TOPEKA, Kan. -- The Pittsburg State Volleyball team came out of the gates strong, shocking the No. 13 Washburn Ichabods with a 25-23 win in the first set on Friday (Nov. 7) evening. The home team came back with a vengance, winning the next three consecutive sets, 25-12, 25-20 and 25-13, to win the match 3-1. 

The Gorillas tallied 14 kills with only six errors and three team blocks in the first set. Madi Mosier and Paula Okrutna led the team with four kills a piece, while Haylee Gregory added three more. The Gorillas hit .211 for the set, while holding Washburn to just a .114 attack percentage.

Pitt State only managed only four kills with seven errors in the second set, while the Ichabods bumped their total up to 15. The Gorillas bumped up their effort again in the third set, adding 14 more kills, keeping the set close. Washburn hit well in the fourth and final set, putting up 17 kills with only two errors to seal the win. 

Maggie Highberger led the Gorillas with 12 kills. Mosier added 10. Okrutna recorded eight kills and a team-high five blocks. Haylee Gregory put down seven kills and four blocks. Ashley Bell also had four blocks, as the Gorillas had 10 total team blocks on the night, one more than Washburn. Hayley Hansford recorded a double-double with 37 assists and 11 digs. Ashlen Schwartz led all players with 24 digs. 

Pitt State will continue play on Saturday (Nov. 8) with a 7 p.m. match at Emporia State.