By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Washburn University volleyball finished off its home regular-season schedule with a Lee Arena sweep over Fort Hays State Saturday on Senior Day.
Washburn volleyball celebrates an assist during Saturday's Senior Day sweep over Fort Hays State. [Photo By Rick Peterson/TSN]
The Ichabods will close out their regular season on the road, beginning with Central Oklahoma at 6 p.m. on Friday.
Cair Paravel product Taryn Pridgett (18) was honored Saturday at Lee Arena as part of Washburn volleyball's Senior Day festivities. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Former Seaman standout Maddie Steiner (17) was one of five Washburn seniors recognized Saturday on Senior Day. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Before Saturday's match Washburn honored seniors Emma Williams, Jalyn Stevenson, Maddie Steiner, Taryn Pridgett and Austin Broadie.
After the celebration the Ichabods (19-5 overall, 10-4 MIAA) got to work with 25-13, 25-15 and 25-17 set victories over the Tigers (12-11, 4-10).
The first four points of the match all went to the home squad as Stevenson and Bella Limback combined for a block for the fourth point.
Back-to-back kills by Alex Dvorak pushed the lead to 9-2 in favor of Washburn. The lead grew to double digits as part of a 5-0 run to make it 21-10. Both sides traded blows down the stretch as the Ichabods eased into a 12-point victory.
A 6-1 run capped off by a kill from Emery Keebaugh gave Washburn an 8-3 lead in the second set.
Fort Hays State hung within four points until a kill by Stevenson began another 6-1 stretch to help WU go up 18-9. The Ichabod offense hit .364 as a team with 14 kills in the set as they took a commanding 2-0 lead with a 25-15 win.
The Tigers held a brief lead to begin the third set before Broadie slashed a kill to jump-start a 5-0 run.
Washburn extended the lead to as many as nine points at 15-6 before the Tigers began to chip away, pulling within four at 19-15.
But Stevenson found the floor twice in a row after that, part of a four-point burst for the Ichabods to close the door on the set and match.
Washburn hit .317 as a team with 47 kills to only nine errors. Fort Hays State was limited to a .065 attacking percentage on 30 kills and 23 errors. The Ichabods had advantages in assists, 43-30 and in blocks, 9-2, while the Tigers tallied 51 digs, two more than the 49 for Washburn.
Keebaugh had a match-high 12 kills and hit .346 in the match. Corinna McMullen had a 23-assist, 11-dig double-double while Taylor Rottinghaus added 15 digs. Stevenson was also in double figures on the offensive side with 10 kills.
Gracie Rains had 11 kills to lead Fort Hays State, Kirsten Evans had a team-high 13 digs.
