Spikers Go 1-1

9/30/2011 2:27:00 PM

Sam Cool

UCO-ESU Box Score
UCO-SBU Box Score

TOPEKA, Kan. (Sept. 30) -- Central Oklahoma overcame a first-set setback to take out Southwest Baptist and earn a split of its first day matches on the opening-day of the Lady Blues Fall Classic here Friday.

The Bronchos had a five-match winning streak stopped with a four-set loss to No. 25-ranked Emporia State in their first outing and then lost the first set to the Bearcats before coming back for the 19-25, 25-17, 25-21, 25-20 victory.

UCO, now 11-7 on the year, returns to the court Saturday to take on Truman State at 11 a.m. and Nebraska-Omaha at 3 p.m. Click here for the tournament website.

"We were a little sloppy tonight, but got the win and we'll take it," UCO coach Jeff Boyland said. "We made too many mistakes and really hurt ourselves against Emporia."

Alex Richardson had 16 kills and Jordan Jacobs 12 to lead the Bronchos against SBU. Halie Harrington also came up big with eight kills and six blocks, while Morgan Roy added eight kills and Tate Hardaker a match-high 23 digs.

UCO never led in the first-set loss to the Bearcats, but bounced back to even the match with a dominating second-set rout, jumping out to a quick 11-2 lead en route to that easy win.

The Bronchos moved ahead by taking the third set, getting back-to-back kills from Richardson and Roy to finish that off, and then rallied late in the final set. UCO trailed 19-18 before finishing with a 7-1 surge, getting kills from five different players along with a Hardaker ace.

UCO committed 25 hitting errors and also made seven service miscues in falling 21-25, 20-25, 25-20, 22-25 to the Hornets in the first match of the day.

Richardson had a .317 attack percentage in collecting a team-high 18 kills while adding three blocks, with Jacobs chipping in a season-high 14 kills. Hardaker had 20 digs to lead the defense.

UCO trailed just 19-18 in the opening set after a Sam Cool ace, but the Hornets scored the next five points to pull away. The Bronchos led in the early going of set two before ESU took control down the stretch.

Jacobs and Richardson keyed a late rally that lifted UCO to the third-set win, getting two kills apiece as the Bronchos scored the final seven points to turn a 20-18 deficit into the 25-20 victory. It was back-and-forth in the final set, with ESU scoring the final three points to wrap up the match.

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