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University of Central Oklahoma Athletics

The Official Site of Central Oklahoma University Athletics Central Oklahoma Athletics
Haley Deschenes
Haley Deschenes
2
Central Oklahoma UCO 26-6, 14-4 MIAA
3
Winner Emporia State ESU 14-17, 8-10 MIAA
Central Oklahoma UCO
26-6, 14-4 MIAA
2
Final
3
Emporia State ESU
14-17, 8-10 MIAA
Winner
Set Scores
Team 1 2 3 4 5 F
Central Oklahoma UCO 25 28 29 20 11 (2)
Emporia State ESU 22 26 31 25 15 (3)

Game Recap: Women's Volleyball |

Central Falters At Emporia State

EMPORIA, Kan. (Nov. 3) – No. 17-ranked Central Oklahoma squandered a two-set lead in falling to Emporia State in the regular season final Saturday night.

The Bronchos routed No. 11 Washburn Friday night and were on the verge of their 22nd sweep of the season after taking the first two sets 25-22, 28-26 only to see the Hornets rebound for 31-29, 25-20, 15-11 wins in pulling off the upset.

UCO dropped to 26-6 overall and tied for third in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association standings at 14-4.  ESU, which needed the win to secure a spot in the eight-team conference tournament that starts Tuesday, improved to 14-17 and 8-10.

Central will be the third seed in the MIAA Postseason Tournament and will host Lindenwood at 7 p.m. Tuesday as one of four first-round games.  The semifinals and finals will be held Friday and Saturday at the site of the highest remaining seed after Tuesday's opening round matches.  Click here for the tournament bracket.

"That was a disappointing loss," head coach Edgar Miraku said.  "It was a battle all night and give credit to Emporia for the way they played.  We just have to move on and get ready for the conference tournament."

The Bronchos hit just .135 in the match while committing 26 attack errors.

Haley Deschenes led Central with a career-high 21 kills, with Karyn Chrisman adding 10 kills and four assisted blocks.  Taylor Bevis had nine kills along with a career-best 28 digs and three blocks.

The Bronchos also got eight kills and six blocks from Jordan Spence, while Malia Kaaiohelo chipped in seven kills and five blocks.  Setters McKenzie Fyfe and Ericka Scholl combined for 56 assists and 32 digs and Dominique Lipari dug up 26 attacks.

Emporia jumped ahead 3-0 in the first set and led 7-4 when Chrisman had two kills in a 5-0 run that put the Bronchos on top 9-7.  The Hornets surged back in front 14-11 and were up 19-17 when consecutive kills by Spence and Bevis tied it.

Kaaiohelo's solo block put Central on top to stay at 22-21 and Deschenes had two kills the rest of the way as the Bronchos closed it out.

UCO had a 13-10 lead in the second set after a Deschenes kill, but Emporia responded with a 10-1 scoring spurt to move in front 20-14 and had the Bronchos on the ropes after going up 24-19.

Central answered back with six unanswered points.  Kills by Kaaiohelo, Deschenes and Amanda Desch along with a Kaaiohelo/Deschenes block and Bevis ace tied it before another Deschenes kill put the Bronchos ahead 25-24.

It was tied again at 25 and 26, with Spence's solo block giving UCO a 27-26 lead before an attack error by the Hornets ended it.

The Bronchos trailed by as many as six points early in the third set and didn't lead until a Spence kill ignited a 4-0 spurt that gave UCO a 21-17 advantage.

ESU came right back with a 4-0 run of its own to pull even at 21-all.  It was tied again at 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27 and 28 before a Spence kill put UCO up 29-28, but the Hornets scored the final three points to pull out the marathon win.

Emporia took control right out of the gate in the fourth, jetting to a 7-1 lead and never trailing in forcing the deciding set.

The Hornets then continued their late-match surge by jumping on top 5-1 in the fifth set.  UCO was down 8-3 before coming back to tie it 8-8 on a Bevis ace, but ESU scored the next three points and went on to finish off the upset.





 
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