By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
MARYVILLE, Mo. -- No. 15-ranked Washburn University volleyball posted a 3-1 non-conference road victory over Northwest Missouri State on Tuesday evening.
Washburn senior libero Taylor Rottinghaus scooped up 23 digs in Tuesday's 3-1 win at Northwest Missouri. [File photo/TSN]
The Ichabods will return home for two MIAA matches this weekend, starting with Arkansas-Fort Smith on Friday at 6 p.m.
A tight first set went 25-20 in favor of Washburn, now 12-3 on the season.
The Bearcats (5-7) evened the match with a 25-23 victory in the second set, but the Ichabods took control early in the third to win 25-17 and pulled away late to win 25-21 in the fourth set, clinching the match.
The home squad opened the match with a 6-2 lead early in the first before Washburn responded with a 7-1 rally to lead 10-8 after Autumn Gibbs landed a service ace.
Another ace, this time from Shannon Frakes, pushed the lead to six points shortly after.
Northwest Missouri worked its way back into the set, pulling as close as two points at 22-20 before a kill from Emma Siron started a three-point rally to end the first set 25-20.
Both sides went back and forth throughout the entire second set, trading points and runs.
There were 18 ties in the set, with the largest run by either team being three points. After a 4-1 run late that started with a kill from Brynne Topolski, the Ichabods led 22-21. After that point the Bearcats took four of the next five points to secure the set 25-23 and tie the match.
Washburn jumped in front early in the third leading 6-0 after Siron landed an ace. The lead grew to 13-3 with three straight points, capped by a kill from Kennedy Derks.
Northwest Missouri strung together multiple runs, shrinking the lead down to six points at 22-16 but the Ichabods were able to hold off the attack with Brookyn Morrisey providing the final point on a kill.
After the Bearcats got out to a quick 5-2 advantage in the fourth set, the next seven points went to Washburn, starting with a kill for Topolski and ending with a block from her and Derks.
Northwest Missouri quickly rallied right back with five in a row, going back in front. Another 7-0 run for the Ichabods put them back in front 20-16 after an ace from Siron. Siron would provide the final two kills of the match as Washburn held on to win 25-21.
The Ichabods finished the match hitting .206 as a team with 50 kills while the Bearcats were held to .095 hitting and 44 kills. Digs went 75-66 in favor of Washburn as did assists, 45-37.
Topolski slashed 12 kills while hitting .385 and on the defensive end provided eight digs and six blocks.
Siron led the offense with 16 kills while hitting .250 and also added three aces and seven digs.
Shawnee Heights product Taylor Rottinghaus scooped up 23 digs in the four sets while Frakes delivered 34 assists and six digs.
Northwest Missouri State was led by Sophia Gartner with 17 kills while Ellery Luhring had 25 digs.
