Fifth-set Rally Lifts UCO Past Rambelles

Jenna Karp and Addison Wimmer Had 17 Kills Each for the Bronchos

SAN ANGELO, Texas – Jenna Karp and Addison Wimmer had four kills apiece in the fifth set to fuel a frantic Central Oklahoma comeback that lifted the No. 23-ranked Bronchos to a thrilling win over Angelo State Friday night to complete first-day play in the Kathleen Brasfield Invitational.

The Bronchos lost a late six-point lead in dropping the first set 25-23 before rebounding to take 25-20 and 25-19 wins. The Rambelles – who made the NCAA Division II national tournament last year – tied the match with a 25-23 fourth-set triumph, but UCO prevailed 15-12 in the decisive fifth set to earn the victory.

UCO, which beat Texas-Permian Basin in four sets to start the day, finishes off the season-opening weekend Saturday with matches against New Mexico Highlands (12 p.m.) and Fort Lewis (4 p.m.)

"That was a great match and I'm really, really proud of my team," head coach Edgar Miraku said. "It was a tough battle. We got down early in the fifth set, but the girls refused to give up and just kept fighting. It was a big win for us and hopefully we can finish the weekend strong tomorrow."

ASU looked like it would run away in the fifth set after bolting to a quick 6-1 lead, but the Bronchos wouldn't go away. Karp had a couple of kills to keep UCO in it, then Wimmer hammered down two straight shots in making it a 7-7 deadlock.

It was 10-10 after two more Wimmer kills before Mikaela Garvin's kill put the Bronchos ahead. The Rambelles tied it at 11, but consecutive kills by Mikiah Perdue, Karp and Garvin gave UCO a 14-11 lead and Karp followed an ASU score with an emphatic kill to end the suspense.

Karp was virtually unstoppable once again. The senior standout hit .531 with 17 kills and no errors in 32 attacks in addition to making four blocks.

Wimmer also had 17 kills along with 19 digs, while Sydney Huck (14) and Garvin (12) also finished with double-digit kills. Lindsey Houran handed out 57 assists running the offense to go along with 16 digs and three kills.

Katie Le (25 digs) and Riley Roberts (20) both had strong defensive outings for UCO.

The Bronchos were poised to take a quick lead in the match after leading most of the first set before succumbing to a late ASU comeback.

UCO was up 10-4 early and regained a six-point advantage at 20-14 after Karp had three kills and Wimmer two during a 7-2 run. The lead was still six (23-17) after a pair of Angelo miscues before the Rambelles closed the set with a stunning 8-0 run to steal the win, benefitting from three straight attack errors by the Bronchos.

Central rebounded in the second set to tie the match, overcoming a series of early four-point deficits. The Bronchos trailed 14-10 before reeling off six straight points, keyed by a Karp kill and solo block.

That made it 16-14 and UCO never trailed again. Huck had a pair of kills and Riley Roberts an ace to keep the Bronchos in front, with Garvin slamming down a pair of kills at the end to close out the set.

The Rambelles led 4-2 early in the third set before Huck and Karp had two kills each in an 8-0 run that put UCO in front to stay. The lead grew to 18-10 on back-to-back kills by Huck and Wimmer and Wimmer added two more kills down the stretch to keep the Bronchos safely in front.

It was a back-and-forth battle throughout the fourth set. UCO trailed 9-6, came back to tie it at 9-all and then fell behind 14-11 before getting two kills from Huck along with a batch of ASU errors in surging in front 18-15.

Huck had another kill to keep the lead at three (19-16), then the Rambelles scored three straight to pull even. UCO led 21-20 after a Wimmer kill, but Angelo scored the next three points to move ahead and went on to take the narrow 25-23 win in evening the match.

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Players Mentioned

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

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

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

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

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

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

#17 Mikiah Perdue: MB; 5' 9"; Sophomore

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

Players Mentioned

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

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

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

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

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

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

#17 Mikiah Perdue
: 5' 9"; Sophomore
: MB

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