By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
The No. 9-ranked Ichabods wrapped up non-conference play on Saturday afternoon with a 3-2 win over Ouachita Baptist, also putting a finishing touch on the Comfort Inn Invitational hosted by Central Missouri.
Austin Broadie (right) had 25 kills as Washburn improved to 11-0 with a five-set win over Ouchita Baptist Saturday in Warrensburg, Mo. [File photo/TSN]
After going up 2-0 with 25-19 and 30-28 set victories, the 11-0 Ichabods saw the match tied at two after Ouachita Baptist (10-3) won 25-23 and 25-17 in the next two sets.
Washburn rebounded to win 15-9 in the final set to tie the longest winning streak overall and to start a season since 2022.
It was the Tigers that took an early lead in the first set. They led 11-7 before a four-point run by the Ichabods that was capped off by two straight kills from Austin Broadie to tie the set.
After two more ties, Washburn created separation with four more points in a row, starting on a kill by Bella Limback. Three kills in five points by Alex Dvorak extended the lead before she and Broadie ended the set at 25-19 with the final two kills.
There was a faster start in set two for the Ichabods, as they led 6-3 after Keilah Rivers found the ground for a kill. Washburn led 8-6 until Ouachita Baptist got rolling with seven straight points to put the Ichabods in their biggest deficit of the day to that point.
The lead never exchanged hands until a 4-0 Washburn run, with an ace by Taylor Rottinghaus, putting them in front 23-22. The lead shifted, with the Ichabods facing set point twice and overcoming it.
Kills by Rivers and Shannon Frakes flipped the lead with an attacking error by the Tigers ending the set at 30-28.
Washburn carried the momentum into a 5-2 lead to begin the third set. Ouachita Baptist came back with four points in a row and shortly after took six of seven to lead 13-9. The Ichabods rallied late in the set, tying it at 22 with three straight kills by Broadie. The Tigers took three of the next four points to win the set.
In the fourth the Tigers kept the rally going, starting out with a 9-3 lead. Washburn got three straight points, pulling within two after a Limback kill. The offense for Ouachita Baptist was at its best, hitting .281 as a team while the Ichabods had a match-low .025 percentage as a team in the fourth set resulting in a 25-17 loss.
With Washburn trailing 4-3 in the fifth, Limback delivered a kill and Rivers served up three straight aces as WU went in front 7-4. After the Tigers came back to tie twice the Ichabods went back to Broadie and Dvorak down the stretch, winning seven of the last eight points to take the set 15-9.
Washburn out-hit the Tigers .234 to .191 with 79 kills to just 55. Digs went in favor of the Ichabods, 92-85, and they also possessed a 76-54 advantage in assists.
Broadie delivered a career-high 25 kills while hitting .373 with four blocks. Dvorak slashed 14 kills and hit .462 and Rivers had a 13-kill and 12-dig double-double.
Corinna McMullen finished with 37 assists and 18 digs while Rottinghaus held down the backline with a match-high 28 digs.
Emily Adams led Ouachita Baptist with 19 kills. Courtney Hanson had 44 assists with 20 digs.
Washburn began the Central Missouri tourney with a pair of Friday sweeps over McKendree and Missouri S&T.
The Ichabods will take on Northwest Missouri State at 6 p.m. Friday, Sept. 26, in Whiting Fieldhouse.
