Women's Volleyball 11/9/2023 6:00:00 AM

UCO Closes Regular Season At Home

Bronchos Host Missouri Western, Northwest Missouri In Final Two Home Games

No. 16-ranked Central Oklahoma closes the regular season this weekend with a pair of crucial Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association matches at Hamilton Field House.

UCO, 24-4 on the season and 15-3 in the league, hosts Missouri Western (19-8, 12-6) at 6 p.m. Friday before taking on Northwest Missouri (15-11, 10-8) at 3 p.m. Saturday on Senior Day.

The Bronchos are tied for second in the conference standings with Nebraska-Kearney, one match behind Central Missouri. The Lopers and Jennies meet Saturday in the season finale.

"There's a lot on the line this weekend," head coach Edgar Miraku said. "We have to come out ready to play against two really good teams and keep the momentum we've built over the last few weeks."

The MIAA Tournament is set for Nov. 16-18 in St. Joseph, Mo., with the top eight teams advancing. The tournament champion earns the league's automatic berth into the NCAA Division II national tournament.

ABOUT THE BRONCHOS: UCO swept two matches last weekend to complete a 4-1 road swing over the last two weeks in staying in the running for the league title. The Bronchos were sixth in this week's Division II Central Regional rankings, with the top eight teams earning a spot in the national tournament.

Central has won 11 of its last 12 matches and is 8-1 at home this season, the lone loss a five-set defeat to conference leader Central Missouri on Sept. 29.

Saturday's match will be the final home outing for defensive stalwart Jaedynn Evans, the team's lone senior.

A returning All-American who led the country in total digs and digs per set last season, Evans has been named MIAA Defensive Player of the Week six times this season. She once again tops Division II in digs per set (6.30), with 554 on the year.

Evans has had 25-plus digs in nine matches this season and now has 1,329 for her two-year career, needing 89 more to move into the school's all-time top 10.

Lindsey Houran was named MIAA Setter of the Week for the fourth time this season this week after helping lead the Bronchos to their two road wins. The sophomore has 843 assists on the season, a 10.41 per-set average that ranks third in the league.

Four players have 240-plus kills to lead UCO's balanced offensive attack – Addison Wimmer (301), Sydney Huck (290), Jenna Karp (279) and Mallorie Koehn (240).

Karp is the MIAA leader in attack percentage (.338), while Koehn is second in service aces with 41 (0.43/set).

ABOUT THE GRIFFONS: Missouri Western is fourth in the league standings entering the final weekend.

Taylor Russell leads the Griffons with 271 kills, while Danielle Mojo is hitting .293 with 223 kills. Anna Weberg is second in the MIAA in digs with 499 (5.31/set).

UCO owns an 18-6 lead in the series and has won the last five meetings. The Bronchos pulled out a five-set road win in this year's first meeting on Oct. 14, getting 14 kills from Wimmer and 32 digs from Evans.

ABOUT THE BEARCATS: Northwest Missouri plays at Pittsburg State Friday night before coming the Edmond for the finale. The Bearcats are fifth in the MIAA standings.

Abby Brunssen paces the team with 233 kills and 90 blocks. Avery Kemp is hitting .314 with 213 kills and Kyah Luhring has 432 digs.

The Bronchos have an 18-5 advantage in the series, including a road sweep Oct. 13 as Koehn knocked down a season-high 18 kills.

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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