Women's Volleyball 11/4/2021 9:19:00 AM

Bronchos Go On Final Regular Season Road Trip

Central Oklahoma embarks on its final road trip of the regular season this weekend when the Bronchos head to Missouri for a couple of Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association matches.

UCO, 18-7 on the season and 11-6 in the league, goes to Maryville, Mo. to face No. 5-ranked Northwest Missouri (19-4, 12-3) at 5 p.m. Friday before moving on to St. Joseph, Mo. to meet Missouri Western (13-12, 5-11) at 5:30 p.m. Saturday.

The Bronchos are fifth in the conference standings with three matches remaining. The top-four teams – currently No. 2 Central Missouri, No. 3 Washburn, NWMSU and No. 15 Nebraska-Kearney – will host first-round MIAA Tournament matches on Nov. 16. The semifinals and finals will be hosted by the highest remaining seed on Nov. 19-20.

"It's a big, big weekend for us," head coach Edgar Miraku said. "Obviously it's a tremendous challenge anytime you go on the road in this conference and we have our work cut out for us.

"Being able to host a first-round match in the conference tournament would be huge. We're going to have to play extremely well these last three matches to have a chance."

Central ends the regular season on Nov. 9 when the Bronchos host UCM on Senior Night.

ABOUT THE BRONCHOS: UCO has won three of its last four matches and is 6-4 on the road this season.

The Bronchos have five players with 100-plus kills this season, with two (Courtney Lane and Jenna Karp) over the 200-kill mark.

Lane leads the way with 306 kills, ranking third in the MIAA with 3.56 per set, and has had 15-plus kills in seven matches this season. She also has 237 digs, 38 total blocks and 16 service aces.

Karp has 203 kills while also leading the team in blocks (96) and aces (19). The rookie is third in the league blocks with 1.09 per set.

Lauren Jenkins (193), Brynn Egger (146) and Nalani McCrary (119) have also compiled triple-digit kills this fall.

Katie Le has been a defensive catalyst for the Bronchos, having piled up 508 digs. She's had 12 matches with 20-plus digs and her 5.77 per-set average is second-best in the league.

ABOUT THE BEARCATS: Northwest Missouri ended an 11-match losing streak to the Bronchos back on Oct. 9 in Edmond with a five-set win. UCO still has a 16-3 lead in the series.

Payton Kirchhoefer leads the MIAA in kills per set with 3.81 (335 total), while Alyssa Rezac is second in assists (11.55/set, 878 total).

Jaden Ferguson has added 225 kills for the Bearcats, while Kelsey Havel has 214 and Rachel Sturdevant 208.

ABOUT THE GRIFFONS: Central swept Missouri Western in this year's first meeting on Nov. 8 in Edmond and has a 13-6 lead in the series.

Ali Tauchen (236 kills), Allie Verns (221 kills) and Danielle Moje (129 kills, 68 blocks) lead the Griffons.

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Players Mentioned

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

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

#3 Nalani McCrary: MB; 5' 10"; Sophomore

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

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

#14 Brynn Egger: RS/OH; 6' 1"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

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

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

#3 Nalani McCrary
: 5' 10"; Sophomore
: MB

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

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

#14 Brynn Egger
: 6' 1"; Freshman
: RS/OH