Bronchos Calm Storm

9/6/2011 10:05:00 PM

Sam Cool

Box Score

EDMOND (Sept. 6) – Alex Richardson had four of her match-high 19 kills in the deciding set to help lift Central Oklahoma to a thrilling five-set triumph over Southeastern Oklahoma Tuesday night at Hamilton Field House.

It was the fourth straight win for the Bronchos – and the second in five sets – as UCO prevailed 22-25, 25-17, 25-16, 17-25, 16-14 in its home opener to improve to 4-1 on the young season.

“We were up and down,” UCO coach Jeff Boyland said. “We started out a little slow, then came back and played really good in the second and third sets. The fourth set I thought we lost a lot of focus and then both teams played really hard in the fifth set.”

This one was far from easy, with the Bronchos falling behind early only to cruise to back-to-back wins in the second and third sets. The Savage Storm came back strong in the fourth set to tie it and the fifth set was close all the way, though UCO never trailed.

The Bronchos had a three-point lead at 9-6 and again at 13-10 after a Juliette Smith kill, but SOSU rallied to tie it at 14. UCO finally took the lead for good on a service error and then Carissa Ophus ended the match with a kill down the middle.

Richardson was one of three players to collect double-digit kills, with Morgan Roy and Jordan Jacobs adding 12 apiece. Ophus chipped in six kills and Smith had a strong outing in the middle with five kills and 10 blocks (one solo, nine assisted).

The Bronchos also got 45 assists and 12 digs from setter Bella Romero, while Ginger Gowen had a match-high 21 digs.

UCO had nine attack errors in losing the opening set, but bounced back to win going away in the second and third sets. The Bronchos dominated at the net during that two-set stretch, with Smith and Roy teaming up for six combined blocks to lead the way.

The Savage Storm jumped out to a huge 23-11 lead en route to winning the fourth set to set up the late drama.

UCO goes back on the road this weekend, traveling to Bolivar, Mo. To play four matches in the Southwest Baptist Classic. The Bronchos are home again next Tuesday to host Arkansas-Fort Smith.

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