Lady Blues win first NCAA Tournament Match

Nov. 18, 2004
Box Score | Season Stats
KIRKSVILLE, Mo. - The No. 15 Wasbhurn volleyball team held off Harding University 30-19, 30-28, 26-30, 30-28 in Pershing Arena Thursday afternoon. The Washburn Lady Blues, the No. 3 seed in the NCAA South Central Regional Tournament also picked up their first NCAA win in tournament history

The Lady Blues improved to 29-6 and will face the winner of the Central Missouri State/Alabama-Huntsville matchup. Harding finished the season 30-8.

Washburn cruised to victory in game one by hitting .368 compared to Harding's .108 mark. Dani McHenry had three straight kills early to make it 5-2 and WU never looked back.

WU opened the second game in the same fashion and took an 11-4 lead. Harding rallied and took a 26-23. Katie Brandt brought the Lady Blues back with a block and three kills to give WU a 28-26 lead. McHenry added a kill before a Harding attacking error finished the game.

Washburn led 19-15 in game five before a 9-1 Harding run turned the tides. The Lady Bison hit .317, compared to Washburn's .182 mark to win the game.

The two teams switched roles in game four after Harding led 16-12. Emily Foster's pair of kills tied the game at 16. The two teams fought for the lead before Harding tied it at 27. Brandt and Julie Sackman's kills made it 29-27 before McHenry finished the match with her 18th kill.

McHenry and Foster led Washburn with 18 kills, while Brandt added 16 kills. Sackman finished with nine kills and 51 assists. McHenry led the way with 18 digs.

Synda Veitenheimer led Harding with 26 kills, while Kate Kennedy and Katelin Parks added 16 and 12 kills respectively. Chelsea Ginn led 60 assists and Amie Morrison added a match-high 33 digs.