ST. JOSEPH, Mo. -- No. 15 Washburn ended its week in St. Joseph, Mo. with a split after falling 3-1 on Friday night to Fort Hays State. The Ichabods return to action for one final week at home inside Lee Arena beginning Friday, Oct. 23 with another meeting against Missouri Western beginning at 6 p.m.
The Tigers (15-8, 3-5 MIAA) got out to a quick start winning 25-15 in the first set before Washburn (19-5, 6-2 MIAA) evened up the match winning 25-20 in the second set. Fort Hays State went on to win the next two sets, 25-18 and 25-22 to take the match.
It was a 6-1 run for the Tigers to open the match, the lead extended to 14-6 after a stretch of five straight points. Fort Hays State hit .485 in the set as the Ichabods were never able to get back into it, losing by ten.
A 4-0 run early in the second set put FHSU ahead 7-3. Washburn fought back into the set and went in front scoring six in a row, the last two on aces by Taylor Rottinghaus to lead 14-10. Shortly after the Tigers went on a 6-1 run to re-take the lead. The Ichabods snatched it right back with four in a row, the last coming on a block by Brooklyn Morrissey and Emma Siron. They held that lead, ending the set with kills from Morrissey and Brynne Topolski to win 25-20.
Both sides split the first 12 points of the third set before the Ichabods created some separation with three points in a row. They led by three midway through the set until Fort Hays State rattled off five points in a row to lead 15-13. It was the start of an 11-1 run that carried them to a 25-18 victory in the third.
The fourth set began with 3-0 runs for each team, this time with each team going on to split the first 14 points in the set. After Washburn fell behind, they used a 5-1 burst to tie the match back up at 14-all. Throughout the middle of the set both sides traded blows with three ties coming in the back half of the set, the last at 22-22 after Topolski slammed down two straight kills. The next and final three points went to Fort Hays State to secure the set and match victory.
The Tigers ended the match hitting .275 with 56 kills while the Ichabods were held to .141 hitting with 43 kills on the night. Fort Hays State led 52-43 in assists and 61-51 in digs as well.
Brynne Topolski had 14 kills while hitting .379 to lead Washburn. Emma Siron had 19 assists and 11 digs along with seven kills. Brooklyn Morrissey hit .545 with seven kills and Taylor Rottinghaus scooped a team-high 15 digs with four aces.
Ella Goodwin led the Tigers with 14 kills while Annie Eaton dished out 42 assists.
