolski also had double figure kills with 11 and hit .333. Corinna McMullen had a team-high 27 assists while Taylor Rottinghaus scooped up 18 digs to pace Washburn.  

Emilee Lane led Nebraska Kearney hitting 16 kills while Carly Purdy had 15 and Peyton Neff delivered 54 assists.