University of Central Missouri Athletics

WARRENSBURG, Mo. (Nov. 11, 2016) - No. 16 Jennies Volleyball swept Missouri Western 3-0 (25-18, 25-14, 25-22) on senior night, improving to 21-9 and 10-7 in the MIAA. The Jens have now won four of their last five matches.

Central Missouri hit .324 for the match, landing 47 kills on 108 attacks. The Jens also out-dug MWSU 56-47. Maddie Jones led the offensive attack collecting 12 kills and hitting .391 for the match. Kylie Hohlen and Mackenzie Harding both finished with nine kills and Lyons added six. Hohlen was also a big help on defense, coming away with 15 digs.

In the middle, Kourtney Thompson picked up 35 assists, seven digs and four kills. Carly Offerdahl led all players with 20 digs. The Griffons entered the match as the top serving team in the MIAA, but it was the Jennies who had the advantage on this night. UCM hit four aces, getting two from Abby Skrastins and didn't allow any on defense.

The Jens scored the first three points of set one and never trailed, cruising to a 25-18 set win. The Jennies built their lead to double-digits, 16-6 thanks to a kill from Jones who had six in the frame. Jones also ended the frame with a kill after Missouri Western had scored three straight.

Set two was much tighter at the outset as the score was knotted, 7-7. The Jens then scored four straight, getting two kills from Jones and one from Harding, forcing a Griffon timeout. Things didn't get much better for MWSU after the break, UCM went on a 7-0 run to put the set away, winning on Skrastins' only kill of the match, 25-14.

Neither team gained more than a three-point lead at any point in set three. But the Jennies were able to hold off the Griffons to complete the sweep. After a UCM service error tied the set at 18, the Jennies went on a 5-2 spurt, forcing two Griffon timeouts. On match point, ahead by two, Thompson ended the match with her third kill of the set.

Stephanie Doak was the only Griffon with double-digit kills, she had 10. Lauren Murphy added 26 assists and Kayla Ruff picked up 13 digs.

Following the match, the Jennies honored their four seniors, Mackenzie Harding, Maddie Jones, Cheyanne Lyons and Kourtney Thompson with a special on court ceremony.

The Jennies regular season finale is tomorrow evening at Northwest Missouri. Depending on the result of the Bearcats match tonight, it could be a winner-take-all match for the No. 4 seed and a home match in the opening round in the MIAA Tournament. First serve from Maryville is set for 6 p.m.