By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
No. 3 seed Washburn University volleyball snapped a two-match MIAA Tournament losing streak on Thursday afternoon in St. Joseph, Mo., taking a 3-1 quarterfinal win over No. 6 seed Central Missouri.
Washburn volleyball is headed to the MIAA Tournament semifinals after a 3-1 win over Central Missouri Thursday in St. Joseph, Mo. [File photo/TSN]
The 25-3 Ichabods, who had been eliminated in the MIAA quarterfinals the previous two seasons, now move into the semifinal round where they will face No. 7 seed Pittsburg State at 5 p.m. on Friday.
A strong start for Washburn led to a 25-17 win in the opening set. The Jennies (20-8) took control early in the second set to win 25-11, but the Ichabods were able to bounce back, winning 25-17 in the third and closing out the match, 25-12.
An early four-point burst capped off by a block by Bella Limback and Austin Broadie gave Washburn a 4-1 lead. The lead grew to six points at 12-6 after three more points in a row by the three seed.
Natalie Hedlund found the floorboard for a kill that pushed the lead to 19-11 but was followed by a 6-2 run for Central Missouri to pull within four. The Ichabods closed out the set with the final four points, and final three on kills coming on passes from Corinna McMullen.
The Jennies got out to a 7-2 start in the second set, with the lead growing to 15-4 after an 8-1 run. Washburn didn't score consecutive points in the set as the Central Missouri offense hit a blazing .394 in the set.
After falling behind 3-1 early in the third set, a four-point run gave the Ichabods control of the set. The Jennies hung around and pulled within one point at 14-13 before Limback started a three-point burst with a kill. Washburn took control of the set with five more in a row, leading 23-15 after a Broadie and Brooklyn Morrisey block. They wrapped up the set to lead 2-1 in the match.
The momentum carried over into the fourth as the Ichabods jumped out to a 10-0 lead. The advantage grew to 14-2 after Limback and Brynne Topolski made a rejection. Both sides contributed as the Washburn offense hit .419 in the set while holding the Jennies to a -.118 hitting percentage defensively. Hedlund delivered the final blow with a kill to win 25-12 and 3-1.
With the blazing fourth set the Ichabods hit .223 in the match with 47 kills while Central Missouri was held to .041 hitting and 40 kills. Washburn led 45-37 in assists, 61-55 in digs and had a big 14-7 advantage in blocks.
MIAA Player of the Year Broadie finished with 13 kills and five blocks. Limback added eight kills while hitting .429. Morrisey led the defensive effort at the net, recording 10 blocks, a season-high for any Ichabod. McMullen had a double-double with 25 assists and 12 digs while Taylor Rottinghaus scooped 16 digs.
Rachel Ziesman led the Jennies with 17 kills and Kayla Baer had 35 assists.
