Box Score Kearney, Neb. – Junior Marissa Cox had a team-high 18 kills to help the 11th-ranked Washburn Ichabods rally past 7th-ranked Nebraska-Kearney in five sets (13-15, 24-26, -17, -19, -13) Tuesday night at the Health & Sports Center.

With the loss, the Lopers (26-4, 12-3) will likely be the third seed in the MIAA Tournament, which starts next week.

UNK is at 5th-ranked Central Missouri (27-1, 13-1) Friday night and the result of that match will determine if UCM or Washburn (29-4, 14-1) wins the 2013 MIAA regular season champ.

The Mules, who host Fort Hays State (13-17, 3-11) Friday, swept the 'Bods earlier this season in Topeka.Washburn closes out the regular season Friday at Lindenwood (9-19, 6-8).

In last year's regular season finale, Kearney came back from a 2-0 hole to beat Washburn in five sets (22-25, 18-25, -13, -25, -17), ending a 51-match home court winning streak on "Senior Night."

The 'Bods turned the tables on the Lopers tonight as they recorded 12.0 team blocks and limited UNK to 30 kills over the final three sets.

After controlling the third and fourth sets, Washburn got out to leads of 5-2 and 10-4 in the final stanza. The Lopers, who rallied from a 16-10 hole to win the second set, tried to come back once again as they went on a 7-2 run.

This stretch featured an ace by junior libero Liz McGowan (GI Central Catholic), kills by seniors Ashley Leitner (Lincoln SW) and Katie Sokolowski (Kearney Catholic) and a combined block by sophomore setter Erin Seele (Johnstown, Colo.) and freshman middle Bailey Sokolowski (Kearney Catholic).

The 'Bods called a timeout to regroup and then promptly got the ball to Cox, who recorded her 16th kill of the match for a 13-11 lead. The 6-0 right side started the night slow, having two kills and five errors in the first set.  

Two kills by sophomore MJ Massanet (Manhattan, Kans.) were sandwiched around another kill by Cox. The match ended when the Lopers hit one into the net, the 32nd miscue of the night.

UNK had six more kills than Washburn, 60-54, but that was negated by having six more errors, 32-26. Both teams had seven aces and five service errors while the Lopers dug up nine more balls, 89-80. Finally, Washburn out hit UNK by 10 points, .157-.147

After that subzero start, Cox hit .239 (18-7-46) and also provided five blocks. Next, Corrine Stringer had 10 kills, setter Abby Wittman had 46 assists and 20 digs and Hannah Frierdich had eight blocks and four kills.

Massanet (18), Leitner (16) and the elder Sokolowski (14) each had a double digit kill total with the younger Sokolowski at a team-best three blocks. Defensively, Massanet had 23 digs with McGowan getting to 20 balls.