UCO Photo Services

Bronchos Split At WT Classic

9/3/2010 8:00:40 PM

Ginger Gowen

UCO-WSC Box Score
UCO-UTPB Box Score

CANYON, Texas (Sept. 3) – Five-set losses haunted Central Oklahoma a year ago and the 2010 season got off to an disappointingly familiar result here Friday before the Bronchos bounced back with a late-night win in splitting two matches at the West Texas A&M Classic.

UCO -- which went 1-8 in five-set matches last year en route to a 16-16 finish -- dropped a tough 30-28, 19-25, 25-22, 18-25, 17-15 decision to Western State in the season opener, but rebounded with a 25-21, 25-23, 22-25, 25-20 win over Texas-Permain Basin in the last match of the night.

The Bronchos wrap up play in the two-day classic Saturday with matches against New Mexico Highlands and St. Edward's.

“It was a long day and we probably should have won both matches,” UCO coach Jeff Boyland said. “We had plenty of chances against Western and just didn't capitalize, but I was glad to see us put that disappointment behind us and win our second match when we didn't play our best.”

The Bronchos had a 28-27 lead in the first set before WSC won the final three points to steal that win, with UCO leading nearly the entire way in taking the second set to tie the match.

An early 6-0 lead disappeared in the third set as the Mountaineers took control, but the Bronchos bounced back and never trailed in the fourth set to tie the match. The deciding set went back-and-forth the entire way and was tied at 15 before WSC ended it with a pair of kills.

Zuela Adom led UCO, hitting a sizzling .345 with 24 kills and just five errors in 55 attacks. Kristen Wilson added 15 kills and 20 digs, while Alex Richardson had eight kills and three blocks.

The Bronchos also got 27 digs from Ginger Gowen and freshman Amy Kangas stepped in for ailing starter Fleming Smurthwaite at setter and dished out 50 assists.

UCO trailed UTPB 21-20 in the first set of the late match before finishing with a 5-0 run to pull out the win, getting a pair of aces from Tate Hardaker and a key kill from Jessica Legako in that surge.

The Bronchos never trailed in taking the second set and dropped a back-and-forth battle in the third before closing out the match in the fourth set as Adom had three kills in a key 6-0 run that put UCO in control.

Adom once again led the way, hitting .311 with 18 kills and four errors in 45 attacks. Morgan Roy added nine kills, while Legako and Wilson had seven apiece. Gowen again led the defense with 18 digs, with Wilson and Hardaker chipping in four aces each.

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