Bronchos Host Final Two Home Matches This Weekend

No. 23-ranked UCO Plays Fort Hays State and No. 6 Nebraska Kearney

EDMOND – No. 23-ranked Central Oklahoma wraps up its home schedule this weekend when the Bronchos host Fort Hays State and No. 6 Nebraska Kearney on back-to-back days at Hamilton Field House.

UCO, 17-5 overall and 4-2 in the MIAA, takes on the Tigers (16-9, 3-5) at 6 p.m. Friday on Senior Night before meeting the league-leading Lopers (21-2, 8-0) at 2 p.m. Saturday in the home finale.

"It's a big weekend for us," head coach Edgar Miraku said. "We've got a lot of momentum right now and want to keep that going as the season winds down. Fort Hays has been played really well lately and Kearney is as good as any team in the country, so it will be a big challenge this weekend."

The Bronchos will recognize four seniors during Friday's contest against FHSU – Sawyer Franz, Emma Halstead, Kaitlyn Parrott and Riley Roberts.

UCO is riding a season-high seven-match winning streak and is also a perfect 8-0 at Hamilton Field House this season, having won 11 straight at home dating back to last season.

Georgia Ahlert continues to lead Central's balanced offensive attack with 230 kills behind a .294 attack percentage. The sophomore middle blocker has had 10-plus kills in 17 of 22 matches this season while having added 40 total blocks and 19 service aces.

Sophomore Myla Unterweger is right behind Ahlert with 220 kills to go along with 120 digs and 27 total blocks. Freshman Kate Wells has 147 kills while ranking third in the MIAA in blocks per set (1.25) with team highs in both solo (19) and assisted (72) blocks.

Roberts continues to excel in leading the offense, having earned MIAA Setter of the Week honors the last two weeks. The senior standout is second in the league in assists per set (9.62) and is also hitting .324 with 78 kills, 197 digs and 35 total blocks.

UCO's back row features two of the league's top defenders in Parrott and sophomore Mogan Manning. Parrott ranks third in the conference in digs per set (5.03) and Manning is ninth (4.12).

Fort Hays State is led by Ella Goodwin (271 kills, 51 blocks) and Ashlyn Reeves (188 kills, .347 attack percentage, 70 blocks).

UCO owns a 28-8 lead in the series.

Nebraska-Kearney had a 21-match winning streak snapped by Emporia State in the MIAA In-Season Tournament last week, with those matches not counting in the league standings.

The Lopers are paced by Brynn Stovell (215 kills, .370 attack percentage) and Carly Purdy (212 kills).

UNK has a 24-8 series lead over the Bronchos.

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Players Mentioned

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

#8 Emma Halstead: DS/L; 5' 11"; Senior

#9 Kaitlyn Parrott: L; 5' 5"; Senior

#11 Riley Roberts: S/RS; 5' 10"; Senior

#16 Myla Unterweger: OH/RS; 5' 10"; Sophomore

#15 Georgia Ahlert: MB; 6' 0"; Sophomore

#10 Kate Wells: MB/RS; 6' 0"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

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

#8 Emma Halstead
: 5' 11"; Senior
: DS/L

#9 Kaitlyn Parrott
: 5' 5"; Senior
: L

#11 Riley Roberts
: 5' 10"; Senior
: S/RS

#16 Myla Unterweger
: 5' 10"; Sophomore
: OH/RS

#15 Georgia Ahlert
: 6' 0"; Sophomore
: MB

#10 Kate Wells
: 6' 0"; Freshman
: MB/RS