Box Score Kearney, Neb. – Senior outside hitter Leanna Willer had 28 kills and 15 digs to help 17th-ranked Washburn beat 3rd-ranked Nebraska-Kearney in four sets (-28, -30, 17-25, -21) Friday night in Topeka, Kan.
 
With the win, the Ichabods (15-4, 6-1) move into a first place tie with the Lopers (20-1, 6-1).
 
In a match with 36 ties and 14 lead changes, UNK registered three more team blocks (11-8), had two more digs (89-87), eight fewer attack errors (21 to 29) and hit 27 points higher than WU (.246 to .219).
 
However, the 'Bods had six more kills (73-67) and were plus six in the service game. They also made the plays down the stretch in the first, second and fourth sets.
 
UNK rallied from a 24-21 hole in the first set to lead 28-27 on a kill from sophomore outside Kendall Schroer (Ogallala). After a WU timeout, the Lopers committed a service error and then senior middle Sarah Vicory smashed home two of her 13 kills.
 
The Lopers lost that set despite having 19 kills and hitting .327. Washburn countered with 26 kills and a .316 efficiency.
 
Both teams cooled off considerably in the second set, neither reaching the .170 mark. UNK erased a 19-16 deficit by going on a 7-0 run that featured four kills and a combo block from middle Mackenzie Puckett (Grand Island) and outside Kaitlynn Thomas (Yutan).
 
The Lopers eventually led 24-20 but the 'Bods scored 12 of the next 18 points to take a 2-0 match lead. UNK's last set point came at 27-26 with WU getting four kills down the stretch, three from Willer (Elkhorn H.S).
 
Kearney hit .438 (16-2-32) to roll in the third set and then led the fourth by an 18-15 score. The 'Bods scored four straight and never trailed again with Willer closing the match with her final kill, which tied her career-high effort.
 
Vicory (.312) was efficient in reaching her kill total while right side Taylor Selk and middle Makayla Maxwell combined for 21 kills, six digs and five blocks. Finally for WU, libero Alyssa Carney dug up a match-high 33 balls.
 
Thomas paced the Lopers with 18 kills, three digs and two blocks. Senior right side Annie Wolfe (Omaha Marian H.S.) hit .394 en route to 17 kills, 18 digs and three blocks.
 
Next, Puckett had seven kills, five blocks and hit a team-best .400 with sophomore setter Lindsey Smith (Dakota Dunes, S.D.) having 60 assists, seven digs, two blocks and two kills.
 
UNK is at Emporia State Saturday afternoon.