University of Central Oklahoma Athletics

Record Streak Snapped

9/27/2014 10:06:00 PM

Katy Davis

Box Score

EDMOND (Sept. 27) – A school-record streak came to a tough end for Central Oklahoma Saturday night at Hamilton Field House when the Bronchos dropped an exciting four-set battle to Missouri Western.

The Griffons prevailed in a 23-25, 25-14, 27-25, 29-27 Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association thriller, overcoming a 24-21 deficit in the fourth set to hand UCO its first loss after a 15-0 start. The Bronchos fell to 15-1 overall and 5-1 in the league, while MWSU improved to 11-3 and 5-1.

"It was a great match and could have gone either way, but they came up with several big plays and we made some crucial mistakes," head coach Edgar Miraku said. "I thought we battled hard and just came up a little short."

UCO hit a season-low .146 in the match, committing 25 attack errors.

Barbara Jackson had 14 kills and Juliette Smith 10 kills and six total blocks to lead the Bronchos. Whitney Gifford collected 13 of her 30 digs in the fourth set as UCO desperately tried to extend the match, while Katy Davis ended with 42 assists, 12 digs and two kills.

There were nine ties and three lead changes in the first set alone, with the Bronchos taking their final lead on a Smith kill that made it 22-21. Bonnie Vernon finally closed it out with a shot down the line.

The Griffons responded with an emphatic second-set victory and then held off a spirited UCO rally in moving in front with the third-set win.

The Bronchos trailed 24-18 in that set, but Jackson had two service aces and Madison King a pair of kills in a 6-0 run that pulled UCO even at 24-all. It was tied again at 25 before a service error and attack error gave MWSU the win and control of the match.

Central appeared like it would force a fifth set after taking a 21-14 lead in the fourth on another King kill, but the Bronchos couldn't finish it off.

The lead was 24-21 with MWSU tied it with a 3-0 run and the teams traded points before back-to-back hitting errors gave the Griffons their final two points and the match.

UCO returns to conference action next weekend on the road, traveling to Washburn and Emporia State.

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