UCO Rolls To Two More Wins

9/5/2015 7:17:00 PM

Barbara Jackson

ST. LOUIS, Mo. (Sept. 5) – Central Oklahoma wrapped up a perfect season-opening weekend with a pair of easy wins here Saturday at the Maryville Invitational.

The Bronchos, overwhelmed Henderson State in three sets (25-12, 25-11, 25-9) before taking down Texas A&M-Kingsville in four sets (24-26, 25-20, 25-14, 25-16) to finish a perfect 4-0 in the two-day classic. Senior All-American Barbara Jackson was named Most Valuable Player and was joined on the all-tournament team by freshman Taylor Bevis.

"It was a great opening weekend for us and I'm really pleased with the way we played," head coach Edgar Miraku said. "We started slow against Kingsville, but did a good job of bouncing back from that and taking control of the match."

UCO swept its first three matches of the tournament before falling to the Javelinas in the opening game of the finale, but quickly recovered from that in finishing off the perfect weekend.

Jackson had 16 kills and 11 digs to lead the Bronchos against TAMUK, while Bevis and Allison Barr had 10 kills apiece. Jordan Spence added eight kills and five assisted blocks, Katy Davis finished with 40 assists and Whitney Gifford had 17 digs.

TAMUK scored the final two points of the first game to take the lead in the match, but UCO rebounded in the second to tie it as Jackson and Barr had four kills each.

Spence and Elizabeth Boyd teamed up for back-to-back blocks early in the third set as the Bronchos jumped out to a quick 4-0 lead in taking the lead and UCO seized control early in the fourth set en route to closing out the match.

The Bronchos hit a sizzling .453 in the win over Henderson State, making just four errors in 75 attacks with 38 kills.

Bevis led the way with 12 kills and no errors in 21 attempts for a .571 hitting percentage while also contributing a team-high 13 digs.

Spence, Barr, Jackson and Deborah Njenje added five kills apiece, with Spence adding five assisted blocks.

The Bronchos never trailed in the match, though the first set was tied at 7-7 before a Jackson kill ignited a 13-2 run that made it 20-9 and ended any doubt on the outcome.

UCO jumped out to a 14-4 lead in the second set as Barr had three early kills and the Bronchos ended the third set with a 13-2 scoring spree behind three Bevis kills.

UCO goes back on the road Tuesday, traveling to Shawnee to take on intrastate rival Oklahoma Baptist.

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