By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
No. 7-ranked Washburn volleyball's MIAA Tournament run came to an end in the championship match on Saturday night in St. Joseph, Mo., with the Ichabods falling 3-0 to No. 3 Nebraska Kearney.
Washburn volleyball will find out its NCAA Tournament destination during Monday's NCAA selection show. [File photo/TSN]
The Ichabods' NCAA Tournament destiny will be determined on Monday at 6:30 p.m. in the selection show on NCAA.com.
The Lopers (29-3) jumped in front right away to win 25-14 in the first set. Washburn (26-4) made a run in the second set before falling just short, 25-22. Nebraska Kearney closed out the match, winning 25-15 in the third.
The first six points of the match all went to the Lopers, forcing the Ichabods to call timeout.
Shortly after that, a 5-1 Lopers run pushed the lead into double figures. Washburn held off set point twice with kills by Emery Keebaugh and Brooklyn Morrisey but Nebraska-Kearney got the final point to end the set.
Washburn got out to a quick start in the second set, leading 6-3 after Sydney Conner set up Brynne Topolski for a kill. The Lopers responded back with seven straight points to pull in front.
The lead reached seven points at 16-9 before the Ichabods started to chip away. Morrissey knocked down a kill that started a 8-1 burst, with Austin Broadie tying the match at 17 on a kill.
Nebraska Kearney won the next two points and didn't look back, going on to win 25-22.
In the third set Washburn fell behind 10-5 early. The Lopers offense hit an efficient .400 in the set, keeping the Ichabods down as the deficit reached double figures again before Nebraska-Kearney closed out the match winning 25-15.
Washburn finished the match hitting .194 with 36 kills, while the Lopers had 40 kills and hit .316. Both sides managed 34 assists while Nebraska Kearney led 11-2 in aces and 42-39 in digs.
Keebaugh came off the bench to lead the Ichabods with nine kills, hitting .316. Conner had a team-high 16 assists with four digs while Taylor Rottinghaus scooped up 11 digs.
Sydney Davis led Nebraska-Kearney with 10 kills and hit .600, while Peyton Neff had 32 assists in the match.
