Kearney, Neb. – The 13th-ranked Central Oklahoma Bronchos recorded 15 team blocks and hit .312 to sweep 3rd-ranked Nebraska Kearney (-19, -22, -22) Saturday afternoon in Edmond.
This was the only meeting of the regular season between the ‘Chos (20-1, 7-1) and Lopers (20-1, 8-1). Conveniently, UCO was off last night while UNK was three hours away in Fort Smith, Ark., taking on the UAFS Lions. The ‘Chos swept Fort Hays State on Thursda.
Falling in Edmond for a second straight fall, the Lopers couldn’t get its offense going (.157 pct.) as the ‘Chos recorded at least five blocks in each set. UNK did take advantage of seven UCO service errors but trailed by small margins for much of the afternoon. Over the final two sets, there were 26 ties and 16 lead changes.
Graduate lefty Mikaela Garvin (14 kills, .423 pct., six blocks), junior Sydney Huck (13 kills, .333 pct., three blocks) and senior outside Addison Wimmer (11 kills, 15 digs) paced a balanced UCO attack. They scored the first four points of the match and then held off a late Loper rally in the third. In set two, the ‘Chos closed on a 5-2 run that featured back-to-back Wimmer kills and an ace from junior setter Lindsey Houran.
UNK was down 24-20 in the third set before back-to-back kills by sophomore middle Mia Berg (Eureka, Mo.). Unfortunately, a video review went against the Lopers and ended the match. The Blue & Gold had five one-point leads in the set but could never go on a run to extend things.
Sophomore outside Carly Purdy (North Platte) had a team-best 11 kills with Berg at 10 and junior middle Trista Marx (Limon, Colo.) at six kills and a team-high .385 efficiency. Next, right side Lauren Taubenheim (Lincoln Pius) had 13 digs with libero Alli Wiese (Mattawan, Mich.) and senior DS Addyson Mock (Stilwell, Kan.) at 11 apiece. Finally, Berg and Marx both had two blocks.
Beside the top trio, UCO go 21 digs from libero Katie Le with junior Lari Migliorino recording a team-best seven blocks (one solo).
The Lopers host NAIA Sterling College (Kan.) Wednesday night at Buckle Court.
