HAYS, Kan. -- No. 6 Washburn finished its regular season road schedule Saturday afternoon with a sweep over Fort Hays State. The Ichabods will return to Whiting Fieldhouse next Friday, Nov. 14 to face Central Oklahoma in a ranked matchup beginning at 6 p.m.
Washburn (22-3, 11-3 MIAA) started hot with a 25-12 win in the first and built a 2-0 lead winning 25-23 in the second over the Tigers (15-11, 4-10 MIAA). The Ichabods closed out the match with a 25-17 win in the third to secure a 22nd win on the year, surpassing last season's win total.
After Fort Hays State jumped out to a quick start Washburn used a 5-0 run to lead 8-5 after Brynne Topolski knocked down a kill. They created separation with four points in a row starting with a kill by Austin Broadie. Defensively, the Ichabods held the Tigers to a -.024 hitting percentage while winning the final seven points to take the first set 25-12.
Washburn trailed briefly in the second set before using an early run to go in front, this time a 6-0 burst capped off by an ace from Taylor Rottinghaus to make it 9-4. Fort Hays State pulled within two with a 5-1 run that was answered by four in a row for the Ichabods. The Tigers scored six in a row to tie things up at 21-all. Kills by Broadie and Topolski gave Washburn an advantage and three points later Keilah Rivers ended the set 25-23 with a kill.
In the third set the Ichabods jumped out to a 10-5 lead with three kills by Topolski in a 5-0 run. The score got within two points before Washburn scored four straight starting with Corinna McMullen sneaking over a kill. The Ichabod offense hit a clean .400 in the set as they cruised to a 25-17 win in the third and 3-0 sweep.
Washburn finished the match hitting .280 overall with 52 kills while Fort Hays State registered 30 kills and a .098 hitting percentage. The Ichabods led in digs 65-45 and had a 40-28 advantage in assists as well.
Brynne Topolski led the offense with 13 kills while hitting .458 and adding five digs. Keilah Rivers added 10 kills and hit .364 with six scoops. Corinna McMullen delivered a double-double with 18 assists and 14 digs while Taylor Rottinghaus had a team-high 15 digs in the back row.
Gracie Rains led the Tigers with 10 kills and Kirsten Evans had a match-high 17 digs.
