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Senior libero Faith Rottinghaus tied Washburn University's single-match dig record and three Ichabods finished with double-digit kills as No. 1 Washburn volleyball won another top-10 battle on Saturday with a four-set victory at No. 7 Central Missouri.
Washburn defeated the Jennies, 25-14, 19-25, 25-19, 25-23, improving to 12-1 overall and 4-0 in the MIAA.
Former Shawnee Heights standout Faith Rottinghaus tied Washburn's school record for single-match digs with 51 in Saturday's 3-1 win at Central Missouri. [File photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Rottinghaus, a former Shawnee Heights state champ, dominated defensively as her 51 digs tied the program's single-match record, which another Heights grad, Erica Cowhick, set in 2006 in a five-set match at Pittsburg State.
Rottinghaus is now the record-holder for the most digs in a four-set match, finishing with seven more than Cowhick did in 2006 against Northwest Missouri.
With the score knotted up at three to start the match, Washburn went in front on a service error by Central Missouri (10-2, 3-1) and led for the remainder of the opening set. The Ichabods won six of the final eight points as they cruised to an 11-point victory.
The Jennies jumped out to an 10-3 advantage in the second set, thanks to a 7-0 scoring run. Genna Berg put an end to the run with a kill and the Ichabods started to chip away at the deficit, winning five of the next seven points to pull within four at 12-8.
UCM responded with another mini-run to create some space at 16-9. Washburn continued to fight and got within three points at 17-14 and then at 22-19, but were unable to complete the comeback as Central Missouri evened the match with its 25-19 win.
Allison Maxwell hammered down a kill to start the third set and Washburn quickly took a 4-1 lead. Central Missouri got within one at 6-5, but a 6-1 scoring run and then a 7-1 scoring run by the Ichabods pushed their lead to 22-12. Washburn held off a late 7-2 rally by the Jennies and won the set by six points on a Jennies service error.
The fourth set went back and forth early before the Ichabods went on a 4-1 run to go in front, 8-6.
A kill from Sydney Fitzgibbons was followed by two kills by Kelsey Gordon to make the score 12-8 in Washburn's favor.
Holding a tight 15-14 lead, the Ichabods created some breathing room with a 4-0 run before the Jennies battled their way back into the match and evened the score at 23.
The Ichabods won the final two points with kills from Gordon and Maxwell to take the match.
Washburn hit .249 in the match while Central Missouri finished at a .201 clip. The Ichabods had 62 kills, five more than the Jennies, and held a slight edge in aces, 4-3. Washburn had a strong showing defensively, making 10 total blocks at the net and recording 104 digs.
Washburn senior Genna Berg had a match-high 18 kills in Saturday's 3-1 Ichabod win at Central Missouri. [File photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Berg led all players with 18 kills and was a part of five blocks. Maxwell and Gordon both knocked down 13 kills and hit above .300. Jalyn Stevenson contributed eight kills and 12 digs. Allison Sadler dished out 49 assists and added seven digs.
Three Jennies also recorded double-figure kills, led by Sydney Lierz with 14.
The Ichabods begin a five-match homestand on Friday, hosting Newman (6 p.m.)
MATCH RESULTS
Washburn def. Central Missouri, 25-14, 19-25, 25-19, 25-23,.
