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Box Score 2 Box Score (WTAMU) | Box Score (MSU) | Season Stats
DENVER, Colo. - The #5 Central Missouri Jennies had a tough start to the weekend, falling in both matches of a doubleheader at the Colorado Premier Challenge. The Jens dropped a three-set decision to #14 West Texas A&M, 21-25, 23-25, 23-25 in the afternoon, before fighting through a five-set defeat at the hands of #10 Metro State, 25-19, 16-25, 25-13, 18-25, 14-16. Sophomore
Aubri Renshaw led the team with 16 kills against West Texas, but the usual high-powered Jennies offense was slowed by both the Lady Buffs and Roadrunners, averaging just a .173 and .243 hitting percentage in each match respectively.
The Jennies (3-3) hung close with West Texas through all three sets, but couldn't get over the top. In the opening game, the Jens rallied from a five-point deficit at 20-15, closing to one at 22-21 after a Lady Buff error. A pair of attack errors from the Jennies, along with a West Texas service ace ended the first set, 25-21.
UCM fell behind again in the second game, as head coach
Flip Piontek called a timeout at 16-12 to slow a 6-1 West Texas run. The Jennies responded, scoring five of the next six points to tie the set at 17-17. Senior
Lisa Moore gave the Jens a lead at both 20-19 and 23-21 with a pair of kills, but the Lady Buffs immediately sided out, and rallied with three straight blocks to close out the set.
In the third, the Jennies held a 21-19 lead late, after a kill from
Julia Bates forced a timeout. The Lady Buffs answered with four of the next five points to tie the game at 22-22. Renshaw answered with a kill to give the Jens a narrow lead, but three straight scores for West Texas clinched the victory for the Lady Buffs.
Looking to bounce back in the nightcap, the Jennies overcame a 7-2 deficit early in the first game against Metro State to tie the set at 14-14, thanks to back-to-back kills from
Bradye Peniston. UCM pulled ahead with a seven-point run at 23-18, highlighted by a pair of kills from freshman
Carly Sojka.
Metro State took an 8-3 run midway through the second game to turn a 10-10 tie into an 18-13 Roadrunner advantage. The Jennies hit only .033 for the set, falling 16-25.
The Jennies responed in the third game, dominating early and jumping out to a 11-5 lead. Metro State earned a few sideouts after burning an early timeout, but the Jens put the game away with a five-point run, highlighted by Sojka and senior
Hillary McCormick each earning a kill as well as a block, to stretch their lead to 19-9. UCM closed out the set 25-13, to take a 2-1 lead in the match.
The tournament hosts wouldn't go quietly, however, as the Roadrunners claimed the first four points and eventually climbed out to a 7-4 lead early in the fourth. The Jennies clawed their way back into the game, tied the match at 14-14 thanks to an attack error from Metro State. The Roadrunners forced a fifth set however, winning eight of the last nine points to win the game 25-18.
Central Missouri clung to a narrow lead throughout the first half of the final set, leading 8-7 as the teams switched sides of the court. A kill from Renshaw, followed by an ace from freshman
Mikalee Monachino gave the Jens a 10-7 lead. Both sides traded serves until a pair of scores for the Roadrunners tied the game at 12-12. McCormick reclaimed the lead with a kill for the Jens, but Metro State answered. Sojka made it a 14-13 UCM edge before a service error tied the set again at 14-14. The Roadrunners took a 15-14 lead with a block, before a ball handling error was called, giving Metro State the 16-14 win.
Three Jennies finished in double figures in kills against Metro State, with Peniston leading the way with 14. McCormick earned 12 kills, while Sojka picked up a career-high 11. Setter
Julia Bates recorded 37 assists in both matches, earning the double-double with 10 digs against West Texas A&M. Freshman libero
Annie Reilly led the back row, recording 27 digs against West Texas, and 15 against Metro State.
The Jennies will compete in the Bronze Division of the Premier Challenge on Saturday. The bracket-style tournament will get underway as the Jens take on Lewis at 10:30 a.m. With a victory, UCM will face the winner of Angelo State and Colorado School of Mines at 8 p.m.. With a loss, the Jens will play the loser of that same match at 6 p.m.
