MARYVILLE, Missouri - The Northwest Missouri State University volleyball team came out on a top in a matchup with the Washburn Ichabods at Bearcat Arena Wednesday.
 
Northwest won by set scores of 26-24, 25-16, 21-25 and 25-20.
 
The opening set featured seven ties and three lead changes. Payton Kirchhoefer posted a set-high six kills, while hitting .556. Northwest trailed 23-19, but rallied for a 26-24 victory. The clinching point came on a service ace from Bearcat setter Alyssa Rezac, her third of the opening set.
 
Northwest did not trail in the second set and built an 18-12 lead. The Bearcats increased their lead to 21-13 en route to a 25-16 second-set triumph. The Bearcats hit .469 in the set with 17 kills and only two attack errors. The Bearcats was able to side out at an 82% clip in the set. Morgan Lewis and Jaden Ferguson each posted a team-best five kills in the set.
 
The Ichabods came roaring back in the third with a 25-21 victory to pull within 2-1 in the match. Northwest was limited to .083 hitting with 12 kills and nine attack errors. Washburn posted a .226 hitting effort with 12 kills and five errors.
 
Northwest held a 16-12 lead before Washburn called its first timeout of the fourth set. A couple of late blocks from Northwest's Rachel Sturdevant and Ferguson allowed the Bearcats to keep the Ichabods at bay. Northwest finished off Washburn in the fourth, 25-20. Freshman Payton Kirchhoefer had eight kills on 13 swings in the fourth set to lead the Bearcat attack. Hannah Koechl secured 10 digs in the fourth set.
 
Northwest is 3-0 in the spring season and will take to the court again March 6 at 1 p.m. vs. Missouri Southern in St. Joseph, Missouri.

NOTES: Kirchhoefer posted 20 kills (.515 hitting percentage) ... Lewis tallied 13 kills (.273) ... Rezac notched 38 assists to go along with six digs, two blocks and two kills ... Kelsey Havel recorded 15 kills and 14 digs.