Box Score Kearney, Neb. – The 15th-ranked Washburn Ichabods got a big match from junior Marissa Cox and scored the final three points to beat 5th-ranked Nebraska-Kearney (-26, 17-25, -22, 22-25, -12) Saturday afternoon in Topeka, Kans.  

Washburn is now 15-3 (4-0) while the Lopers fall to 14-2 (4-1).

Last fall, UNK beat the 'Bods three times, including in five sets in Topeka. In that match, the Lopers won the fourth (-25) and fifth (-17) sets to end Washburn's 51-match home court win streak.

That same scenario almost happened again as UNK rallied from a 21-18 deficit in the fourth set. The 7-1 run featured two kills by sophomore setter Erin Seele (Johnstown, Colo.) and a block by freshman outside Kinslie TeKolste (Lincoln) and senior middle Katie Sokolowski (Kearney Catholic).

However, Washburn got off the mat and trailed only once in the fifth set. After an ace by junior Molly O'Brien (Overland Park, Kans.) gave UNK a 9-8 lead, WU scored the next three points via two kills and a block.

The back and forth action continued as an ace by Seele knotted things at 12. But, a kill by Cox, an ace by senior libero Kelsey Leiws and a kill by senior outside Corrine Stringer gave Washburn the match.

A 6-0 right side, Cox hit .327 en route to a team-high 21 kills. She also provided eight blocks and six digs. Next, Omaha freshman outside Leanna Willer had 13 kills and a team-high 22 digs with Stringer at 16 kills and three blocks coming off the bench.

Washburn out hit Kearney by 42 points, .229 to .187, and registered nine more blocks, 17-8.

For UNK, sophomore MJ Massanet (Manhattan, Kans.) had 25 kills on 51 attempts with just four errors (.412 attack pct.). Her kill total is not only a career but also is just six off the school record, set by middle Jeri Walkowiak in 2010.

In the middle, Sokolowski had 17 kills, hit .289 and had four blocks. Off the bench, TeKolste had eight kills, three blocks and three digs with Seele at 58 assists, 20 digs, seven blocks, two aces and two blocks.

Finally, junior libero Liz McGowan (G.I. Central Catholic) had a match-high 27 digs.

UNK hosts 10th-ranked Wayne State Tuesday. The Wildcats are 12-2 heading into a Saturday night match with Minnesota State-Moorhead.