TOPEKA, Kan. -- No. 7 Washburn opened its conference schedule at home Friday night with a 3-1 win over Northwest Missouri State. The Ichabods will look to continue the winning streak on Saturday evening as they host No. 24 Missouri Western at 6 p.m.  

The Ichabods (12-0, 1-0 MIAA) set the tone for the match, downing the Bearcats (6-4, 0-1 MIAA) 25-11 in the first set. Northwest Missouri responded with a 25-23 win in the second before Washburn put the match away with 25-16 and 25-15 victories.  

The first three points of the match went to the Ichabods. After the Bearcats pulled within one point at 5-4 a four-point streak capped off by an ace from Bella Limback created separation that would last. Washburn took advantage of errors by Northwest Missouri while also hitting .423 as a team to build a 22-9 lead. Abby Leaf ended the set with a kill on her first swing.  

In the second set it was the Bearcats jumping out ahead at 5-2. A Taylor Rottinghaus ace completed a 4-0 run to give the lead back to the home team. With the Ichabods in front 11-8, a seven point rally from Northwest Missouri began, putting them in front 15-11. They remained in front until consecutive kills by Brynne Topolski and Austin Broadie knotted the set at 22. The Bearcats recovered with three of the next four points to win 25-23.  

Both sides split the first 16 points of the third set with a kill by Keilah Rivers on a pass by Corinna McMullen jumpstarting a four-point streak for Washburn to go in front 12-8. Northwest Missouri kept it within four points until the Ichabods ended the set on a six-point run. Natalie Hedlund provided the final point with her kill finding the hardwood at 25-16.  

Washburn took the first point of the fourth set and never relinquished the lead, holding off five ties from the Bearcats with the final coming at 11-11. A kill by Alex Dvorak broke the tie and was the first of five straight points for the Ichabods, who hit .325 as a team in the final set. The final four points of the set and match went to Washburn, ending at 25-15 with an ace by McMullen.  

The Ichabods finished the match hitting .329 with 63 kills while holding the Bearcats to just a .109 attacking percentage and 38 kills. Washburn led in digs, 59-52 and had a big lead in assists, 58-38.  

Brynne Topolski led the offensive attack, slashing 16 kills while hitting .375 to go along with five digs. Austin Broadie and Natalie Hedlund each had double-digit kill matches with 11 and 10 respectively. Corinna McMullen dished out 27 assists with 23 coming from Sydney Conner. Taylor Rottinghaus scooped up a team-high 16 digs as well.  

Kasidy Mohwinkle led Northwest Missouri with 14 kills and Ella Caffery had 30 assists with 11 digs.