TOPEKA, Kan. -- No. 4 Washburn wrapped up the Ichabod Classic tournament splitting a pair of matches with a morning sweep over Southwestern Oklahoma State before falling 3-1 to Drury in the final match of the tournament. Conference play begins next as they play host to Fort Hays State at 6 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 18.
After the tournament Natalie Hedlund and Brynne Topolski were each named to the All-Tournament team.
Match one: Washburn 3, Southwestern Oklahoma State 0
Washburn set the tone early in the match with a 25-12 victory in the first set and closed out the sweep with 25-16 and 25-22 victories in each of the next two sets.
After the Bulldogs hung around early on the Ichabods used a 5-0 run capped by a kill from Brynne Topolski to create separation and go up 15-7 in the first. The burst extended to a 9-1 rally after Autumn Gibbs landed an ace that made it 19-8. The offense of Washburn kept swinging away as they hit .333 as a team in the opening set to win 25-12.
In the second set the Ichabods got out to a 10-4 lead after Emma Siron served up an ace. After Southwestern Oklahoma State pulled within four points Washburn started a 6-0 run that pushed the lead to double-figures at 22-12. The offense of the home squad hit .455 in the set and it was a kill from Keilah Rivers that finished off the second set with a win.
A quick start gave the Ichabods a lead right away in the third set, consecutive kills by Topolski made it a 16-9 set. Midway through the set the Bulldogs landed four straight points to pull within two, and would eventually come all the way back to tie the set at 22-all. A kill by Topolski started a 3-0 run to end the set and match with a sweep.
Washburn ended the match hitting .262 as a team with 40 kills while holding Southwestern Oklahoma to 30 kills and a .143 hitting percentage. The visitors led 50-49 in digs while assists went 38-28 in favor of the Ichabods as did aces, 12-2.
Brynne Topolski had a team-high 12 kills while hitting .321 and adding three blocks. Natalie Hedlund tacked on nine kills. Shannon Frakes dished out 31 assists with eight digs while Emma Siron had a team-high 12 digs and three aces.
Jenna Houk had 11 kills and 12 digs to lead the Bulldogs.
Match two: Drury 3, Washburn 1
Washburn reached 20 points in all four sets but fell short in three, splitting the first two sets 22-25 and 25-14 before dropping close 23-25 and 22-25 sets in the third and fourth.
Drury got out to a quick start as they led 9-6 in the first. A short 2-0 burst put the Ichabods in front at 11-10 after Kennedy Derks landed a kill. With the set tied at 17 the Panthers scored the next six points to create separation. Washburn scored five of the next six points but were unable to complete the comeback, falling 25-22 in the first.
The script flipped early in the second with the Ichabods leading 8-2 after Topolski knocked down a kill. The lead grew to nine after a four-point burst that began with Natalie Hedlund finding the hardwood on a kill. Washburn hit over .300 as a team in the set to win going away and evening the match at one.
Just like the set prior, the Ichabods got out to a fast start in the third leading 9-5 after scoring six in a row. This time Drury battled right back, tying the set at 13. Both sides traded rallies that ended with the Panthers in front 23-21. Washburn pulled back within one but could not extend the set as they fell 25-23.
Both sides split the first 16 points in the fourth set before a three-point rally put Drury in front. It was a lead they held until the Ichabods tied the match at 18 and pulled in front at 20-19 after Gibbs served an ace. After the score was knotted at 21 the Panthers scored four of the final five points of the match to win 25-22 and 3-1.
Washburn managed a 67-50 advantage in kills and also out-hit the visitors .246 to .239. Digs went 89-71 in favor of the Ichabods as did assists, 65-45.
Emma Siron and Brynne Topolski each had 16 kills in the match while Siron added 12 digs for a double-double. Natalie Hedlund hit .295 and had 15 kills and Brooklyn Morrissey had 10. Shannon Frakes tied a career-high with 49 assists while scooping 12 digs and Taylor Rottinghaus had a team-high 23 digs.
Abby Renshaw led Drury with 11 kills and had 10 digs as well.
