By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
No. 9-ranked Washburn University volleyball picked up its first victory of the year over a nationally ranked team in dominant fashion on Saturday afternoon in Whiting Fieldhouse, knocking off No. 2 Nebraska-Kearney in three sets.
Washburn volleyball knocked off No. 2 Nebraska-Kearney for its fifth straight sweep Saturday at Whiting Fieldhouse. [File photo/TSN]
It was a back-and-forth affair in the first set, but after coming away with a 25-21 win, Washburn (17-1 overall, 6-1 in the MIAA) didn't look back, winning 25-13 and 25-14 in the final two sets over the Lopers (18-2, 5-2 MIAA) to post its fifth straight 3-0 sweep.
The win over Nebraska-Kearney was the highest-ranked victory for Washburn since Sept. 18, 2021 when the Ichabods also defeated the Lopers, who were ranked No. 1 in the nation at the time.
The Ichabods' 17-1 start matches the best start to a season since 2021 when Washburn also began the season 17-1.
Within the first 16 points of the match there were six ties as both sides traded blows. A eight-point rally from the Ichabods began with Brynne Topolski slashing a kill and ended at 14-8 after Austin Broadie delivered back-to-back kills.
Nebraska-Kearney came nearly all the way back, getting within one point, but Washburn had an answer, landing four straight points with a block by Limback and Keilah Rivers capping off the rally. Broadie eventually landed another kill to end the set at 25-21.
The momentum carried over into the second set for the Ichabods as they jumped out to a 6-0 run with the last three points all coming from Alex Dvorak on a solo block and two kills. Also at the net, Limback and Emery Keebaugh combined for a block to make it 10-2 and force another Loper timeout. Washburn eventually pushed the lead to double-digits at 22-12 before taking three of the final four points to win 25-13.
After going back and forth early in the third set the Ichabod offense took over beginning with a 4-0 run to go up 14-9. Shortly after that Washburn reeled off a 9-2 run as the team hit .500 in the set with 14 kills and just one error. It was a pair of service errors by Nebraska-Kearney that ended the set and match to complete the sweep.
The Ichabod offense delivered another ultra-efficient outing, hitting .323 with 46 kills while holding the Lopers to just a .115 hitting percentage with 30 kills. Washburn controlled the defensive side as well with a 53-31 dig advantage while also leading in assists 40-26.
Dvorak led the offensive showing, slashing 10 kills in 13 attempts for a .769 hitting percentage. Rivers also had 10 kills while hitting .368 and adding seven digs. Topolski knocked down nine kills and hit .412.
Corinna McMullen nearly had a double-double finishing with 17 assists and nine digs while Taylor Rottinghaus had 13 digs.
Carly Purdy led Nebraska-Kearney with eight kills, while Peyton Neff had 21 assists.
Washburn will stay at home this week for a Thursday night match against Central Missouri and a Friday match against Missouri Southern. Both matches will start at 6 p.m.
