Box Score Earlier this week, AU head volleyball coach Cass Dixon talked about wanting to see her team compete. That was her goal no matter the competition, to go out and compete for as long as it took and try to get a positive result.
Even though this AU team has five seniors, it's a team that's also going to rely on a group of underclassmen. Young and old got a good lesson on Friday (Sept. 6) at the Ferris State Bulldog Invitational where seventh ranked Washburn defeated the Eagles, 3-1.
Dixon's team certainly competed. AU lost the first two sets, 25-18 and 25-11 but instead of folding and callling it an afternoon, the Eagles pushed ahead and won the third set, 25-22. The Ichabods closed out the event with a 25-18 win in the fourth set.
Ashland is 1-1 and on Saturday, will face Missouri-St. Louis and California (Pa.).
The Ichabods had a .667 hitting percentage (13-1-18) in taking the first set. In the second set, the teams were deadlocked, 9-9. The Ichabods went on a 15-1 run to take a 24-10 lead and that salvo left the Eagles looking a 2-0 hole.
In the third stanza, AU took a 15-14 lead on a Washburn attack error and never trailed again. Ashland built the lead to 24-17 and then held off a flurry at the end by Washburn.
The fourth set saw the Ichabods go in front, 5-0 and then 7-1. The Eagles battled back to tie the contest at 9-9 and 12-12. Washburn scored the next nine points and enjoyed a 21-12 spread. That was too much for AU to overcome.
Freshman outside hitter Casey Clark posted the first double-double of her career with 10 kills and 10 digs. Senior outside hitter Kate Eckels paced the Eagles with 12 kills.
Leanna Willer had 11 kills and five aces to lead Washburn. Abby Wittman had four aces.
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VB/ALK
