By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
For the first time since 1984 Washburn University volleyball took to Whiting Fieldhouse Friday and the 41-year streak of not being beaten in the Fieldhouse continued with 3-0 sweeps over Truman State and Minnesota State-Moorhead on Day 1 of the Washburn Invitational.
Washburn volleyball improved to 6-0 with a pair of Friday wins in the Washburn Invitational. [Photo courtesy of Washburn Athletics]
The No. 12-ranked Ichabods will finish out the tournament on Saturday with a 10 a.m. meeting with Newman and a 6 p.m. contest with William Jewell.
Now 6-0 on the season, Washburn kicked the tournament off with a 25-15 first-set victory over Truman before knocking out the Bulldogs (1-5) with 25-20 and 25-21 wins in the next two sets.
After falling behind 4-2 the Ichabods made up ground quickly, forcing six ties in the first 20 points.
A 5-1 run started by a kill from Keilah Rivers pulled Washburn in front, 15-11. The Ichabods held on to the advantage with a strong offensive effort, hitting .538 as a team in the set. A 6-1 run down the stretch ended set at 25-15 on a block from Rivers and Bella Limback.
A kill by Alex Dvorak led off the second set, with Washburn pulling in front of Truman State, 6-1. The lead reached double figures on consecutive aces by Sydney Conner to give the Ichabods an 18-7 advantage. Truman State picked up its offense, hitting .150 points higher in the second set than the first, to pull within four points. Austin Broadie put the set away with a kill down the line, ending it at 25-20.
The first three points of set three belonged to the home team, with the run capped off by an ace from Autumn Gibbs. The Bulldogs rallied with a 5-1 run to go in front. Washburn fired back, winning seven of the next eight points, going ahead 11-6 on an ace by Rivers. Truman State kept the set within six points the rest of the way but the Ichabods held off the comeback bids. Broadie ended a second consecutive set, and the match, for a 25-21 set three victory.
Washburn out-hit the Bulldogs .317 to .183 in the match, with 44 kills to 30 for the visitors. Digs went in favor of the Ichabods, 47-38, as did assists, 40-28.
Brodie led all players with 11 kills while hitting .364. Limback had eight kills in 10 swings along with a team-high five blocks. Corinna McMullen paced WU with 17 assists while adding 10 digs and Taylor Rottinghaus had 14 digs.
In Washburn's second match of the day against Minnesota State-Moorhead, it required a 13-3 comeback finish in the second set, but Washburn went to 6-0 in sets for the tournament with 25-22, 25-21 and 25-22 wins over the Dragons (5-1) to hand them their first loss of the season.
After falling behind early in the first set the Ichabods went on a 5-1 run, starting with a kill by Brynne Topolski to go in front, 8-6. Minnesota State came back to tie the set at 14 with three straight points. Both teams traded points throughout the middle of the middle of the set, with four ties after the 14-14 knot. Washburn overcame seven service errors in the set, finishing it off 25-22 with three straight kills.
The Dragons jumped out to a 6-3 lead in the second set, which grew to 16-9 after a 6-1 run. A kill by Topolski sparked a five-point rally which grew into a 7-1 run, tying the set at 19. Minnesota State-Moorhead went in front 21-20 before the Ichabod offense came alive again with five straight points, including three in a row by Emery Keebaugh, to win, 25-21.
Both sides split the first 16 points of the third set. With the visitors leading 10-9, Keebaugh found the floor for a kill that began a 6-1 run. The Dragons came back with a 5-1 run of their own to tie it up again. A solo rejection by Dvorak created some separation to complete a four-point burst to put the Ichabods up, 21-17. Both sides traded points the rest of the way as Washburn held on to win 25-22 after Broadie slashed a kill to end the day.
After hitting .452 in the final set, Washburn hit .364 as a team while the Dragons hit .211. Kills went in the Ichabods' favor 49-34, as did digs, 39-34, and assists, 38-34.
Limback led the offense with 11 kills while hitting .625. Broadie and Topolski each added eight kills. McMullen directed the offense with 20 kills and Rottinghaus snagged 10 digs.
