By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Washburn University mounted a furious comeback in the fifth set against No. 5 Nebraska-Kearney Friday night but was turned away at the last moment as the Lopers won in five sets.
Taylor Rottinghaus had 40 digs in Washburn's five-set loss to Nebraska-Kearney Friday night. [Photo courtesy of Washburn Athletics]
The Ichabods will wrap up their home schedule on Saturday in Lee Arena against Fort Hays State on Senior Day, with first serve at 6 p.m.
After Washburn (18-5 overall, 9-5 MIAA) took the first set 25-23, Nebraska Kearney (25-1, 12-1) battled back to take the next two sets, 25-21 and 25-23. The Ichabods had the largest margin of victory for either team in the fourth set, winning 25-19, before falling 15-12 in the fifth.
The Lopers won the first point of the match before the next four went to Washburn beginning with two kills by Bella Limback.
The Ichabods stayed in front until a 3-0 run by Nebraska Kearney put them on top, 14-13. Both sides traded from there until it was 23-22 with the visitors in front.
A service error and an attack error brought it to set point for Washburn and Alex Dvorak and Taryn Pridgett wasted no time putting the win away with a block for a 25-23 win.
In the second set it was the Lopers that jumped ahead early, leading 7-2.
Two straight kills by Jalyn Stevenson sparked a 5-0 run that would pull Washburn within one at 11-10.
Just like the first set both sides created little separation through the middle of the set. The second time around both teams hit under .100 as a team while slashing over .200 in the first. Stevenson tied the set at 21 with a kill but from there it was all Lopers with four straight points to take it.
After Nebraska Kearney led 7-3 early in the third, a three-point burst from Washburn brought it back within one. This time, the Lopers rebuilt the lead, going up 16-8 after four straight points.
Next it was the Ichabods' turn to go on a run, pulling within two at 19-17 after an Emery Keebaugh kill. After UNK had set point at 24-21 kills by Stevenson, Limback and Pridgett kept hopes alive before the visitors got the final point to win 25-23.
Both sides traded the first 10 points in the fourth set. A kill by Keebaugh on a pass from Taylor Rottinghaus jump-started a 4-0 run to go up 9-6. It grew to a 12-3 run and a 17-9 lead for Washburn after Pridgett knocked down two straight kills.
Nebraska Kearney netted four straight points to pull within five but an Ichabod offense hitting .349 in the set was too hot to handle for the Lopers in the 25-19 decision.
The top-five ranked team responded in the fifth, winning the first five points of the fifth set.
After growing the lead to 10-4, two kills by Dvorak sparked what would become a 7-0 run for Washburn to go up 12-10.
The Lopers had another response, winning the final five points of the match in succession to claim the match.
The Ichabods as a team hit .209 with 73 kills while Nebraska Kearney had 64 kills and hit .192. Washburn led in assists 68-60 and had a large lead in digs, 112-90, in the match. Seven less attacking errors helped the Lopers create separation in the match.
Rottinghaus scooped up 40 digs in the match while adding three assists. It is tied for the sixth most digs in a single game in program history.
Stevenson had a double-double with 15 kills and 18 digs while both Sydney Conner and Corinna McMullen had assist and dig double-doubles. Keebaugh led offensively with 17 kills while hitting .318.
Three players had double-digit kills for UNK, led by Emilee Lane with 18 and three blocks. Peyton Neff had a match-high 51 assists while adding 11 digs as well.
