Women's Volleyball 10/10/2019 10:08:00 AM

UCO Continues League Play In Missouri

Central Oklahoma opens a three-match Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association road trip this weekend when the Bronchos travel to Missouri to take on a pair of nationally ranked opponents.

UCO – 12-5 on the season and 4-3 in league play – goes to Maryville, Mo. to face No. 10-ranked Northwest Missouri (12-2, 5-1) at 6 p.m. Friday before moving on to Warrensburg, Mo. to play No. 13 Central Missouri (10-5, 4-2) at 7 p.m. Saturday.

"It's definitely going to be a challenging weekend for us," head coach Edgar Miraku said. "We're playing two of the best teams in the country on back-to-back nights on the road, so it doesn't get much tougher than that.

"We'll going to have to be at our best, no question about that. Hopefully the girls embrace the challenge and play up to their capabilities."

Sophomore Amanda Desch continues to pace Central and is tied for the national lead in triple-doubles (double-digit kills, assists and/or digs/blocks in a match) with four. She tops the team in kills (147), attack percentage (.283) and assists (319) while ranking second in digs (185).

Freshman Bailey Combs is second in both kills (105) and attack percentage (.273), with rookie Regan Inglis leading the team in blocks (32).

Senior Dominique Lipari has been magnificent with her back-row defense all year. She ranks second in NCAA Division II in digs per set (6.68) and is third in total digs (394).

UCO owns a 14-2 series lead over Northwest Missouri and has won the last nine meetings, including a five-set battle last year in Maryville.

A trio of big hitters lead the Bearcats. Hallie Sidney has 212 kills with a 4.16 per-set average that tops the MIAA, while Morgan Lewis is hitting .338 with 153 kills and Bethany Elkins has a .360 attack percentage with 152 kills.

Central Missouri has a 14-4 advantage in the rivalry with the Bronchos, though the teams have split their last four meetings.

Audrey Fisher is hitting a conference-high .371 with 160 kills, while Sydney Lierz has 145 kills and Hannah Engelken 134 kills along with 55 blocks.

UCO finishes up its road trip next Tuesday with a 6 p.m. match at league newcomer Newman in Wichita, Kan.

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Players Mentioned

#15 Amanda Desch: S; 5' 10"; Sophomore

#1 Dominique Lipari: DS/L; 5' 1"; Senior

#2 Bailey Combs: RS/OH; 5' 10"; Freshman

#17 Regan Inglis: MB; 6' 0"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

#15 Amanda Desch
: 5' 10"; Sophomore
: S

#1 Dominique Lipari
: 5' 1"; Senior
: DS/L

#2 Bailey Combs
: 5' 10"; Freshman
: RS/OH

#17 Regan Inglis
: 6' 0"; Freshman
: MB