TOPEKA, Kan. – In a matchup of nationally-ranked foes, the No. 13-ranked Northwest Missouri State University volleyball team handed the No. 2-ranked Washburn University Ichabods their first loss of the season with a 3-1 victory on the road.
 
Northwest won by set scores of 26-24, 25-14, 21-25 and 25-22. Northwest moved to 9-3 overall and 3-1 in the MIAA play. Washburn dropped to 11-1 overall and 3-1 in league play. It marks the fourth straight win for Northwest against Washburn.

Northwest is 4-2 against top-25 ranked foes this season.
 
Payton Kirchhoefer saw her first action since Sept. 3 and came through with her fourth double-double of the year. Kirchhoefer landed 14 kills and tallied 10 digs.
 
Jaden Ferguson secured her fourth straight double-double with 13 kills and 17 digs. It marks her sixth double-figure kill total on the season.
 
Kristen Ford logged a team-best 25 digs, while Alyssa Rezac recorded a team-high 45 assists to go along with 17 digs.
 
Northwest gained the upper hand with a 26-24 comeback win in the first set. Northwest held a 4-0 lead but saw Washburn take a 20-17 lead late in the set. Northwest stormed back to even the set at 20-20 and would pull out the victory at 26-24.
 
The Bearcats breezed in the second set to a comfortable 25-14 triumph. After a 3-3 start, Northwest used a 5-0 spurt to take an 8-3 lead. Northwest took total control of the second on the strength of a 8-0 run to take a 17-6 lead. Northwest hit .294 in the set with 13 kills and three errors.
 
Washburn refused to give in during the third set. Northwest held a 14-11 lead. But Washburn came back with a 5-1 run to take a 16-15 lead. Washburn moved the lead to two at 19-17 and forced head coach Amy Woerth to use her first timeout of the set. Washburn took a 22-19 lead that had Woerth using her second timeout. The Ichabods staved off elimination in the third with a 25-21 triumph. Northwest cooled off to .091 hitting in the third, while Washburn hit .191.
 
Northwest polished off the four-set triumph with a 25-22 win. Northwest bounced out to a 5-0 lead in the fourth and did not trail despite having to fend off the home squad. Washburn closed to within 16-15, 20-19 and 21-20 before Northwest put them away for the victory.
 
Northwest will return home for a Wednesday match at 6 p.m. in Bearcat Arena against the Pittsburg State University Gorillas.