By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Washburn University volleyball stayed unbeaten at home, extended its winning streak to four matches and equaled its win total from 2024 with an MIAA sweep over Northwest Missouri State on Tuesday evening in Lee Arena.
Washburn improved to 17-4 on the season with a 3-0 home MIAA sweep over Northwest Missouri Tuesday night. [Photo courtesy of Washburn Athletics]
The Ichabods will play a second mid-week match at 6 p.m. Wednesday against No. 23-ranked Missouri Western.
After trailing early in the first set Washburn (17-4 overall, 8-3 MIAA) was able to work a 25-17 victory before rolling in the next two sets, 25-14 and 25-17.
A 3-0 run for the Bearcats (12-9, 6-5) put them up 8-4 in the first set and forced a timeout by the Ichabods.
Out of the break they began to chip away at the lead and were able to tie the set at 13 after a kill by Cair Paravel Latin product Taryn Pridgett. With the score 17-16 Washburn, a kill by Austin Broadie sparked a 4-0 run that would turn into a larger 8-1 burst to finish out the set 25-17 on a kill by Alex Dvorak.
In the second set it was the Ichabods jumping out ahead, scoring the first five points capped with a service ace by Corinna McMullen.
The run continued for Washburn, growing the lead to double digits at 13-3 after the first of back-to-back aces for Shawnee Heights graduate Taylor Rottinghaus.
The Ichabod offense continued to churn, as they hit .412 in the set with 17 kills. The 25-14 set was wrapped up on a kill by Abby Leaf.
It was the same story in the third set as Washburn jumped out to a 7-0 lead with two aces from McMullen sandwiched in the middle of the run. Both sides traded points throughout the middle of the set.
A 3-0 burst from Northwest Missouri pulled them within five but the Ichabods came back with three points of their own. Washburn was able to finish off the set and match with two points in a row.
WU avenged an earlier five-set road loss at Northwest.
As a team the Ichabods hit .254 with 45 kills while holding the Bearcats to a .140 hitting percentage and just 25 kills. Defensively they scooped up more digs, 70-48, and also dished out more assists with 40 compared to 25 for the visitors.
McMullen dished out a team-high 26 assists while adding 11 digs for a double-double. She also served seven aces, tied for the third most in a match in program history.
Emery Keebaugh had 10 kills to pace Washburn offensively. Dvorak had nine kills while hitting .533 and adding four blocks.
Rottinghaus paced the defense with 20 digs.
Payton Kirchhoefer had eight kills for Northwest Missouri to lead the way. Ella Caffery had 16 assists.
