Women's Volleyball 9/8/2022 10:42:00 AM

UCO Opens Conference Schedule Friday At Home

Central Oklahoma puts its unbeaten record on the line this weekend when the Bronchos open Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association play with a pair of home matches.

UCO (10-0) hosts Pittsburg State (5-3) at 6 p.m. Friday before taking on Missouri Southern (5-3) at 2 p.m. Saturday.

"We've played pretty well to this point, but will definitely need to step up our game this weekend," head coach Edgar Miraku said. "This is probably the toughest conference in the country and you have to be ready to play at a high level every match."

The Bronchos follow this weekend's matches with a road trip to Fort Hays State and Nebraska-Kearney next week.

ABOUT THE BRONCHOS: UCO got past Oklahoma Baptist in a five-set thriller Tuesday to finish off the non-conference schedule with a perfect 10-0 record.

That start is the third-best in school history, trailing just 2014 (15-0) and 2016 (13-0).

A pair of freshmen have played key roles in the fast start for the youthful Bronchos, who have just one upperclassman on the 13-player roster.

Sydney Huck ranks among the league leaders in kills with 149, averaging 4.26 per set while hitting .299. She's had 15-plus kills in six of 10 matches with a trio of 20-kill outings and has added 85 digs, 15 blocks and a team-high 15 service aces.

Lindsey Houran took over setting duties this season and has already handed out 414 assists (10.89/set). The rookie also has 91 digs and seven aces.

Sophomore Jaedynn Evans has been a defensive catalyst from her libero spot, having amassed 242 digs for a 6.37 per-set average that ranks as third-best in NCAA Division II. She's had 30-plus digs five times already this season.

The Bronchos have also gotten big production from sophomores Mallorie Koehn and Jenna Karp. Koehn has 91 kills (2.68/set), 47 digs, eight blocks and eight aces, while Karp is hitting .315 with 84 kills (2.27/set), 25 blocks and six aces.

Three other players have 40-plus kills – junior Courtney Lane (49), freshman Maegan Lacy (45) and freshman Lari Migliorino (41).

ABOUT THE GORILLAS: Pittsburg State enters Friday's contest with a four-match winning streak.

The Gorillas form Pittsburg, Kan. are led by Janae Thurston (97 kills), Seville Gates (74 kills) and Marissa Bates (162 digs).

UCO owns a 22-7 lead in the series, though PSU has won three of the last four meetings.

ABOUT THE LIONS: Missouri Southern plays at Newman Friday night before visiting the Bronchos.

The Lions from Joplin, Mo. are paced by Fernanda Canedo (110 kills), Irina Alekseeva (95 kills) and Amelia Neels (83 kills, .398 attack percentage).

UCO has a big 24-8 advantage in the series and has won 16 of the last 17 matches between the two.

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Players Mentioned

#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

#1 Lindsey Houran: S; 5' 8"; Freshman

#10 Lari Migliorino: MB; 6' 0"; Freshman

#13 Maegan Lacy: OH; 6' 0"; Freshman

#14 Sydney Huck: OH; 5' 10"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

#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

#1 Lindsey Houran
: 5' 8"; Freshman
: S

#10 Lari Migliorino
: 6' 0"; Freshman
: MB

#13 Maegan Lacy
: 6' 0"; Freshman
: OH

#14 Sydney Huck
: 5' 10"; Freshman
: OH