ST. JOSEPH – Griffon Volleyball (11-9, 5-7) proved a difficult win for No. 3-ranked Washburn (19-2, 11-2) Thursday night in the MWSU Fieldhouse.
 
Washburn took the first two sets, but neither by more than five points before the Griffons took the third, 25-22. Washburn avoided its first loss to a non-ranked team this season by taking control late in the fourth, 25-19.
 
Washburn led the first 21-16 before the Griffons went on a 4-1 run to cut the Ichabod lead to three, but scored just twice more as Washburn pulled away to take a 1-0 lead with a 25-21 first. The score was tied eight times in the second with four lead changes. Missouri Western had a 20-18 lead in the second, but Washburn outscored the Griffons 7-4 down the stretch to jump out to a 2-0 lead. The Griffs hit .256 in the third, trailing just once and getting three kills each from Ali Tauchen, Maryssa Recio and Allie Kerns to win 25-22. After nine ties and seven lead changes in the fourth, Washburn outscored MWSU 8-4 to close out the match with a 25-19 win.
 
NOTABLES

• The Griffons had seven blocks, one more than Washburn's six, the Ichabods' lowest total since four at No. 2 Nebraska-Kearney on Oct. 15.
• Recio matched a career-high with 15 kills and hit .333 to lead the Griffs.
• Tauchen had three kills in each of the last three sets to end with 10 and added five total blocks.
• Karly Tharp started in place of an ill Sam Duncan and chipped in a career-high seven kills.

 
UP NEXT
The Griffons get Emporia State (5-15, 1-11) in the MWSU Fieldhouse on Saturday at 6 p.m. The Griffons won in Emporia in five sets on Sept. 26. The Hornets have lost five straight and 14 of their last 15.