WICHITA, Kansas – A balanced offensive attack spearheaded Central Oklahoma's fourth straight win as the Bronchos overwhelmed Newman Tuesday night.
UCO swept the Jets for the second time in five days, prevailing 25-20, 25-18, 25-18 in moving to 14-5 on the season. Last Friday's win was at home in a MIAA tilt while Tuesday's meeting was a non-conference contest.
"We got contributions from a lot of players and took care of business," head coach Edgar Miraku said. "It's tough playing the same team back-to-back, but I thought we did a good job focusing on us and what we do best."
Six players had four-plus kills in the match, led by Caroline Clayton's eight. Georgia Ahlert, Taylor Fenton and Myla Unterweger added six apiece, while Riley Roberts had five and Kate Wells four.
Roberts also dished out 27 assists, with Wells making three solo blocks and Ahlert two service aces. Morgan Manning led the back row defense with 23 digs and two aces, while Jordyn Baker had a solid outing with seven digs, three kills and two aces.
Wells had two blocks early in the first set as UCO jumped on top 5-1 and it was a 14-7 lead after a Clayton Kill. Newman got close at 22-19, but Ahlert had a kill followed by an ace and Wells added another kill as the Bronchos closed it out.
The second set was tied 4-4 before Baker served up two aces in a 6-0 run that put Central ahead 10-4. It was 14-5 after Ahlert and Unterweger teamed up for a block and the Bronchos coasted in from there.
Newman battled hard in the third set and led 13-11 before an Unterweger kill, Wells block and Jenna Monroe ace gave UCO a 14-13 lead. The Jets tied it at 14, then the Bronchos took charge with six unanswered points.
Fenton sparked that spurt with three kills and Manning's ace capped the run to make it 20-14. Newman could get no close as the Bronchos finished off the sweep.
UCO returns to conference action Friday, hosting No. 13-ranked Washburn in a 6 p.m. battle at Hamilton Field House.