Women's Volleyball 9/4/2024 9:00:00 AM Chris Brannick

Nationally-Ranked Volleyball Team Opens Season In Texas

Central Oklahoma Is Ranked 23rd In Preseason Poll; Plays Four Matches In Two-Day Texas Tournament

EDMOND - Central Oklahoma volleyball has three consecutive seasons of improving its win total and the Bronchos have every intention of keeping with that trend in 2024. UCO's senior class, a part of 91 matches over the past three years, went from 19 wins to 24 wins to 26 wins and is now aimed at another big year. Central Oklahoma's next challenge is taking the highly successful seasons and turning that into an NCAA regional bid. The Bronchos have an 18-person squad this fall that includes 14 returning letter winners and all but one starter back in the rotation.

Edgar Miraku enters his 13th year (12th season) leading the program and has a 269-90 overall record. The Bronchos have finished in the top four in the rugged MIAA in 8 of 11 seasons under Miraku and he has led Central to a pair of national tournament appearances (2015 & 2017).

"We're excited about the group of returners that makes up almost everyone on the team," Miraku said. "When you get into a position where you only bring in four newcomers, you feel a little better about what you have. We're going to spend less time learning offensive and defensive systems and more time working on technical skills that will help us out.

"We are also working on several of our players becoming more versatile and playing in more positions," Miraku continued. "Some of our middles can play outside and vice versa, the setters can play multiple positions, helping at the net and on the back row. We like the versatility this team has, and we are hopeful that will give us a good chance in every match because we can tinker with the lineup just a little bit to maybe give us an advantage."

Central Oklahoma will open the season with nine straight road contests, playing a four-match tournament in Texas before a road trip to Oklahoma Baptist. After that, a four-match tournament in Florida follows and then UCO will make its home debut. Central Oklahoma and Southern Nazarene are co-hosting a tournament the third weekend in September and UCO will conclude its 13-match non-conference schedule with that event at Hamilton Field House.

The MIAA figures to be as tough as it is every year this fall, and Central Oklahoma will take on the 12-team gauntlet looking for its second league title since joining 12 years ago. UCO plays 16 games in the MIAA, with nine home contests and seven road matches. The Bronchos will play five opponents twice and the other six opponents just once this season.

Here is a position-by-position breakdown of the 2024 UCO Volleyball team.

SETTER

Lindsey Houran leads the group that makes the offense run as she returns for her third season with the program. Already ranked eighth in school history for career assists (2,446) after just two seasons, Houran is ready to continue her dominance in the crucial position for the Bronchos. A feisty on-court leader that promotes cohesiveness in the lineup and pushes hitters to be better, Houran also has defensive skills and is working to be more of an all-around player for the Bronchos this season. Riley Roberts is also back for her sophomore season after a solid rookie campaign last fall. Roberts has strong abilities as a setter, but also brings more height and physicality to the position, and she can also provide solid defense at the net. Margo Sudzina made four appearances in her freshman season last fall and continues to show improvement in providing depth to the setter position both in training and on the floor. Sudzina is another versatile player that can help the Bronchos on defense too.

DEFENSIVE SPECIALISTS

Central Oklahoma is replacing a two-time All-American libero this fall and will use an all-hands-on deck approach. Senior Katie Le will lead the way, having played in 90 of 91 matches over the past three seasons for the Bronchos. She has more than 1,000 digs in her career and should push to break into the Top 10 in school history this fall. Le is a leader both on and off the court that has been a consistent contributor for the Bronchos and is an crucial player on the back row. Andrea Coady spent her freshman season at Northwestern Oklahoma State before transferring to UCO last year. She made an immediate impact and will be a key player for the Bronchos this fall. Coady had 99 digs in her first year with the Bronchos and will be more impactful this fall playing all three positions on the back row. Kaitlyn Parrot and Olivia Lowary are both back for their sophomore seasons. Parrott played more regularly, making 26 appearances, and along with Le and Coady will be leaned on to lead the defense. Lowary made six appearances as a rookie but is poised to contribute more on defense this fall as well as in the serve-receive facet of the game.

HITTERS

Hitters pin-to-pin is where Central improved its roster from last season's squad with the addition of two transfers and a freshman to bolster the depth and strength of the high-scoring group. Mallorie Koehn and Brynn Egger enter their fourth year in the program, Addison Wimmer is also a senior in her second year at Central, and Mikaela Garvin joins the squad as a graduate transfer giving UCO not just depth, but veteran leadership. Junior Sydney Huck has been an incredible force for the Bronchos and is back for her third year ready to continue that trend. Sawyer Franz is the other transfer, and the sophomore was dominant in the NAIA scene last year at Mid-America Christian in Oklahoma City and will look to translate that to UCO this fall. Caitlyn Gantzer is a true freshman that adds depth to the position and will compete for reps in the rotation.

MIDDLE BLOCKERS

Jenna Karp, who has played in every single game for the Bronchos over the past three seasons, leads the team both on and off the floor. On the court, she heads up the middle blockers. Karp is a veteran and a three-time All-MIAA selection looking to become just the sixth four-time recipient in school history. She enters her final season ranked eighth in career solo blocks (62) and has 210 assisted blocks, which is 43 from 10th on the all-time list. Lari Migliorino enters her third season with the Bronchos and the junior middle, an athletic and physical presence with major leaping abilities, is ready to contribute even more this fall. Mikiah Perdue spent her freshman season at Union University in Tennessee but the Tulsa native made an immediate impact as a sophomore at UCO last year. Perdue is like Migliorino in the middle and can be a strong presence both on offense and defense. Charlotte Hawkins is the fourth newcomer and another true freshman. The youngster is a solid addition to the group for depth and is ready to learn from the big players around her this fall.

UP NEXT

Central Oklahoma follows this opening weekend tournament with a midweek non-conference match at Oklahoma Baptist next Tuesday, then another tournament in the state of Florida. The Bronchos visit Flagler College in St. Augustine, Fla. for four matches next weekend. UCO makes its home debut the following weekend with a MIAA/GAC crossover event at Hamilton Field House Sept. 19-21.

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Players Mentioned

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

#5 Andrea Coady: DS; 5' 5"; Sophomore

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

#11 Riley Roberts: S; 5' 10"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

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

#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

#5 Andrea Coady
: 5' 5"; Sophomore
: DS

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

#11 Riley Roberts
: 5' 10"; Freshman
: S