By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Allison Sadler certainly wasn't the only reason Washburn University's volleyball team avenged an earlier loss to Northwest Missouri with a 3-1 victory Saturday at Lee Arena.
But the return of the Ichabods' All-MIAA senior setter was definitely a big factor as WU improved to 9-3 on the season with a 25-19, 24-26, 25-18, 25-16 win over the Bearcats, the Ichabods' fourth straight victory.
Northwest Missouri, which fell to 6-2, had handed Washburn its first loss of the spring season back on Feb. 24, with the Bearcats taking a 3-1 win at Maryville, Mo. as the Ichabods were still trying to adjust to playing without Sadler.
Washburn senior setter Allison Sadler helped the Ichabods avenge an earlier loss to Northwest Missouri with a 3-1 home win Saturday. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
"At the time we had a weird situation in the fact that Allison is in law school and it was just too much for her (going to school and playing),'' Washburn coach Chris Herron said. "I encouraged her to step away. I said, 'You've got to be happy and you're not happy,' so she stopped playing, but she stopped playing the day before we were supposed to play (Northwest) and that gave us no time at all to prep for them. They're a good team and they took it to us.''
Washburn turned the tables in Saturday's rematch, however, with Sadler back in her customary role.
"Allison kind of got a refresher and after a couple of weeks said, 'Hey, wait! I'm going to make it work,' and she came back. She only comes to practice once a week, on Wednesdays, and then plays with us on the weekends. She's kind enough to do that and it makes a big difference.''
Washburn is also without its other setter, Alaina Dunlavy, who is out for the season, making Sadler's return even more important for the Ichabods.
"(Dunlavy) tore her rotator cuff and she just had surgery (Friday),'' Herron said. "So we didn't have a setter and that's why Genna Berg is setting and you're taking one of your best hitters out of the lineup to set. That's what we did the first time we played (the Bearcats), which didn't work.
"They're a good team and we're ecstatic about beating them and excited about where we're at and where we're going.''
Washburn's volleyball team celebrates a point during Saturday's 3-1 win over Northwest Missouri. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Washburn trailed 1-0 and 2-1 and there were four ties in the first set before WU used an 8-1 run, including a pair of service aces from Emporia native Kelsey Gordon, to take a commanding 12-5 lead.
The Bearcats got back within 3 points twice, including 21-18, before the Ichabods ended the set with a 4-1 run, including a set-capping kill from Berg.
Washburn's Genna Berg attempts a spike during Saturday's MIAA match against Northwest Missouri. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Washburn trailed 11-6 and 13-9 in the second set, but battled back to take a 24-23 lead on a service ace from Sydney Pullen before the Bearcats scored 3 straight points for a 26-24 win.
Northwest led 12-9 in the third set, but Allison Maxwell and Halle Meister came up big at the net as WU ended the set with a 9-2 run for a 25-18 win.
The Ichabods then went wire to wire in the fourth set to close out the match win.
After being sidelined the entire fall season due to COVID-19, it took the Ichabods a while to get used to playing in the spring, but Herron said he and his team are grateful for the chance to be back in action.
"I'm trying to not even know that it's spring,'' Herron said. "I'm just happy that we're playing and we're getting an opportunity. I think that's kind of how I'm taking it and how the kids are taking it.''
The Ichabods will play two home matches in Lee Arena next Saturday, with Washburn taking on Emporia State at 10 a.m. before closing out the day against Newman at 2:30 p.m.
MATCH RESULTS
Washburn def. Northwest Missouri, 25-19, 24-26, 25-18, 25-16.
