TOPEKA, Kan. – The Missouri western volleyball team got off to a tremendous start but couldn’t hold off a comeback at No. 15 Washburn Saturday afternoon.

Missouri Western took the first set 25-16, but dropped the next three to fall in four sets to the Ichabods.
Neither team was that efficient on the attack with Washburn hitting .178 and Missouri Western hitting .170. The teams were close in kills with Washburn totaling just six more. The Ichabods had 70 kills and MWSU had 64. A big difference was Washburn’s five aces to Missouri Western’s one.

Blair Russell led Missouri Western with 13 kills, a career-high for the junior. Kayla Ruff also set a new career mark, for the second-straight night with 34 digs. Rachel Friedrichs had 12 kills and Jessie Thorup had 11. The loss dropped Missouri Western’s overall record to 15-5 and 7-2 in the MIAA. The team will continue a five-match road trek with trips to Missouri Southern, Southwest Baptist and Truman State.

— MWSU Athletics —