Jennies volleyball swept No. 17 Central Oklahoma 25-14, 25-16, 25-20 on Saturday, Oct. 28, inside the Multipurpose Building.
In the opening set of the match trailing 4-2, the Jens (17-7, 14-2 MIAA) responded with a 7-2 run highlighted by three kills from middle blocker Elinor Engel (match-high 12 kills on 21 attempts for a .476 hitting percentage overall) helping UCM take a 1-0 lead.
Central Missouri grabbed a 2-0 advantage by closing out the second set on a 10-3 run thanks to three kills from redshirt senior Kersti Nix (match-high 12 kills overall) and two kills from middle blocker Rachel Ziesman (nine kills on 13 swings for a .692 attack percentage adding a match-high five blocks overall).
Central Oklahoma (22-4, 13-3 MIAA) answered with an 8-2 run to begin the third set, but the Jens responded evening things up at 17 on an 8-2 run of their own. After a timeout by UCO with the Bronchos leading by one, UCM would claim their 14th conference victory of the season on an 8-3 run.
On the afternoon, the Jennies outhit Central Oklahoma by a margin of .330 to .139 overall including .517 to .100 in the second set thanks to double-digit digs from libero Grace Winkelmann (match-high 21 digs overall) and redshirt senior Sydney Lierz (15 digs, four kills, and three blocks overall).
Setter Olivia Olson collected a match-high 41 assists, four digs, three blocks, and two kills while freshman Emma Siron added seven kills on 15 swings (.500 hitting percentage) for good measure.
The Jennies swept Pittsburg State by a 25-10, 25-18, 25-19 on Friday, Oct. 27, inside the Multipurpose Building in Warrensburg, Mo.
With the score tied at three in the opening set, Central Missouri went on an 11-3 run highlighted by a pair of kills from Ziesman (six kills, a match-high six blocks, and four digs overall) and Engel (six kills and three blocks overall) en route to a 1-0 lead. In the second leading 19-18, the Jens went on a 6-1 run claiming the set thanks to a pair of kills from Lierz (eight digs and six kills overall).
In the third set with the score tied at 13, UCM went on a 7-2 run aided by four kills from Nix (11 kills and two blocks overall).
Central Missouri was led offensively by Siron, who had a match-high 12 kills on 20 swings (.500 hitting percentage) adding a career-high four digs and four blocks respectively.
Olson recorded her team-leading 13th double-double of the season with a match-high 35 assists, 12 digs, five kills, and three blocks for good measure. Defensively, UCM outhit the Gorillas by a margin of .309 to .038 on the night thanks to a match-high 15 digs from libero Winkelmann, while Anderson collected 13 digs.
The Jens return to the court on Tuesday, Oct. 31, as they travel to Joplin, Mo. to take on the Missouri Southern Lions scheduled for 6:00 p.m. inside the Leggett & Platt Athletic Center.
Release courtesy of UCM Athletics.
