Bronchos Host Emporia State Friday

Central Oklahoma wraps up a three-match homestand this weekend when the Bronchos welcome a pair of Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association rivals to Hamilton Field House.

UCO, 11-4 on the season and 3-2 in league play, takes on Emporia State (4-9, 0-5) at 6 p.m. Friday and then goes against No. 5-ranked Washburn (11-1, 3-1) at 7 p.m. Saturday.

"This will be another challenging weekend for us," head coach Edgar Miraku said. "We always have good battles with Emporia and Washburn is one of the best teams in the nation. We need to come out ready to play from the start."

Central beat Missouri Southern in its last outing on Tuesday, winning the fifth set 15-11 to prevail.

Versatile sophomore Amanda Desch continues to lead the Bronchos. She tops the team in kills (130), assists (300) and blocks (26) while ranking second in digs (160).

Freshman Courtney Lane had a career-high 20 kills in Tuesday's win and now has 100 on the season. Sophomore Lauren Jenkins has added 94 kills and rookie Bailey Combs 92.

Dominique Lipari – the team's lone senior – continues to lead NCAA Division II in digs with 6.74 per set, having racked up 357 already this season. Junior Ericka Scholl has served up a team-high 18 aces in addition to collecting 248 assists and 137 digs.

UCO has a 16-12 series lead over Emporia, which ended a 13-match losing streak in the rivalry with a five-set win in last year's regular season finale.

Yuchen Du leads the Hornets with 143 kills, while Allyah Bernard has 107 kills and ranks fourth in the conference in hitting percentage at .346.

Washburn owns a 12-9 series advantage over the Bronchos and the teams have split the last six meetings.

The Ichobods, who won the Central Region in advancing to the NCAA Division II Elite Eight last year, lead the MIAA in kills (14.45/set), blocks (2.03/set) and service aces (1.74/set).

Gena Berg paces the powerful attack with 141 kills, while Kelsey Gordon has 94 kills and 36 blocks. Allison Sadler tops the league in assists with 11.24 per set.

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Players Mentioned

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

#10 Lauren Jenkins: OH/RS; 6' 0"; Sophomore

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

#4 Ericka Scholl: S; 5' 7"; Junior

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

#11 Courtney Lane: OH/RS; 6' 0"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

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

#10 Lauren Jenkins
: 6' 0"; Sophomore
: OH/RS

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

#4 Ericka Scholl
: 5' 7"; Junior
: S

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

#11 Courtney Lane
: 6' 0"; Freshman
: OH/RS