Women's Volleyball 10/7/2021 8:04:00 AM

UCO Opens Homestand Friday Night

Central Oklahoma opens a three-match Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association homestand Friday when the Bronchos host Missouri Western for a 6 p.m. contest at Hamilton Field House.

UCO, 12-3 on the season and 5-2 in conference play, takes on the Griffons (11-4, 3-3) Friday evening and then goes against No. 10-ranked Northwest Missouri (11-2, 4-1) at 3 p.m. Saturday. The homestand ends Tuesday with a 6 p.m. contest against Newman.

"We have three big matches coming up and are excited about being back on our home court," head coach Edgar Miraku said. "Every match is important in a league as tough as ours and it will be a big challenge for us."

ABOUT THE BRONCHOS: UCO had a five-match MIAA winning streak snapped in its last outing with a road loss to top-rated Washburn.

The Bronchos, 6-0 at home this season, have a solid .236 attack percentage while allowing opponents to hit just .173.

Three players have 120-plus kills on the season – Courtney Lane (189), Jenna Karp (129) and Lauren Jenkins (123).

Lane averages 3.63 kills per set, which leads the league, while Karp's .309 attack percentage ranks eighth. Karp is also third in the conference in blocks with a 1.15 per-set average.

Amanda Desch has been sensational with her all-around play this season. The junior setter is hitting .307 with 47 kills to go along with 389 assists (7.34/set), 164 digs (3.1/set) and 19 blocks.

Katie Le continues to lead Central's back-row defense, having compiled 294 digs. That 5.55 per-set average ranks third in the conference.

ABOUT THE GRIFFONS: Missouri Western had a three-match winning streak stopped in its last outing with a loss to No. 14 Nebraska-Kearney.

The Griffons are paced by Ali Tauchen (150 kills), Allie Kerns (142 kills) and Danielle Moje (77 kills, 47 blocks).

UCO owns a 12-6 lead in the series and the teams have split the last four meetings.

ABOUT THE BEARCATS: Northwest Missouri takes a four-match winning streak into a Friday night meeting with Newman before coming to Edmond.

Payton Kirchhofer leads the Bearcats with 159 kills, while Jaden Ferguson has 126 kills and Rachel Sturdevant 99 with a .309 attack percentage.

The Bronchos have a 16-2 series lead over NWMSU and have won the last 11 meetings between the two.

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Players Mentioned

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

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

#11 Courtney Lane: OH; 6' 0"; Sophomore

#2 Katie Le: DS/LIB; 5' 4"; Freshman

#7 Jenna Karp: MB; 6' 0"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

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

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

#11 Courtney Lane
: 6' 0"; Sophomore
: OH

#2 Katie Le
: 5' 4"; Freshman
: DS/LIB

#7 Jenna Karp
: 6' 0"; Freshman
: MB