ATLANTA, Ga. – Playing in the ever-tough East-West Classic, the No. 16 Washington University in St. Louis team split a pair of matches against ranked opponents, falling 3-2 in a heartbreaker to No. 8 Colby before rebounding for the 3-1 win over No. 18 Claremont-Mudd-Scripps.
Colby 3, WashU 2
The Mules came from a 2-1 set disadvantage to claim the fourth set and force a deciding fifth, before winning the final two points, 15-13, over the Bears to win 3-2.
WashU took an early 7-3 lead over Colby before a 12-1 run put the Mules in control of the first set, 15-8. The Mules would lead by as many as 10 at 21-11 before the Bears staged a comeback to pull within three on a pair of Colby attack errors, 22-19. However, WashU could not overcome the earlier run, with the Mules taking the first set 25-20.
The Bears would answer to start the second set, winning the first five points and maintaining the lead up to 11-6. A 6-2 run by Colby pulled them within just one, 13-12, but as the teams began to trade points, it was not until 22-21 that the Mules had their first lead of the set. Three quick WashU points, including a kill by sophomore Abby Krause, gave them a set point at 24-22. With the score tied at 24-24, another kill by Krause and a kill from junior Emma Quast leveled the match at a set apiece, 1-1.
The Mules would take and hold a slight lead through the early portion of the third set before the Bears went on a 7-1 run to take a 14-9 lead. The Bears kept Colby at bay until 21-15 before the team from the NESCAC got back within one at 21-20. However, two kills from Krause, a block by senior Naya Ohuabunwa and sophomore Nia Jones, along with a kill by Jones, closed out the set 25-20 and gave WashU the 2-1 match lead.
After trading the first few points of the fourth set, Colby would take control, building an 11-point lead midway through, 18-7. With the Mules leading 22-8, the teams traded points back and forth before the match was tied at 2-2 with Colby taking the set 25-11.
It was back to even play in the fifth and deciding set. Despite a quick run by the Mules, WashU kept it close before tying the score at 13-13. Unfortunately, Colby would complete its comeback, claiming the set 15-13 and the match 3-2.
Krause had the match and new career high in kills with 19 against Colby. She added 12 digs to record her first double-double of the season. First-year Anya Mikhailenko had 39 of the Bears' 47 assists and scooped up 11 digs for her fourth double-double of 2026. Senior Ellie Laird led four WashU players in double-digit digs with 17. Krause (12) and both Mikhailenko (11) and sophomore Isabel Campie (11) also reached the 10-plus digs mark.
WashU 3, CMS 1
Playing back-to-back matches against ranked opponents is always going to be rough, but WashU earned the split of the day, winning 3-1 over the Athenas.
The Bears started out slow in the first set as WashU only led by one at 10-9. But an Athena service error started a 6-0 run by the Bears to put them ahead 16-9. Still leading by four at 18-14, WashU would see CMS stage a comeback and take a 23-19 lead on a 9-1 stretch of points.
Three quick points by the Bears got them within one, and after CMS earned its first set point of the match, WashU tied the score on a kill from Mikhailenko and a block by Mikhailenko and first-year Saoirse Henderson, 24-24. The Athenas had set points at 25-24 and 26-25, but WashU used two kills by senior Leah Oyewole and one from Ohuabunwa to take the first set 28-26.
Once again, the Bears jumped out to the lead in the second set, leading by as many as six at 12-6. WashU slowly built its lead up to eight at 22-14 and again on set point at 24-16. Not going away quietly, CMS attempted another run at extra points by going on a 7-0 run to get back within one at 24-23. However, a kill by Ohuabunwa closed out the set and gave WashU the 2-0 match lead.
The third set was playing out similarly to the second, with WashU holding a lead over the Athenas. This time, however, the late CMS run would be too much. Trailing 20-16, the Athenas staked themselves to a 7-1 run to lead 23-21. After a Bears point, CMS got a pair of kills to close out the set 25-22.
Not wanting to see a second five-set match of the day, WashU jumped out to an 8-1 lead to start the fourth set, a run capped by a block from Henderson and Ohuabunwa. Despite the Athenas getting back within four, 11-7, the Bears would see their lead extend to as many as nine at 21-12. Trailing 23-15, CMS again pulled within four at 23-19, but WashU took advantage of its second match point and got a kill from Henderson to close out the set 25-20 and the match 3-1.
Krause had her second 19-kill match of the day to lead three Bears in double-figure kills: Oyewole (17) and Ohuabunwa (13). Along with her kills, Krause added 14 digs to earn her second double-double of the day. She was one of four WashU players with double-digit digs, as Laird led all with 23 and Campie finished with 18. Mikhailenko not only had 17 digs, but also set a new career high in assists with 50 for her fifth double-double of the day.
WashU wraps up action this weekend on Saturday, Sept. 12, when it takes on No. 4 East Texas Baptist at 12 p.m. ET.
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