Lady Blues volleyball wins first match of home tourney

Eric Smith

 After two straight losses, the Washburn volleyball team is back on the winning side of things with a 3-1 victory Friday versus Southeastern Oklahoma State in the Lady Blues Fall Classic in Lee Arena.

The Savage Storm came out with a strong effort in the first game before the Lady Blues closed it out, 25-22.

The second set saw Washburn take control early never trailing after the score was 4-4 in route to a 25-14 victory.

Washburn jumped out to a 21-16 lead in the third set before the Storm tied it at 21 apiece and eventually won it 25-23. It was only the ninth set lost in 2009 for the Lady Blues.

WU closed out SEOSU in the fourth set 25-18, thanks to a 14-7 run late in the game.

For Washburn, Mollie Lacy, Hillary Hughes and Breanna Lewis all dominated in kills with 18, 16 and 15 respectively. 

Setter Kate Hampson had 52 assists and 12 digs while three other Lady Blues had double-digit digs including Molly Smith with 14, Tessa Brophy with 11 and Courtney Wallman with 10.

The ninth-ranked Lady Blues play later this evening (Friday) against sixth-ranked West Texas A&M, who defeated Emporia State, also No. 6 in the nation, earlier in the day.