By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
GUNNISON, Colo. -- Washburn University volleyball split its final two matches on Saturday in the Mountaineer Volleyball Classic, winning 3-1 over Western New Mexico before falling 3-2 to Texas A&M Kingsville in the nightcap.
Washburn senior Jalyn Stevenson (right) registered 29 kills on Saturday as the Ichabods split their final two matches in the Mountaineer Classic. [Photo courtesy of Washburn Athletics]
The Ichabods head to Pittsburg next week for the PSU Regional Challenge.
In Saturday's first match of the day Washburn extended its set winning streak to 17 before falling in set three to the Mustangs.
In match two, the Ichabods fell for the first time this season in a five-set affair to the Javelinas.
Match one: Washburn 3, Western New Mexico 1
Washburn got off to a quick start in the first set with kills from Brynne Topolski and Alex Dvorak putting the Ichabods up, 9-3.
Both sides traded points until a 7-0 run for the Ichabods, starting with another kill from Dvorak, pushed the lead to double figures at 21-9.
Washburn held the Mustangs (2-5) to just six kills and an even zero hitting percentage in the first set to take it 25-12.
In the next set it was Western New Mexico that jumped ahead early, leading 7-4.
WU answered with a 3-0 run from the Ichabods that put them back in front on a block from Dvorak and Jalyn Stevenson.
The burst began what would be a 9-2 run to go in front 15-10. Washburn was outkilled 19 to 13 in the second set but were able to work a 25-19 win with four blocks and only two hitting errors in the set from the team in navy.
The Mustangs began the third set with a slight advantage until a 6-1 run put them in command up, 16-10.
A few errors from Western New Mexico let the Ichabods back into the set at 17-16, and a few points later they took the lead as Stevenson and Dvorak came up with a block again.
After hitting under .150 as a team the first two sets the Mustangs hit .324 in the third set, winning the next three points and claiming its first set, 25-23.
Both teams traded the first 20 points of the fourth set. Washburn created some separation with a three-point rally but it was quickly erased with three in a row from Western New Mexico.
After trailing by two at 17-15, the Ichabods won six straight points with the final three coming on kills assisted by Sydney Conner to go up, 21-17. The run kept the Ichabods ahead the rest of the way to hold on for a 25-21 win.
Washburn hit .313 as a team with 61 kills in the match. The Mustangs hit .160 with 48 kills and 23 errors across four sets. The Ichabods held a 58-42 advantage in assists and led in digs 62-55.
Stevenson led all players with 14 kills while hitting .343 and adding four blocks. Dvorak had seven blocks to go along with nine kills and a .474 hitting percentage. Corinna McMullen had 23 assists to go with nine digs while Taylor Rottinghaus had a team-high 12 digs.
Jazmyne Walker finished with 11 kills and 10 digs for Western New Mexico.
Match two: Texas A&M University Kingsville 3, Washburn 2
After trading points early on Washburn (6-1) used a service error to reel off four straight points and go up by three in the first set.
Another flurry of four points in a row, beginning with a kill from Stevenson put the first set out of reach as the Ichabods hit .344 as a team en route to a 25-?? win.
The Javelinas (6-2) responded with a 7-4 lead to open the second set before Washburn quickly rallied to tie it.
Three kills in a row put the Ichabods ahead and shortly after a four-point rally capped off by a kill from Austin Broadie put them ahead 18-14. The lead grew to as many as seven points before Texas A&M Kingsville reeled off seven of eight to pull within one.
Washburn reached set point at 24-22 but the next points went the other direction as the Javelinas took the second set, 26-24.
An ace from Stevenson put the Ichabods up 6-2 early in the third as they bounced back.
They extended the lead to six points on a block from Broadie before the Javelinas netted a few points to pull within three.
A three-point burst from Washburn that began with Stevenson and Bella Limback teaming up for a block gave them a cushion to finish off the set 25-17 and go up 2-1.
Through the first 18 points of the fourth set Texas A&M Kingsville remained in front but never by more than two points.
After a kill from Dvorak the Javelinas won six of the next seven points to build a five-point lead.
Kingsville hit just .029 as a team in the third set and raised it by almost 200 points, hitting .216 in the fourth with 16 kills.
The Ichabods came on strong late, winning three straight to pull within one. Down the stretch the Javelinas' offense forced a fifth set with a 25-22 victory.
Washburn began the fifth set with a 3-0 lead, and was in front 9-4 after a kill from Emery Keebaugh. Then Texas A&M Kingsville reeled off six straight, five coming on errors or blocks, to take the lead.
An ace from WU's Maddie Steiner tied things up at 13 and both sides split the next six points before the Javelinas knocked down two kills in a row to take the match.
The Ichabods outkilled TAMUK 60-59 and had one less error in the match. The Javelinas had a slight advantage with a .159 attack percentage to .147 for Washburn. Assists were close, going 54-52 to Texas A&M Kingsville, which also had a 72-58 advantage in digs.
Three players from the Ichabods finished with double-digit kills.
Stevenson had 15 while Limback and Dvorak had 12 and 11, respectively. McMullen had a 24-assist and 12-dig double-double.
Ayanna Jackson had 12 kills for the Javelinas while hitting .320.
