Bronchos Head To Michigan To Open Season

Central Oklahoma makes its 2022 season debut this weekend when the Bronchos make the long trek to Marquette, Mich. to play four NCAA Division II rivals in the two-day Northern Michigan Open.

UCO opens against Lake Superior State at 10 a.m. Friday before meeting Bemidji State at 4 p.m. The Bronchos return Saturday to take on Minnesota-Crookston at noon, then finish with Cedarville at 4 p.m.

"We're excited about getting the season started," said head coach Edgar Miraku, who is 219-78 entering his 11th year at the helm. "We've got a young team and I'm sure there will be some growing pains for us, but we've been working hard to get ready."

UCO follows its opening-weekend road trip with the first home match of the season next Wednesday, Aug. 31, against East Central.

ABOUT THE BRONCHOS: UCO has five players back from last year's 19-10 team that finished fifth in the rugged Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association. Seven newcomers complete the roster that includes no seniors.

The Bronchos, picked to finish fifth in the MIAA again this fall, are led by three returning all-conference players – Courtney Lane, Jenna Karp and Katie Le.

Lane was a first-team All-MIAA selection a year ago after collecting 343 kills, 284 digs and 41 total blocks. She should once again be the ringleader of UCO's offensive attack.

Karp and Le were both second-team All-MIAA picks as freshmen in 2021. Karp hit .245 with 231 kills and a team-high 103 blocks and is a dominating force at the net. Le racked up 600 digs, the ninth-best single-season performance in school history.

The Bronchos also have back two letterwinners in Mallorie Koehn and Brynn Egger, while Jaedynn Evans returns after missing the 2021 season to injury. Egger hit a team-high .267 with 184 kills last year and Koehn had 81 kills.

A host of talented newcomers are expected to see extensive playing time at several positions, especially setter.

ABOUT LAKE SUPERIOR: The Lakers from Sault Sainte Marie, Mich. are members of the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.

LSSU, which went 2-24 last season, is led by Taylor Fleming (143 kills, 19 blocks last year) and Emily Hagelthorn (365 digs, 14 aces).

This will be UCO's first-ever meeting with the Lakers.

ABOUT BEMIDJI STATE: The Beavers from Bemidji, Minn. are members of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference.

Rylie Bjerklie had 118 kills and 49 blocks last year for BSU, while Madison Weyker made 272 digs. The Beavers are coming off a 2-26 campaign.

The Bronchos swept BSU in the only previous meeting between the two, which came early in the 2000 season.

ABOUT MINNESOTA-CROOKSTON: The Golden Eagles from Crookston, Minn. also play in the NSIC, which rivals the MIAA as the hardest conference in Division II.

Bailey Schaefer (172 kills, 143 digs) and Natalie Koke (549 assists, 27 aces) are the top returners from last year's 1-24 team.

This will be the first-ever meeting between the two teams.

ABOUT CEDARVILLE: The Yellowjackets from Cedarville, Ohio are members of the Great Midwest Conference.

CU went 11-12 last season and its top two returners are Riley Hensley (205 kills, 51 blocks) and Haley Goff (592 assists, 178 digs).

UCO and the Yellowjackets have never played before.

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Players Mentioned

#8 Brynn Egger: RS/OH; 6' 1"; Sophomore

#6 Jaedynn Evans: DS/LIB; 5' 7"; Sophomore

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

#4 Mallorie Koehn: OH; 5' 11"; Sophomore

#11 Courtney Lane: OH; 5' 10"; Junior

#2 Katie Le: DS/LIB; 5' 3"; Sophomore

Players Mentioned

#8 Brynn Egger
: 6' 1"; Sophomore
: RS/OH

#6 Jaedynn Evans
: 5' 7"; Sophomore
: DS/LIB

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

#4 Mallorie Koehn
: 5' 11"; Sophomore
: OH

#11 Courtney Lane
: 5' 10"; Junior
: OH

#2 Katie Le
: 5' 3"; Sophomore
: DS/LIB