Jones tops .500 and Hampson ties assists record in win over PSU
Oct. 20, 2006

Box Score | Season Statistics

Junior rightside hitter Tessa Jones had17 kills with just one error and freshman setter Kate Hampson tied a record for assists in a three-game match as the Lady Blues swept Pittsburg State 30-28, 30-20, 33-31 for an important MIAA West victory. No. 15 Washburn improved to 23-6 and 8-3 in the conference to keep a one-game lead in the West Division going into Saturday’s match at second-place Missouri Southern (22-8, 6-4) at 7 p.m.

Hampson dished out 50 assists, tying teammate Carolyn Raynes’ effort earlier this year as the most in a three-game match for a Lady Blue since the rally scoring era and at least since 1999. Jones led WU with 17 kills and a .533 attack percentage with just one error in 30 attempts. Freshman outside hitter Ashley Shepard had 16 kills and hit .359.

The Lady Blues hit .265 as a team and kept PSU to .155 hitting. They had a strong defensive performance as Hampson and junior middle hitter Mandi Cox each had five blocks and junior libero Erica Cowhick had 28 digs. Hampson just missed a double-double with nine digs. The Lady Blues received serves perfectly with no reception errors in 73 attempts while they recorded five service aces against the Gorillas.

Game one was close all the way through as there were 13 ties and seven lead changes. Washburn played catch-up for most of the game and was finally able to tie it at 17-17 on a kill from Cox. The two teams bounced back and forth again and then WU built its first two-point lead at 24-22 on a kill from Jones. After a pair of errors from the Lady Blues head coach Chris Herron called timeout and Washburn came out and scored three straight points. The Gorillas pulled to within one but Washburn put them away with a kill from Shepard and then an assisted block from Hampson and Cox.

WU cruised through game two, hitting .265 while PSU hit .093 and trailed all the way through.

In game three the Lady Blues nearly let PSU run away with it. After five early ties, the Gorillas built a three-point lead at 12-9. Washburn fought back to even the score at 16-16 but it looked like WU had ran out of steam as the Gorillas went on an 11-4 run that was capped by four straight points.

Down seven at 27-20, the Lady Blues began their comeback. After a PSU attack error sophomore outside hitter Bobi Riley served two straight aces and then Jones followed that with a kill. The two teams traded kills after that and then three straight PSU errors tied the score at 29-29. WU got to game-point twice and then finally put the Gorillas away with a PSU attack error.

The Lady Blues win gave them a season-sweep over PSU for the second straight year and made them a perfect 6-0 against the MIAA West Division.