UCO Primed For Season Opener

Central Oklahoma opens a highly-anticipated 2023 volleyball season this weekend when the Bronchos travel to Wichita Falls, Texas for four matches in the two-day Midwestern State Invitational.

UCO debuts Friday at 11 a.m. inside D.L. Ligon Coliseum against West Alabama before returning at 7 p.m. to face host Midwestern State. The Bronchos return Saturday to take on Southwestern Oklahoma at 11 a.m., then finishes the weekend against Eastern New Mexico at 5 p.m.

"We're excited about getting the season started," said 12^th-year head coach Edgar Miraku, whose team returns all six starters from last year's 24-7 team and received votes in the NCAA Division II national preseason poll. "The team has worked extremely hard getting ready and I know they're anxious to see what we can do against outside competition."

ABOUT THE BRONCHOS: UCO has high hopes for 2023, with five of the returning starters coming off All-MIAA campaigns.

Junior Jaedynn Evans headlines that group. She not only earned first-team All-MIAA honors last year, but was a second-team All-American as well after leading the nation in total digs (775) and digs per set (6.62).

Junior Jenna Karp and sophomore Sydney Huck were first-team All-MIAA selections in 2022, with Huck also nabbing Freshman of the Year accolades. Karp hit a team-best .334 with 297 kills and added a team-high 84 blocks, while Huck led the team in kills (440) to go along with 349 digs.

Junior Mallorie Koehn and sophomore Lindsey Houran earned second-team All-MIAA honors last year. Koehn collected 312 kills, while Houran topped the league and ranked among the national leaders in total assists (1,400) and assists per set (11.97).

UCO's other returning starter is sophomore Lari Migliorino, who had 178 kills a year ago. Juniors Brynn Egger and Katie Le and sophomore Hannah Barry all played significant roles in last year's 24-win season.

The Bronchos added several talented newcomers to the roster, with junior transfer Addison Wimmer expected to have an immediate impact.

ABOUT THE OPPONENTS: UCO will be playing its first-ever match against West Alabama in the season opener. The Tigers of the Gulf South Conference were 6-25 last season.

Midwestern State is coming off a 7-22 campaign in the Lone Star Conference. The Mustangs are led by Sadie Portman (254 kills in 2022) and Taygan Jones (497 digs, 28 aces). This is the first meeting between the two since 2018, with UCO holding a 22-6 series lead.

Southwestern Oklahoma went 17-12 in finishing third in the Great American Conference in 2022 and has two All-GAC performers back in first-teamer Lacy Mott (355 kills, 350 digs last year) and second-teamer Zoey Sparks (231 kills, 112 blocks). The Bronchos own a 13-0 lead in the series, with Saturday's match the first meeting since 2017.

Eastern New Mexico finished 15-12 in the LSC last season and has two second-team All-LSC players back in Mikaela Garvin (284 kills, 74 blocks in 2022) and Gracelyn Stubbs (190 kills, 85 blocks). The teams haven't played since 2016 and the Greyhounds have a narrow 21-19 lead in the series.

NEXT UP: UCO follows the season-opening weekend with a trip to near-by Bethany next Tuesday to take on Southern Nazarene at 6 p.m. The Bronchos trek to Denton, Texas next weekend for the Texas Woman's Classic.

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Players Mentioned

#15 Hannah Barry: MB; 6' 0"; Sophomore

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

#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

#2 Katie Le: DS/L; 5' 3"; Junior

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

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

Players Mentioned

#15 Hannah Barry
: 6' 0"; Sophomore
: MB

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

#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

#2 Katie Le
: 5' 3"; Junior
: DS/L

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

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