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Strong Start

Juliette Smith

ARKADELPHIA, Ark. (Sept. 6) – Central Oklahoma pulled off a pair of sweeps on the first day of the season-opening Henderson State Classic here Friday.
 
Juliette Smith had a career-high 12 kills and the Bronchos used a first-set rally to spark a first-match win Alabama-Huntsville and UCO rolled over Cameron later in the day to complete the 2-0 day.
 
The Bronchos of second-year head coach Edgar Miraku return Saturday to take on host Henderson State at 11 a.m. and Southern Arkansas at 3 p.m.
 
"It was a good day for us," Miraku said.  "We played solid in both matches and picked up a couple of good wins.  It's a great way to get the season started and hopefully we came back tomorrow and play even better."
 
UCO overcame a 24-20 deficit in pulling out a 27-25 first-set win over UAH before taking the next two sets 25-19 and 25-7.  The Bronchos eased past CU 25-14, 25-21, 25-17.
 
Smith hit .500 against UAH with 12 kills and three errors in 18 attacks while adding five total blocks to lead the way.  Sabetha Young added nine kills, Barbara Jackson eight and Tyler Gromann seven, while Tate Hardaker collected 21 digs.
 
The Bronchos were on the ropes in the first set after UAB took a 24-20 lead on a UCO error, but two kills by Young, another by Smith and a setting miscue by the Chargers tied it up.
 
Gromann and Allison Barr teamed up for a block that gave the Bronchos a 25-24 lead before a service error tied it again.  UCO scored the next two points to pull out the win, getting another kill from Young and a combined block by Barr and Katy Davis.
 
The Bronchos scored seven straight points to overcome an early deficit and take control in the third set and then jumped out to a 7-0 led in the third en route to closing out the match.
 
Jackson had a match-high 11 kills in the win over Cameron, with Barr adding eight, Young seven and Smith six.  Davis handed out 29 assists and Hardaker led the defense with 20 digs.
 
UCO trailed only 1-0 in taking the first set against the Aggies and overcame a 19-17 deficit to take the set, getting two Jackson kills in a 5-0 run to surge in front of that set.
 
The third set was close until the Bronchos went on a 6-0 spurt to turn a 13-12 lead into a 19-12 cushion.
 
 
 
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