TOPEKA, Kan. – The No. 7 Washburn Ichabod volleyball fell for the first time this season in four sets to No. 24-ranked Missouri Western, dropping the MIAA matchup 25–23, 19-25, 25-20, 25–19 on Saturday evening inside Whiting Fieldhouse.

The opening set was tightly contested with seven tie scores and four lead changes, with Austin Broadie providing early offense collecting seven kills.

In the second set, the Ichabods stormed out to a commanding 13–5 lead behind sharp serving from Autumn Gibbs and timely swings from Broadie holding the Griffons to .096 hitting while the Ichabods hit a .263 number taking set two 25-19.

In the third, the Griffons jumped out to a lead of 6-2 before the Ichabods rallied to trim back the lead to 19-16, but Western closed on a 6-4 run to go up 2-1 in the match.

The fourth set saw seven lead changes and nine ties. Broadie had five kills with only one error in 11 swings, but the Griffons hit .395 compared to .268 for the Ichabods to hand Washburn its first loss of the season.

Broadie finished with a team-high 23 kills on a .362 attack percentage, while Brynne Topolski had nine. Corinna McMullen collected a double-double with 23 assists and 15 digs, and Taylor Rottinghaus paced all players with 20 digs

Washburn hit .177 overall with 55 kills, 74 digs, and 10 team blocks.

With the result, Washburn fell to 12-1 overall and 1-1 in the MIAA, while Missouri Western moves to 9-4 overall and 1-1 in league play. Washburn will be in action next at Pittsburg State on Oct. 2 and at Newman on Oct. 3 before wrapping up the trip at Emporia State on Oct. 7. The Ichabods will make their next appearance in Whiting Fieldhouse on Oct. 10 against Fort Hays State and Nebraska-Kearney the following day starting a five-game homestand.