By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
The No. 20 nationally-ranked Washburn University volleyball team (13-4 overall, 7-3 MIAA) secured a Pink Out match sweep on Thursday night in Lee Arena, grounding the Jets of Newman (0-17, 0-9) in a 3-0 sweep.
Washburn volleyball improved to 13-4 on the season Thursday night, taking a 3-0 home sweep over Newman. [Photo courtesy of Washburn Athletics]
Washburn won each set by at least 10 points beginning with a 25-10 first set victory. The Ichabods took a 25-12 win in the second and closed out the match with a 25-15 decision in the third set.
The Ichabods started the match with an ace from Corinna McMullen, which began a 7-0 start to the match.
Iyannah Jackson knocked down a kill shortly after completing a 5-0 burst for Washburn which pushed the lead into double digits at 12-2.
The Jets got four straight points to pull within five but never got closer.
Sophia Cavanaugh came off the bench to become the seventh Ichabod to record a kill in the set and ended it at 25-10.
Newman jumped out to a quick 4-1 lead in the second set, finishing it off with an ace.
Washburn quickly responded with a 7-0 run, beginning with a block from Jackson and Jalyn Stevenson.
Two points in a row from the Jets separated a burst of six straight points from Washburn, which wrapped up the win with Rachel Schwensen and Bella Limback stuffing another attack.
The lead quickly grew to double-digits and never got smaller and McMullen ended the set with an ace.
Washburn kept up the attack in the third set, with Limback and Jackson knocking down consecutive kills as WU went up 6-2.
Limback got another kill to finish off a three-point burst, the longest of the set for either team, helping Washburn go in front, 16-9.
Another three-point streak for the home team ended the match, with Rachel Schwensen swinging from the right side to end the third set, 25-15.
Washburn nearly had a .300 hitting advantage in the match, with the Ichabods hitting .383 to knock down 37 kills and Newman hitting just .096 with 22 kills and 14 errors.
Washburn hit exactly .500 in the opening set to set the tone for the match. The Ichabods also held advantages in digs, assists and in aces at 12 to four.
Stevenson and Jackson led the way with seven kills each, with Jackson hitting .875 and adding three blocks.
Sydney Conner paced the Ichabods in assists with 13 while McMullen added 11 with eight digs.
Shawnee Heights product Taylor Rottinghaus had nine digs to lead WU.
Natalie Meyer led Newman, hitting .417 and knocking down seven kills.
Washburn is on the road next Tuesday to face Nebraska-Kearney.
