By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
For the second time in as many days Washburn University volleyball recovered from losing the first set to claim a victory, this time defeating Central Missouri 3-1 on Saturday afternoon in Warrensburg, Mo.
Washburn senior Jalyn Stevenson had 13 kills and 28 digs in the Ichabods' 3-1 MIAA win at Central Missouri on Saturday. [Photo courtesy of Washburn Athletics]
The first set required an extra point, with the Jennies (7-11 overall, 3-6 MIAA) taking a 26-24 win, but Washburn (15-4, 6-3) controlled the match from there, winning 25-21 in the second, 25-22 in the third and closing out the match with a quick 25-12 fourth set.
Both sides went back and forth early on, with six ties in the first 14 points.
The Ichabods created separation first with a kill by Brynne Topolski starting an 8-1 run to put WU up 18-11.
Central Missouri responded right back, going on an 8-1 run of their own to pull within a point.
Washburn remained ahead, leading 24-23 after an Austin Broadie kill, kill but the host Jennies netted the final three points of the set to steal it.
The Ichabods bounced right back in the second set, taking the first three points, all on kills by Jalyn Stevenson.
The lead grew to 9-3 after back-to-back kills by Topolski. Central Missouri's deficit stayed within five until a 3-0 run for Washburn was capped off by a block from Alex Dvorak and Stevenson to go up 22-15.
The Jennies pulled within three after a 4-0 run late, but the Ichabods held on, finishing out the set with a kill by Bella Limback.
In the third set it was Central Missouri that got off to a quick start, leading 9-4.
Washburn battled back to tie the set up at 12 after Corinna McMullen assisted Dvorak on a kill.
Both sides traded rallies until the Ichabods went up for good with six straight points, ending with a kill by Emery Keebaugh to go up 21-17. The Jennies pulled within one on three occasions down the stretch, but Washburn had an answer each time, finishing off the set, 25-22.
Back-to-back kills by Dvorak in the fourth set put the Ichabods up 5-1.
Shortly after Washburn reeled off six in a row to go up, 13-5. The lead grew to double figures at 17-7 after Dvorak and Topolski combined for a block.
It was the defense that led the way in the fourth set as Central Missouri hit -.056 in the set with eight errors to just six kills.
Limback and Taryn Pridgett combined for a block to finish off the match.
Washburn hit .239 as a team with 59 kills while holding the Jennies to a .132 attacking percentage and 46 kills to 21 errors. The Ichabods had a big advantage in digs, 85-64, and also led in assists 56-43.
Stevenson, a senior, was all over the court, leading the way in both kills with 13 and making a season and team-high 28 digs.
McMullen passed out 30 assists while Taylor Rottinghaus made 20 digs from the back row. Both Broadie and Topolski had 11 kills in the match.
The Ichabods will return to action on Saturday when they take on Emporia State on the road at 3 p.m.
Friday recap: WU tops Lions, 3-2
Washburn bounced back from a slow start Friday night to come away with a five-set victory on the road over Missouri Southern.
The first set went quickly to the Lions (3-16, 1-7 MIAA) 25-15 before Washburn took each of the next two sets, 25-19 and 25-20. Missouri Southern forced a fifth set, winning 25-20 in the fourth before the Ichabods finished the match with a 15-8 win in the fifth set.
After Natalie Hedlund found the floor for a kill Washburn found itself on top 6-4 early in the first set. The Lions would win six of the next seven points to go up 14-9 and take control. The Ichabods pulled within one at 15-14 but the next eight points would go to the home team as Washburn landed only one point the rest of the set in the 25-15 decision.
Missouri Southern carried the momentum into a 9-5 lead to begin the second set. A kill from Hedlund sparked a 5-1 rally to tie it up. The Ichabods were able to pull ahead at 14-13 after an ace from Emma Williams. It was defense that led the way in the second set, with Washburn holding the Lions to an even .000 hitting percentage in the set. A block from Alex Dvorak and Corinna McMullen capped off a 5-0 run and later a four-point burst ended the set 25-19 after a kill from McMullen.
Washburn quickly doubled the score of Missouri Southern in the third with an ace from Taylor Rottinghaus making it 8-4. After the Ichabods led 10-7 the next six points all went in the other direction for MSSU to go up 13-10. After two ties Washburn went back in front as part of a 5-0 run that started with a kill from Dvorak and ended with a 20-18 lead. Five of the next seven points went to the Ichabods as Jalyn Stevenson ended the set with a kill.
After an early lead for Washburn in the fourth set it was all Lions beginning with a 10-2 run to put them up 13-8. Missouri Southern hit .386 in the set with 19 kills and the Ichabods were able to get no closer than two the rest of the way as it ended 25-20.
Both teams split the first 12 points of the fifth set six each way. The sixth point for Washburn was the start of a 6-0 run for the visitors to go up 11-6 after a Topolski kill. The Ichabods hit .368 as a team with no errors in the final frame, with Topolski delivering the final two blows in a 15-8 victory.
Even after the strong finish Washburn hit .183 in the match with 56 kills. Missouri Southern hit .192 and tallied 62 kills but did have 27 errors to the Ichabods' 23. The Lions also led in assists, 59-54, and digs 83-79.
McMullen had a team-high 28 assists and added 12 digs for a double-double. Stevenson had 15 kills and served three aces while Emery Keeebaugh logged 12 kills and hit .400. Rottinghaus controlled the backline with 24 digs for Washburn.
Three Lions finished with double-figure kills led by Fernanda Meranico with 15. Kyla Randall had 42 digs for Missouri Southern to lead the defense.
