Box Score

Box Score | Season Stats (html version)

PITTSBURG, Kan. -- Though the match ended in a loss, the Pittsburg State Volleyball team played very tight with No. 13 Washburn on Friday (September 27) night in John Lance Arena. Washburn (12-3, 2-0 MIAA) won the match 3-1 (30-28, 25-17, 21-25, 25-17), but Pitt State (4-8, 1-3 MIAA) stretched the first set to extra points and fought back from a 2-0 deficit to win set three.

Senior Abbie Smith was the only Gorilla with double figure kills as she led the team with 11. Crystal Whitten was just under double figures with nine kills and added 17 digs. Freshman Ashlen Schwartz led the team with 23 digs, while Jordan Rehm added 15. Pitt State was able to outblock the Ichabods 6.0 to 4.0 with Hayley Hansford, Madi Mosier and Haylee Gregory each getting two blocks.

Marissa Cox led four Ichabod players with double figure kills with 17. She added 10 digs for a double-double. Leanna Willer also recorded a double-double with 12 kills and 13 digs. Libero Kelsey Lewis led all players with 25 digs.

The first set was tight from the beginning. Washburn built a four-point lead early, but the Gorillas fought back, scoring four straight points on Washburn errors while Kirsten Erikson served to tie the set at 8-8. The score teeter back and forth and Pitt State was able to get its first lead at 13-12 with a big block from Mosier and Hansford. The Gorillas were able to get a two-point lead at 19-17 on two straight Washburn attack errors.

The Ichabods took a time out and came out swinging, regaining the lead at 20-19. From then on, the two teams were tied at each point. Washburn had a chance to win at 24-23, but a service error kept the Gorillas alive. At 25-24 Mosier came up with a big kill to tie the game again. A Washburn attack error made the score 26-25 in favor of the Gorillas, but a timely kill by Cox, tied the set again. Pitt State had another chance to take the set at 27-26, but again a Cox killed brought yet another tie. Paula Okrutna came up with a big kill for the Gorillas to give them yet another chance to win. This time it was a kill by Corrinne Stringer that tied the set. Washburn won the match as they scored the two more necessary points on Gorilla errors, finishing the set with a 30-28 score.

The second set saw Washburn take an early lead and never relenquish it for the 25-17 win.

Pitt State was down by as many as four points in the middle of the third set. 13-9. The team began to fight back and was able to tie the set at 14-14 and go ahead for the first time since the first set at 15-14 on back-to-back Washburn errors. The Gorillas only led the lead go one more time, at 17-16, but then went on a 4-0 run on Adrien Amaro's serve to go up 20-17. The team held onto the lead for the 25-21 set three win to force the fourth set. 

The Gorillas went up early in the fourth set, rattling off four straight points to start, but Washburn would go on a an 8-0 run behind the serve of Courtney Churchman to take a 13-7 lead and never look back.

Pitt State will continue MIAA play on Saturday (September 28) with a 3 p.m. home match against Emporia State in John Lance Arena.