WARRENSBURG, Mo. (Oct. 21, 2016) - Just three weeks ago, No. 15 Central Missouri Jennies Volleyball fell in four sets to Fort Hays State, in Hays, Kan. UCM returned the favor tonight with a 3-0 sweep of the Tigers (26-24, 25-16, 27-25) to move to 16-6 on the season and 6-4 in the MIAA.
The 3-0 score is an unfair indicator of high tightly contested the match was though. Only one set was decided by more than two points with two of the three sets needing extra points. The third set alone saw an incredible 16 ties and nine lead changes, while the first saw had six ties and three lead changes of its own.
Central Missouri hit a whopping .310 in the match, landing 54 kills, including a season-high 21 in the first set, on 126 attempts. The offense was in no doubt helped by the return of setter
Kourtney Thompson, who was injured in the previous match against Fort Hays State and missed the last six matches. She picked up 44 assists in her return to action, along with five digs, four kills and two service aces.
Kasey Hohlen and
Maddie Jones were the biggest beneficiaries of Thompson on this night. They each landed 15 kills and hit at least .500 for the match.
Molly Lawrence was also in double-figures with 11 kills. Four Jennies finished with at least 10 digs, led by
Carly Offerdahl's 14.
Abby Skrastins picked up 11 and
Katie Carlson and
Kylie Hohlen each had 10. Carlson also added a pair of service aces.
The first set saw the Tigers score the first three points to jump on top early, but the Jennies quickly responded. They took their first lead at 5-4 after back-to-back kills from Jones tied and gave UCM the lead. The match remained close, with the teams trading points, and at 15-15, the Jennies made their move. They went on a 9-3 run and took what looked like a comfortable 24-18 lead. Hays went down swinging, as they rattled off six straight points to miraculously tie the set at 24-all. With seemingly all the momentum in the Tigers' favor, Jones put a halt to the run with her sixth kill of the set to reclaim the UCM lead, and
Mackenzie Harding punctuated the frame with a solo block.
Set number two was all Jennies. Riding high after surviving the FHSU comeback, the Jennies scored four of the first five points and were off and running. They built a six-point lead at 11-5, then closed out the set outscoring the Tigers 10-4. The Jens committed just one attack error in the frame while the Tigers hit eight, and 15 of UCM's 28 attacks landed for kills.
A wild third set kept the fans entertained throughout. Neither team gained more than a one-point lead until FHSU went up 9-7, and neither held more than a two-point edge until the end when Tigers went up 21-18 and then 23-19. With their backs against the ropes, the Jennies stormed back with four straight points to tie the set, getting two kills from Lawrence and a Thompson ace. Fort Hays State held set point, 25-24, after a kill from Megan Anderson stopped the UCM rally, but three straight kills, one from
Kasey Hohlen and the final two from Jones completed the comeback and the sweep for the Jennies.
Crystal Witten led Fort Hays State with 12 kills while Anderson added 11. Hannah Wagy passed out 36 assists and Kailey Klibbe helped on defense with 17 digs. Rebekah Spainhour picked up seven kills and a game-high five blocks.
The Jennies have another rematch on their schedule for tomorrow night. UCM will host No. 4 Nebraska-Kearney at the Multi in a battle of AVCA top-15 teams. The two squads met on the first of the month with the Lopers defeating the Jennies in Kearney, Neb. First serve is set for 7 p.m.
