Women's Volleyball 10/19/2023 6:00:00 AM

No. 19 Bronchos To Host No. 8 UNK, FHSU

No. 19-ranked Central Oklahoma hosts a pair of Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association rivals this weekend, headlined by a showdown with No. 8 Nebraska-Kearney.

The Bronchos, 18-3 on the season and 9-2 in the conference, take on the league-leading Lopers (21-1, 11-1) at 6 p.m. Friday before meeting Fort Hays State (8-13, 2-10) at 2 p.m. Saturday.

"It's a big weekend for us," head coach Edgar Miraku said. "UNK is a great team and we know that will be a huge challenge, but we're looking forward to it. And Fort Hays is much better than their record indicates and is coming off a big win, so we know that will be another tough match.

"Its just an incredibly tough conference and you have to be ready to play at a high level every match."

UCO follows this weekend with five straight road matches before ending the regular season Nov. 10-11 at home. The MIAA Tournament is set for Nov. 16-18 in St. Joseph, Mo.

ABOUT THE BRONCHOS: UCO is coming off tough road wins over Northwest Missouri and Missouri Western, which stretched its league winning streak to five in a row.

The Bronchos lead Division II in total assists (1,045) while ranking second in total kills (1,120), third in digs/set (19.08) and fifth in assists/set (13.57), kills/set (14.55) and total digs (1,469).

Four players have 175-plus kills in leading a balanced offensive attack.

Addison Wimmer has racked up a team-high 236 kills to go along with 107 digs and 20 total blocks, while Jenna Karp is hitting a league-high .341 with 226 kills and a team-best 56 blocks. Karp ranks ninth in solo blocks on the school career list with 50.

Sydney Huck has 225 kills in addition to having 169 digs and 25 blocks. Mallorie Koehn tops the team and is third in the MIAA with 31 service aces to go along with 179 kills.

Jaedynn Evans continues to lead the country in digs per set (6.33) and is ninth in total digs (405). She's had 12 matches with 20-plus digs, including the last six in a row.

Lindsey Houran is fourth in the MIAA in assists with 10.0 per set, having amassed 650 for the season to go along with 166 digs and 41 kills. She has moved up to ninth on UCO's career assists list with 2,150.

ABOUT THE LOPERS: Nebraska-Kearney enters the weekend riding a 12-match winning streak.

UNK is paced by Jaden Ferguson (200 kills), Emerson Cyza (190 kills), Asha Reiger (174 kills, .308 attack percentage). Peyton Neff leads the league in assists with 11.23 per set.

The Lopers beat UCO in a four-set battle Sept. 21 to take a 22-5 lead in the series.

ABOUT THE TIGERS: Fort Hays State is coming off a five-set upset of Central Missouri, which is second in the conference standings.

Gracie Rains has 226 kills to lead the Tigers, while Emily Ellis has 156 kills and 90 blocks.

UCO swept the Tigers on the road in this year's first meeting on Sept. 22 and has a 25-8 lead in the series.

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Players Mentioned

#6 Jaedynn Evans: DS/L; 5' 7"; Junior

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

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

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

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

#3 Addison Wimmer: OH; 5' 10"; Junior

Players Mentioned

#6 Jaedynn Evans
: 5' 7"; Junior
: DS/L

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

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

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

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

#3 Addison Wimmer
: 5' 10"; Junior
: OH