Bronchos Ready To Open Season

A long wait is almost over for the Central Oklahoma volleyball program as the Bronchos are set to return to the court Friday for their first official match in 652 days.

UCO last competed in a match that counted on Nov. 21, 2019. The 2020 season was canceled by the international health crisis and the Bronchos played 20 unofficial contests last spring, giving team members who remained throughout the coronavirus-induced hiatus valuable experience.

All that ends at 10 a.m. Friday when Central takes on New Mexico Highlands at Bloomer Sullivan Gym on the first day of the Southern Oklahoma Classic. The Bronchos come back at 4 p.m. to face host Southeastern Oklahoma, then return Saturday to play No. 20-ranked Texas-Tyler at 1 p.m.

"It's been a long haul and we're all excited to get started," 10th-year head coach Edgar Miraku said. "We've asked a lot of our student-athletes over the past year and a half, but I've been proud of the way they've responded to everything.

"Obviously what we did in the spring helped us and we've had some good scrimmages the past week, but it's totally different playing a real match that counts in the record book. The team has worked hard to get ready and I'm anxious to see how the weekend goes."

UCO returns nine players from last year – including six who were on the squad the finished 18-13 in 2019 – and added five freshmen to the roster.

Leading the returners are a pair of second-team All-MIAA selections from 2019 – junior setter Amanda Desch and sophomore outside hitter Courtney Lane. Both rank among the top all-around players in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association and the Bronchos will be counting heavily on their production this season.

Other veterans back from 2019 are juniors Lauren Jenkins and Alycia Bradley-Adriano along with sophomores Bella Burns and Nalani McCrary.

Sophomore transfer Jaedynn Evans and freshmen Payton Bell and Mallory Hendrix went through a full year of practice and the unofficial spring matches in 2020-21, gaining experience that hopefully pays big dividends this fall.

Rookies Katie Le, Berit Jones, Jenna Karp, Mallorie Koehn and Brynn Egger will all be looking to help this season.

Here's a brief look at each of UCO's opponents this weekend:

New Mexico Highlands. The Cowgirls didn't compete last year after the 2020 season was canceled and are coming off a 1-25 campaign in 2019. NMHU is picked to finish last in the 15-team Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference. The Bronchos hold a 3-1 series lead.

Southeastern Oklahoma. The Savage Storm have all six starters back from a team that went 2-9 last spring as the Great American Conference played an official schedule. SOSU went 3-25 in 2019 and is picked to finish 11th in the 12-team GAC. UCO holds a commanding 32-2 lead in the series and has won the last 11 meetings.

Texas-Tyler. Ranked 20th in the AVCA's preseason NCAA Division II poll, the Patriots are coming off a 14-1 spring campaign after going 10-16 in 2019. UTT is picked to finish second in the LSC. Central won the only previous meeting between the two teams.

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Players Mentioned

#8 Payton Bell: MB; 5' 10"; Freshman

#21 Alycia Bradley-Adriano: OH/RS; 6' 0"; Junior

#5 Bella Burns: DS/LIB; 5' 7"; Sophomore

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

#6 Jaedynn Evans: DS/LIB; 5' 8"; Sophomore

#9 Mallory Hendrix: S/RS; 5' 10"; Freshman

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

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

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

#1 Berit Jones: DS; 5' 8"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

#8 Payton Bell
: 5' 10"; Freshman
: MB

#21 Alycia Bradley-Adriano
: 6' 0"; Junior
: OH/RS

#5 Bella Burns
: 5' 7"; Sophomore
: DS/LIB

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

#6 Jaedynn Evans
: 5' 8"; Sophomore
: DS/LIB

#9 Mallory Hendrix
: 5' 10"; Freshman
: S/RS

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

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

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

#1 Berit Jones
: 5' 8"; Freshman
: DS