No. 7 Bronchos Open Season at Patriot Classic

UCO To Face Three Returning National Tournament Teams

TYLER, Texas – No. 7-ranked Central Oklahoma makes its 2025 season debut this week when the Bronchos participate in the rugged three-day Patriot Classic.

UCO opens against UT-Dallas at 5 p.m. Thursday before squaring off against tournament host UT-Tyler at 4 p.m. Friday. The Bronchos finish with two matches Saturday, taking on No. 5 Ferris State at 9 a.m. and Ouachita Baptist at 3 p.m.

UT-Tyler, Ferris State and Ouachita all made the NCAA Division II national tournament last year, with Ferris joining UCO in the Elite Eight as a regional champion.

"This is probably the toughest opening weekend we've ever had," said head coach Edgar Miraku, who is 302-93 entering his 13th season at the helm. "It's going to be a tremendous challenge for us, especially with the big group of new players we have.

"But playing good teams like this will only make us better and I know our players are excited about it. We're looking forward to getting started."

The Bronchos follow up the opening weekend with their first home match of the season, hosting Oklahoma Baptist on Tuesday, Sept. 9 at 6 p.m.

ABOUT THE BRONCHOS: UCO has three starters and four other letterwinners back from last year's record-setting 33-3 team.

The Bronchos captured the MIAA Tournament for the first time, then won a trio of five-set matches to earn their first-ever Central Regional title in advancing to the NCAA Division II Elite Eight before falling to San Francisco State in a five-set quarterfinal thriller.

Senior veterans Lindsey Houran, Sydney Huck and Lari Migliorino lead UCO's returners. All three are entering their fourth season as starters and each ranks among the best in the MIAA at their position.

Houran was a First-Team All-MIAA selection last year and is the ringleader of a fast-paced offensive attack from her setter post, having accumulated 3,892 career assists.

Huck earned First-Team All-MIAA honors at outside hitter for the third straight time last season and has racked up 1,133 kills with 882 digs during her sensational career.

Migliorino is the ringleader at the net and has collected 190 total blocks with 501 kills behind a .297 attack percentage during her career.

Senior middle blocker Mikiah Perdue, junior outside hitter Sawyer Franz, junior libero Kaitlyn Parrott and junior setter Riley Roberts all saw extensive action last year and give the Bronchos much-needed experience.

Six freshmen and two transfers round out the roster, with senior middle blocker Kedron Burk expected to make the biggest impact. She started 50 matches during three years at Oral Roberts, totaling 102 kills and 57 blocks last year.

ABOUT UT-DALLAS: The Comets are in their first season of full-fledged Division II competition after transitioning from Division III. UT-Dallas went 9-9 as a Division II independent last year and will be competing in the Lone Star Conference this year.

Ten players are back from last year's team.

This is the first-ever meeting between UCO and the Comets.

ABOUT UT-TYLER: The Patriots received votes in the AVCA preseason poll and went 18-9 last year in advancing to the national tournament before falling in the first round of the South Central Regional.

Four starters are back for UT-Tyler, led by First-Team All-Lone Star Conference selection Kata Hartman.

The two teams are tied 1-1 in a short series.

ABOUT FERRIS STATE: The Bulldogs are a longtime Division II powerhouse and made their 13th straight national tournament appearance last year, winning the Midwest Regional to advance to the Elite Eight.

Ferris was ranked No.1 entering the Elite Eight, but was upset by Bentley in the quarterfinals in suffering its lone loss in a 34-1 season. The Bulldogs earned the No. 4 ranking the preseason AVCA poll.

Outside hitters Emma Bleecher and Gabby Piazza lead FSU's returners.

The Bronchos and Bulldogs have never met.

ABOUT OUACHITA BAPTIST: The Tigers captured the Great American Conference Tournament championship last year in earning a national tournament berth before falling to St. Cloud State in the first round of the Central Regional that UCO ended up winning.

Sixteen letterwinners return from that 22-10 team, led by First-Team All-GAC setter Courtney Hanson and Second-Team All-GAC middle blocker Emily Adams.

The Bronchos own a 14-1 series lead over OBU.

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Players Mentioned

#6 Sawyer Franz: OH; 5' 8"; Junior

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

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

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

#9 Kaitlyn Parrott: DS/L; 5' 5"; Junior

#15 Mikiah Perdue: MB; 5' 9"; Senior

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

#3 Kedron Burk: MB; 6' 2"; Senior

Players Mentioned

#6 Sawyer Franz
: 5' 8"; Junior
: OH

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

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

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

#9 Kaitlyn Parrott
: 5' 5"; Junior
: DS/L

#15 Mikiah Perdue
: 5' 9"; Senior
: MB

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

#3 Kedron Burk
: 6' 2"; Senior
: MB