UCO Hits The Road To Begin League Play

No. 22-ranked Bronchos Set to Play Northwest Missouri and No. 8 Missouri Western

EDMOND – No. 22 Central Oklahoma hits the road to open Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association play this week with back-to-back matches in Missouri.

The Bronchos, 10-3 and riding a six-match winning streak, go to Maryville, Missouri to take on Northwest Missouri (3-6) at 6 p.m. Thursday before moving on to St. Joseph Saturday for a 6 p.m. contest against No. 8 Missouri Western (10-1).

"Our league is the toughest in the country and every match is a big test, especially on the road," head coach Edgar Miraku said. "It will be a big challenge for us this week, but our team is looking forward to it. We've made a lot of progress and just need to keep working hard at improving every time we step on the court."

Central returns home after this week to open a three-match MIAA homestand, starting with a Sept. 24 meeting against Missouri Southern.

UCO made its home debut last weekend in the MIAA/GAC Crossover and went 4-0, with seniors Kaitlyn Parrott and Riley Roberts earning league player of the week honors.

Parrott was named Defensive Player of the Week after digging up 105 attacks in the four matches, averaging 7.50 per set. Roberts handed out 167 assists (11.93/set) to go along with 40 digs, 17 kills, five service aces and four blocks in claiming Setter of the Week accolades.

Sophomore Myla Unterweger had a team-high 50 kills last week, while sophomore Georgia Ahlert hit a sizzling .443 with 45 kills and just six errors in 88 attacks to go with eight blocks (five solo, three assisted).

Ahlert tops the offense with 139 kills (3.09/set) and a stellar .333 attack percentage to go along with 18 blocks (nine solo, nine assisted). She's had 10-plus kills in 11 of UCO's 13 matches, including the last eight straight.

Unterweger has collected 131 kills (3.28/set) with 82 digs and 14 blocks (14 assisted, one solo). Freshman Kate Wells is hitting .302 with 100 kills (2.38/set) and tops the team in blocks with 50 (40 assisted, 10 solo), which ranks sixth nationally.

Roberts directs the offensive attack from her setter spot and the senior standout ranks ninth nationally in total assists with 413, averaging 9.18 per set. She's had 40-plus assists in three of the past four outings and is also hitting .321 with 41 kills.

Parrott is once again one of the top liberos in Division II, ranking second nationally in total digs (255) and eighth in digs per set (5.54). The senior star has had 25-plus assists in four matches with a high of 33.

Sophomore Morgan Manning is second on the team in digs with 131, averaging 2.85 per set, and also leads the Bronchos in service aces with 17.

Northwest Missouri has lost six straight after a 3-0 start and is also making its league debut Thursday against the Bronchos.

The Bearcats are led by Gabrielle Gartner (91 kills, 10 blocks), Jada Smith (61 kills, nine blocks) and Maddie Roefeld (55 kills, 16 blocks).

UCO owns a 21-5 lead in the series and has won the last four meetings.

Missouri Western is off to a 10-1 start and is ranked No. 8 nationally after sharing the MIAA regular season title last year in making the national tournament.

The Griffons are paced by Mackenzie Peters, who ranks third in Division II in both total blocks (61) and blocks per set (1.56). She's also hitting .327 with 43 kills. Tanith Rousch is hitting .362 with 136 kills and 27 blocks, while Taylor Russell has 97 kills and 30 blocks.

The Bronchos have a 19-8 advantage in the series, though MWSU has won two of the last three meetings.

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Players Mentioned

#21 Morgan Manning: DS; 5' 5"; Sophomore

#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

#21 Morgan Manning
: 5' 5"; Sophomore
: DS

#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