TOPEKA, Kan. -- No. 15 Washburn fell for a second match in a row Friday night losing a 3-1 defensive battle to No. 11 Missouri Western on pink out night. The Ichabods will close out the regular season inside Lee Arena on Saturday at 2 p.m. when they take on Northwest Missouri State for senior day.
After closing out the first set with a 25-22 victory Washburn (19-6, 6-3 MIAA) fell 25-20, 25-15 and 25-23 in the ensuing three sets as the Griffons (19-3, 7-1 MIAA) closed out the match.
Both sides split the first 14 points in the match with Missouri Western creating separation scoring four in a row to lead 10-7 early on. The Ichabods fought back, responding with a 6-1 run to lead 14-12 after Emma Siron slashed a kill. A run of three straight points pushed the lead to four at 20-16 later on before the Griffons chipped away, eventually tying the set at 22. Morgan Sears landed a kill to break the tie and Hayden Meats followed with back-to-back aces to close out the first set 25-23.
Missouri Western jumped out to an 8-3 lead early in the second set but Washburn was able to come back and tie it up at 10-all after Brooklyn Morrissey delivered a kill. Each side traded runs after that, first a 6-1 run by the Griffons before the Ichabods went six in a row with Sydney Buscher tying the set at 18 with a kill. The next run came from the visitors and was enough to close out the set, winning 25-20.
Once again, the Griffons got out to a quick start in the third set, leading 6-2. This time they extended the lead, going up 13-7 after a streak of three straight points. Washburn was unable to pull closer than five points the rest of the way as Missouri Western hit .294 in the set to win 25-15 and go up 2-1 in the match.
The fourth set began with the Griffons in front 8-2 and later leading 13-7 once again. A kill by Natalie Hedlund started a 4-0 burst for the Ichabods as they began to chip away. Late in the set a string of three straight points, capped off by a kill for Buscher tied the set up at 19. Washburn was never able to re-take the lead, as they tied the set up once more before Missouri Western closed out the match with a 25-23 fourth set win.
Both teams were limited offensively with the Ichabods hitting .093 with 41 kills while the Griffons hit .135 and tallied 51. Digs went 81-73 in favor of the visitors as did assists, 50-41.
Taylor Rottinghaus scooped up a team-high 30 digs in the back row while Autumn Gibbs added 13. Natalie Hedlund led the offense with nine kills while Brooklyn Morrissey had seven kills and hit .333. Lauren Tyler dished out a team-best 20 assists with eight digs.
Tanith Roush led Missouri Western with 16 kills and hit .417 while Anna Weberg scooped 26 digs.
