Coming off only its second loss of the season to Emporia State earlier in the week, the No. 4 Lady Blues volleyball team got back on the winning track Friday night at home against Southwest Baptist.

“The win kind of boosted our confidence since we lost against Emporia,” said freshman Anna Simpson-Mills.

Senior Night wrapped up the regular season for the Washburn ladies as they beat the Bearcats easily in three games 30-20, 30-16, 30-16.

“It meant a lot to get a win for the seniors,” said Simpson-Mills. “They played their hearts out.”

Honored before the game on their special night, seniors Tessa Jones, Erica Cowhick and Mandi Cox made the most of it.

“It’s always emotional on a night like this, but we came out and played hard,” said Cowhick. “It was nice to play well as a team and win.”

Junior Monica Miesner agrees.

“It was a fun match to play in,” said Miesner. “We enjoy the win especially since it was on senior night.”

Both Cox and Jones had a team-leading 12 kills and Cowhick had 17 digs playing as libero for two of the three games.

“We have good leadership with our seniors,” said coach Chris Herron. “In the past we’ve not had the kind of leadership that we’ve had this year. And that’s the difference. So all the praise goes to them.”

The three seniors were a big reason for the 124-21 record of the team during the last four years. With three visits to the NCAA Division II Tournament, one conference championship and two MIAA West Division titles, the senior women have left their mark on the program.

“That’s a pretty good record,” said Herron. “Those three kids have done a lot individually, and they’ve done a lot to help us win.”

With the win, the Lady Blues picked up their third victory of the week. The other two came against conference foes Pittsburg State and Missouri Southern.

The Washburn women finished the regular season with 33 wins and only two losses, both away from home.

The MIAA conference tournament is the next event for the Lady Blues volleyball squad. No. 1-seed Washburn will take on No. 4 seed Missouri Western State 7 p.m. Nov. 6 in Lee Arena. They hope to start up a new win streak and go deep into the playoffs.

“We control our own destiny,” said Herron. “We just got to take care of business.”