ST. JOSEPH, Mo. – The Northwest Missouri State University volleyball team advanced to the semifinals of the 2024 MIAA Tournament with a four-set win over the No. 25-ranked Washburn University Ichabods at Civic Arena.
 
Northwest won by set scores of 25-19, 22-25, 25-14 and 25-21. Northwest improved to 16-11 overall. Washburn dropped to 20-7 overall as the Bearcats won the season series, 2-1.
 
Northwest simply could not keep the ball in play in the opening set. Northwest committed 11 attack errors and hit minus-.024 on 42 attacks. Washburn tallied 14 kills and hit .211 with six attack errors. The Ichabods jumped out to leads of 12-7 and 18-12 as the Bearcats used a pair of timeouts to stem the tide. Washburn was able to side out at 63% (12-of-19), while Northwest had a 48% side-out percentage (12-of-25). Kyah Luhring led all players with six first-set digs. Washburn took the opening set, 25-19.
 
Northwest rolled out to a 7-3 lead on the strength of a 4-0 run forcing a timeout from Washburn head coach Chris Herron. The Bearcats built a five-point advantage at 15-10 following a kill from Avery Kemp and another Washburn timeout. The Ichabods pulled to within one point at 16-15 and 18-17, but the Bearcats were able to fend them off. The second set included two ties but no lead changes as Northwest held on for the 25-22 triumph. Northwest had a side-out effort of 68% (15-of-22), while Washburn was at 60% for a side-out percentage (15-of-25). Northwest limited its errors in the second set with three errors and 15 kills for a .267 hitting percentage.
 
Northwest matched its start from set two in set three with a 7-3 lead after only 10 points. Washburn answered back with a 6-0 spurt to take a 9-7 lead. The Ichabod run forced Bearcat head coach Amy Woerth to use her first timeout of the set. Northwest came out of the timeout roaring and turned the tables on Washburn with a 7-0 run to take a 14-9 lead. Northwest would stretch out its lead to 22-12 following a 15-3 run. The Bearcats took a 2-1 lead in the match with a 25-14 win by closing the set on an 18-5 spurt. Northwest hit .170 with 15 kills and seven errors in the third. Washburn hit minus-.051 with six kills and eight attack errors. Northwest had a side out effort of 53% (8-of-15), while Washburn had a 29% side out percentage (7-of-24). Abby Brunssen pounded down six kills on seven swings in the third-set win.
 
For the third straight set, Northwest took a 7-3 lead and Washburn exercised its first timeout of the fourth set. Following a successful challenge, Northwest took an 8-3 lead. A combo block from Brunssen and Payton Kirchhoefer gave Northwest a commanding edge at 14-5. A 4-0 run by Washburn had Woerth use a timeout at 14-9. The Ichabods evened the set at 16-16 as a result of an 11-2 run.

The set was tied 17-17, 18-18 and 19-19. A Brunssen block gave Northwest some breathing room at 21-19. Brunssen added a kill to up the lead to 24-21 and Ella Caffery nailed a service ace on match point to secure the 25-21 win.
 
Northwest will take on No. 3-ranked Nebraska-Kearney Friday at 7:30 p.m. in the second MIAA Tournament semifinal in Civic Arena.
 
NOTES: Northwest has secured three wins this season over ranked opponents (West Florida and Washburn twice) … Abby Brunssen led the Bearcats with 12 kills … Payton Kirchhoefer landed 10 kills and 17 digs for a double-double … Kyah Luhring tallied a match-high 25 digs … Ella Caffery netted a double-double with 21 assists and 11 digs ... Avery Kemp put up a season-high eight blocks (seven assisted, one solo) ... Northwest registered 14 blocks to eight for Washburn ... Northwest generated six service aces and two service errors ... Washburn had two aces and seven service errors ... the squads tied in kills (48), attack errors (29) and digs (79).

Northwest Digs in a Season

1. Tori Beckman, 2012 2. Paige Spangenberg, 2009 3. Paige Spangenberg, 2008 4. Olivia Nowakowski, 2017 5. Jill Quast, 1997 6. Paige Spangenberg, 2007 7. Hannah Koechl, 2021 8. Tori Beckman, 2011 9. Paige Spangenberg, 2010 10. Kyah Luhring, 2024

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