Women's Volleyball 11/20/2024 8:00:00 PM Chris Brannick

Bronchos Face Hornets In MIAA Championship Opener

Central Oklahoma Sees Emporia State For Second Consecutive Match Shifting Into Postseason

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. – Central Oklahoma moves to the postseason Thursday afternoon with a first-round matchup against Emporia State in the MIAA Volleyball Championship.

UCO is the No. 3 seed in the eight-team tournament after finishing the 2024 regular season with a 27-2 record, including a 14-2 mark in the MIAA. Emporia is the No. 6 seed and has a 17-9 overall record with a 9-7 record in league play.

The two squads faced off against one another in the regular season finale Saturday in Edmond, with UCO celebrating its seniors to the tune of a 3-0 sweep.

Central owns a 27-12 advantage in the all-time series against Emporia dating back to 1988 but has a 24-3 advantage in those games since joining the MIAA in 2012, and under the current direction of 13th-year head coach Edgar Miraku. UCO won 13 straight under Miraku's leadership and 24 of the last 25 against the Hornets.

This season, Central started 18-0 to set a new school record for best start in program history. The Bronchos had a 2-2 stretch in mid-October, and bring a seven-game win streak into the postseason Thursday in St. Joe.

UCO brings one of the best offenses in the country into the MIAA Volleyball Championship. The Bronchos rank fifth in the country in kills per set (14.6) and eighth in assists per set (13.7), while posting the 12th best hitting percentage (.268) in Division II. Central's hitting percentage is also the best mark of any MIAA school.

The Bronchos are led by MIAA Player of the Year Addison Wimmer and six of her teammates that were honored with All-MIAA honors prior to the tournament this week.

Wimmer has 307 total kills, averaging 3.45 per set through 89 sets played this season. Jenna Karp has 270 kills, Sydney Huck has landed 267 kills, and Mikaela Garvin has 220 kills, giving UCO a powerful punch on offense.

Lindsey Houran sets it all up with 1,088 total assists this season. The junior setter ranks among the best in the country dishing out the offense. She is 11th nationally at 11.3 assists per set.

Defensively, Lari Milgiorino leads the team with 78 total blocks, 10 solo, and a rate of 1.03 per set. Karp and Garvin both have 67 total blocks and the duo shares a team lead with 12 solo blocks.

Katie Le's defense is also a key reason for Central's success. The senior libero has 519 digs in 99 sets played for an average of 5.24 per set.

Emporia State averages just over 13 kills per set this season and has a .202 team hitting percentage, which ranks sixth in the MIAA. The Hornets finished sixth in the team standings and saw four players earn All-MIAA honors Wednesday, including the league's Freshman of the Year.

Central Oklahoma with a win would play the winner of (2) Missouri Western and (7) Central Missouri. The MIAA Volleyball Championship semifinals are scheduled for 5 p.m. Friday, with the championship match set for Saturday at 6 p.m.

The 2024 NCAA Divison II Volleyball Championship starts after Thanksgiving. The selection show is scheduled for Monday evening with the Bronchos looking to return to the national tournament for the first time since 2017.

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Players Mentioned

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

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

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

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

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

#21 Mikaela Garvin: OH; 6' 2"; Graduate Student

Players Mentioned

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

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

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

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

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

#21 Mikaela Garvin
: 6' 2"; Graduate Student
: OH