No. 7-ranked Central Oklahoma travels to Missouri for two big MIAA matches this weekend as the Bronchos head into the final stages of the 2025 season.
UCO, 21-3 on the season and 7-3 in league play, goes to Warrensburg, Mo. Friday for a 6 p.m. meeting against Central Missouri (15-5, 7-3) before moving on to Joplin, Mo. to take on Missouri Southern (8-14, 2-8) at 2 p.m. Saturday.
The Bronchos and Jennies are tied for fifth in a tight conference race with six matches remaining in the regular season. UCO is back home next weekend for two matches before ending with two more on the road Nov. 13-14.
"It's another important weekend for us," head coach Edgar Miraku said. "Every match is so important in our conference and it's especially tough when you're on the road. We've had a good week of practice and our players are looking forward to the challenge."
Central returns home next weekend to host Newman and Pittsburg State, then ends the regular season Nov. 13-14 at Emporia State and No. 2 Washburn. The top eight teams in the final standings advance to the MIAA Tournament, set for Nov. 21-23 in St. Joseph, Mo.
ABOUT THE BRONCHOS: UCO beat Arkansas-Fort Smith 3-0 twice in a home-and-home series last week, giving the Bronchos 18 sweeps in their 21 wins this season.
Seniors Lindsey Houran and Mikiah Perdue led the way, with Houran earning MIAA Setter of the Week honors while Perdue was named MIAA Offensive Player of the Week.
Houran dished out 79 assists in the two matches, averaging 13.17 per set. Perdue hit a sizzling .392 with 23 kills (3.83/set) in 51 attacks with just three errors while adding four blocks.
Perdue is enjoying a stellar final season. She's knocked down a team-high 233 kills (2.95/set) with a .305 attack percentage and tops the team in solo (26) and assisted (47) blocks.
Houran has been brilliant in leading UCO's offense, having handed out 891 assists for an 11.72 per-set average than ranks third nationally. She's also hitting .313 with 55 kills to go along with 271 digs and 23 total blocks.
Houran ranks third on the school's all-time assists list with 4,783. She's dealt out 40-plus assists in 56 matches during her career.
Three other players besides Perdue have collected 150-plus kills this season.
Senior Sydney Huck has been in-and-out of the lineup with injury this season but is hitting a solid .272 with 195 kills in just 49 sets, a 3.98 per-set average that leads the league. She ranks 10th in career kills at UCO with 1,328, needing 60 more for ninth, and has had 71 double-dig kill outings during her outstanding career.
Senior Kedron Burk is hitting .288 with 194 kills and is second on the team in both solo (19) and assisted (35) blocks. Freshman Kamryn Glover, who has missed the last six matches to injury, has 158 kills and is still tied for the team lead in service aces with 26.
Junior Kaitlyn Parrott continues to pace the defensive efforts for UCO and leads the nation in digs per set with 6.0. She ranks seventh in total digs (474) and has had 11 matches with 20-plus digs this season.
ABOUT CENTRAL MISSOURI: The Jennies have won eight of their last 10 matches heading into Friday's showdown, including a four-set win over UCO in Edmond on Oct. 4.
Emma Siron tops the offense with 201 kills (2.87/set), 22 aces, 203 digs and 25 blocks. Shaye Koski is right behind with 187 kills (2.83/set) and 28 blocks, while Kaelyn McDonald has 179 kills (2.63/set) with a team-high 70 blocks.
UCM owns a 23-7 edge in a rivalry that dates to 1992.
ABOUT MISSOURI SOUTHERN: The Lions have lost four straight matches heading into a Friday contest with Arkansas-Fort Smith before hosting UCO.
Alana Moesch leads the team with 269 kills (3.41/set), 33 aces and 183 digs. Fernanda Merancio has added 217 kills (2.75/set) with a team-high 43 blocks, while Addysen Alvis has 193 kills (2.57/set).
UCO owns a 30-9 lead in a series that started in 1991 and has won five of the last six outings, including a home sweep earlier this season.
