HAYS, Kan. — The eighth-ranked Washburn Lady Blues started off the final week of the regular season with a 3-1 (25-23, 25-17, 24-26, 25-20) win over Fort Hays State in Hays on Wednesday night. Washburn will wrap up the regular season with the Turnpike Tussle on Friday against Emporia State at 7 p.m. in Lee Arena.

Washburn (31-4, 15-4 MIAA) trailed 23-21 in the opening set, but scored the final four points, including two kills from Mollie Lacy to get the early lead. The Lady Blues won five of the first six points and rolled to a 25-17 win in set two and a 2-0 lead.

The Tigers (7-26, 3-16 MIAA) forced a fourth set with a 26-24 win in set three. The Lady Blues won six straight points in the final set to turn a one-point deficit into a four-point lead and they closed out the match with the 25-20 win.

Senior setter Kate Hampson had a match-high 51 assists, which moved her into second place on the MIAA’s career assist list with 5,773.

Lacy led Washburn with 15 kills, while Ashley Shepard added 12 and Kelci Wigger chipped in 10. Molly Smith led the Lady Blues defensively with 19 digs.

Lilian Rezende led three FHSU players in double digit kills with 14.