MARYVILLE, Mo. – The 9-ranked Northwest Missouri State University volleyball squad recorded the program's first-ever win over a No. 1-ranked foe in a 3-2 triumph over the Washburn University Ichabods at Hughes Fieldhouse.
 
Northwest won by set scores of 20-25, 28-26, 25-27, 25-15, 15-7. Northwest moves its season mark to 15-2 overall and 8-1 in MIAA play. Washburn falls to 17-2 overall and 9-1 in league play. Northwest runs its win streak to eight in a row.
 
Washburn gained the upper hand in the opening set with a 25-20 victory. The Ichabods bounced back from a 15-12 deficit to take a 19-17 lead. Washburn saw its lead trimmed to 20-19, but closed out the set by winning five of the six ensuing points. Washburn hit .239 with 15 kills, while Northwest hit .105 with 13 kills and seven attack errors. Washburn posted 28 digs in the set, and Northwest registered 21 digs.
 
Northwest evened the match at a set each with a 28-26 triumph in the set. The second set featured 19 ties and five lead changes. The match was knotted from 18-18 through 25-25. Northwest notched a pair of blocks to close it out. Alyssa Reaza and Rachel Sturdevant combined on a block to give Northwest a 27-26 advantage. Payton Kirchhoefer finished off the set with a solo block. Northwest enjoyed a 73% side out effort in the second set. Northwest hit .204 with 18 kills and seven errors. Washburn hit .203 with 19 kills and seven errors. Both squads netted 28 digs in the set.
 
Washburn scored a pivotal comeback win in the third set, 27-25. The Ichabods scored the final three points to take a 2-1 lead in the match. Northwest appeared to be control of the set with a 24-20 lead after an Abby Brunssen kill. However, Washburn failed to yield and knotted the set at 24-24. Northwest had one more set point at 25-24, but the Ichabods stymied the 'Cats. Both squads hit better than .300 in the set with Washburn at .327 and Northwest at .313.
 
The Bearcats bounced back in the fourth set and tallied a convincing 25-15 win to level the match at 2-2. Northwest hit .163 with 14 kills and six errors, while Washburn hit -.043 with eight kills and 10 attack errors. Northwest took a 10-7 lead and kept extending it all the way to 20-10 en route to the set win.
 
Northwest carried the momentum into the fifth set and took control early. Northwest took the lead for good at 3-2. Alyssa Rezac ignited the Hughes Fieldhouse denizens with a dig/kill to make it 4-2 in favor of the Bearcats. The Bearcats extended the lead to 7-4 on back-to-back kills from Jaden Ferguson and Kelsey Havel. Northwest used a 6-1 spurt to push the lead to 13-7. Payton Kirchhoefer ripped off three consecutive kills to end the match and give Northwest the five-set triumph. Northwest was a perfect 7-of-7 in sideout chances in the fifth. Northwest hit .611 with 11 kills and no errors on 18 attacks in the fifth.
 
Kirchhoefer tied her career high with 26 kills (.261). Havel also posted a career high with 18 kills (.189). Rezac recorded a match-high 60 assists. Hannah Koechl tallied a match-high 37 digs.
 
Northwest returns to action tomorrow at 3 p.m. in the Hughes Fieldhouse when the Bearcats play host to the Emporia State University Hornets. Saturday's match will be a Pink Out.
 
NOTES: Head coach Amy Woerth captured her 150th career coaching victory ... it is Northwest's third victory over a top-10 opponent this season … Northwest has defeated No. 5 Tampa, No. 10 Nebraska-Kearney and No. 1 Washburn … Northwest hit .225 with 75 kills … Washburn hit .18 with 67 kills … Washburn had 116 digs, while Northwest had 113 digs … Northwest won the block battle, 12-9 … Northwest had five service aces, while Washburn had three service aces.