University of Central Oklahoma Athletics

Bronchos Rout Southwest Baptist

10/16/2012 9:05:00 PM

Faith Harmon (8) and Talia Stanley (7)

Box Score
Photo Gallery

EDMOND (Oct. 16) – Talia Stanley and Juliette Smith dominated play at the net to spark surging Central Oklahoma to a three-set sweep of Southwest Baptist Tuesday night at Hamilton Field House.

Stanley and Smith combined for 15 kills and a sizzling .636 attack percentage as the youthful Bronchos overwhelmed their Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association foe 25-18, 25-13, 25-15 for their fifth consecutive win.

UCO improved to 10-11 on the year and 5-5 in the rugged MIAA.

“We came out really focused and played a solid match tonight,” first-year head coach Edgar Miraku said. “It's the best match we've had at home this year and it was one we really needed to win. We're playing with some confidence now and just want to keep getting better.”

Stanley and Smith led the way with their play in the middle, but they had plenty of help.

Stanley was virtually unstoppable, hitting .800 with eight kills and no errors in 10 attacks while chipping in an assist and service ace. Smith had a .500 attack percentage with seven kills and one error in 12 attacks in addition to a solo block.

Morgan Roy had a match-high 13 kills for the Bronchos, with Barbara Jackson adding eight. Faith Harmon had a strong outing distributing the ball with 35 assists and two aces, Tate Hardaker led the defense with 21 digs – including three spectacular ones during one long rally in the third set -- and Carissa Ophus contributed three aces.

The first set went back-and-forth early before UCO took the lead for good at 9-8 on a Roy kill down the line and the Bronchos never trailed in the final two sets.

Roy had two kills and Harmon an ace as Central jumped out to a 6-0 lead in the second set before coasting in and it was more of the same in the third set when the Bronchos zipped in front 5-1.

UCO starts a four-match road swing this weekend, going to Lindenwood Friday and Truman State Saturday.

Print Friendly Version

Related Videos

Related Stories