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No. 8-ranked Washburn University volleyball claimed a share of its seventh MIAA title and sixth MIAA regular-season championship with a 3-0 Senior Day sweep of Arkansas-Fort Smith on Saturday afternoon in Whiting Fieldhouse.

 

 

While Washburn coach Chris Herron's long-term focus is on earning an NCAA Tournament berth, he said earning a share of the regular-season conference championship was also big for his team.

 

"It was one of their big goals,'' Herron said. "One of their five goals this year was to win the conference championship, so I'm happy for them.

 

"It's the first time in a long time we've won the conference championship, so I couldn't be more happy with them.''

 

Washburn, which improved to 24-3 overall and 13-3 in the MIAA, breezed through the first two sets with 25-14 and 25-9 wins over the Lions. The Ichabods were slowed in the third set before pulling away late to sweep the Lions (13-16, 3-13) with a 25-23 win.

Shawnee Heights product Kali Henry (right) is congratulated by her Washburn teammates during a long service run in Saturday's 3-0 MIAA sweep over Arkansas-Fort Smith. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]

Prior to the match seniors Austin Broadie, Sydney Conner, Alex Dvorak, Kali Henry, Bella Limback and Corinna McMullen were recognized.  

The Ichabods got to work right away in the first set, leading 8-3 after Limback and Natalie Hedlund combined for a block. Later on McMullen served an ace that capped off a 3-0 run to put Washburn up 18-10. The offense went on to hit .333 in the set as they eased to the 11-point first-set win.  

After Arkansas-Fort Smith took the first point in the second set, the next seven came from the Ichabods with the run wrapped up on a kill by Broadie on a pass from McMullen. Shortly after that a 6-0 run pushed the lead to double figures at 14-3. Washburn led by as many as 16 points, including the final margin.

The third set began the same with the Ichabods leading 6-2 after a pair of kills by Broadie and one by Limback. This time the Lions answered back, rallying to tie the set at seven.

Washburn built the lead up to four but Arkansas-Fort Smith responded, forcing three ties in the middle of the set and taking a 22-21 lead after scoring three in a row.

Brynne Topolski slashed kills on three of the next four points to force match point and Broadie finished the regular season with a kill at 25-23. 

For the match Washburn hit .296 with 52 kills while holding Arkansas-Fort Smith to 19 total kills and a .047 hitting percentage. Digs went in favor of the Ichabods 47-36 along with assists, 43-18.

Shawnee Heights product Kali Henry (right) is congratulated by her Washburn teammates during a long service run in Saturday's 3-0 MIAA sweep over Arkansas-Fort Smith. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]  

Broadie led the way with 15 kills while hitting .444 and Topolski added 14 hitting an even .500. Limback had nine kills and hit a team-high .643.

Conner had 19 assists while McMullen had 17 with six digs and Taylor Rottinghaus had a team-high 13 digs.  

Crystal Smith led the Lions with six kills in the match.