By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
The outlook for a victory by No. 8-ranked Washburn volleyball over No. 7 Central Oklahoma didn't look particularly promising late in the second set Friday night in Whiting Fieldhouse.
Washburn celebrates one of three service aces from junior Autumn Gibbs (1) late in the second set that sparked the No. 8-ranked Ichabods to a 3-1 win over No. 7 Central Oklahoma. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Washburn junior Autumn Gibbs (right) celebrates her set-ending ace that gave the Ichabods a 25-22 win in the second set in Friday's 3-1 win over Central Oklahoma. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
After dropping a 25-23 first-set decision to the Bronchos and trailing most of the second set, six straight service points from junior Autumn Gibbs, with three aces including the final two points of the set, turned the tide as the Ichabods went on to post a 3-1 win to keep its MIAA regular-season championship hopes alive.
"Autumn turned the entire match around,'' Washburn coach Chris Herron said. "We were down and she goes six in a row, so it completely turned the match around.''
"I feel confident being able to serve aggressively because I know my teammates have got my back and I feel like I can go out there and no matter how I perform they're going have my back,'' Gibbs said.
"I had a run like that at MSU and that was pretty exciting, but it's awesome when it happens because it doesn't happen often. This is a huge win and we're super excited. We've got another one tomorrow, but it's a great win.''
After rallying for the 25-22 second-set win, Washburn (23-3 overall, 12-3 MIAA) closed out the win with 25-19 and 25-16 wins over the Bronchos (26-4, 12-4).
Washburn will close out its regular season with a 2 p.m. home match against Arkansas-Fort Smith and the Ichabods can earn a share of the regular-season championship with a win.
Both sides went back and forth early in Friday's first set with nine ties in the first 22 points of the match.
The Ichabods went in front with a 3-0 run that started and ended with kills by Brynne Topolski, making the score 14-11.
Central Oklahoma answered right back, going on an 8-2 run. Washburn pulled back within one point at 24-23 after two more kills from Topolski but the Bronchos held on to take the first set.
The Bronchose carried the momentum into an early 7-3 lead in the second. The Ichabods came alive going on a 4-1 run to pull within one after Keilah Rivers landed an ace.
Central Oklahoma came right back with three in a row and kept the lead between four and five points late in the set before Gibbs and Co. took control to even the match.
Washburn quickly jumped in front in the third and led 12-6 after a 5-1 run that included three kills by Natalie Hedlund. The Bronchos came back to pull within two but were turned away with three straight kills from the Ichabod offense that hit .459 in the set on the way to taking a 2-1 lead.
The rally continued into the fourth set, with Washburn leading 11-5 after Taylor Rottinghaus set up Hedlund for a kill.
Central Oklahoma never got closer than five the rest of the set, with the Ichabod defense holding the Bronchos to .103 hitting as WU closed out the nine-point decision to cement the come from behind victory.
Washburn hit .235 in the match with 55 kills while holding the visitors to .190 hitting and 51 kills. The Ichabods also had a 81-71 advantage in digs and 54-49 in assists.
Hedlund led the team with 15 kills, a new career high, while hitting .314 and adding three blocks. Topolski slashed 13 kills at a .333 clip and Austin Broadie had 10 kills.
Sydney Conner led the Ichabods with 26 assists and added 16 digs for a double-double while Rottinghaus paced the team with 21 scoops from the back row.
Sydney Huck had 15 kills to lead the Broncho offense while Lindsey Houran had 43 assists with 15 digs.
