Jennies Pick Up Ninth Straight Win with Sweep of Pitt State

WARRENSBURG, Mo. (Sept. 24, 2016) - Central Missouri Volleyball wrapped up family weekend with a 3-0 sweep of Pittsburg State (25-13, 25-17, 25-22). The win is the Jens ninth straight and eighth straight sweep and moves them to 12-2 on the season and 2-0 after one weekend of play in the MIAA.

Offensively, the Jens hit over .300 for the fourth time in five games, with a .337 attack percentage. Cheyanne Lyons led the game with 11 kills while Molly Lawrence finished with seven on 14 attempts. Mackenzie Harding, Maddie Jones and Kourtney Thompson all chipped in six kills, and Thompson finished with a game-high 30 assists. 

On the defensive end, UCM held a team below a .200 attack percentage for the eighth straight game and this was the fourth time in those eight contests holding an opponent below .100, as PSU hit just .071 for the match. Katie Carlson picked up a game-high 16 digs and Lawrence had two blocks.

The match started out tight as the score was tied 7-7 in the early going. UCM kicked things into high gear though and went on a 12-3 run to take a commanding 19-10 lead. The Gorillas didn't threaten and UCM took set one 25-13, helped out by Lyons' six kills.

The Jennies scored the first nine points of set number two, putting that one away early, 25-17. The Gorillas were able to add some points late, but the Jennies cruised to the 2-0 lead ending the frame on a kill from Hohlen.

Pittsburg State took an early lead in set number three and then came back to tie late in the set, making UCM work for the sweep. The Gorillas jumped out to a 7-3 lead after 10 points, but the Jens quickly came back and took their first lead, 9-8 on a PSU attack error. The Jens maintained the lead and led by five 20-15, until PSU went on a 5-1 run to re-tie the set at 21-all. UCM scored the next three points though on kills from Thompson and Abby Skrastins, and a service ace from Hohlen. They ended the match on Thompson's sixth kill.

Three Gorillas shared the team lead with five kills, Zoey Qi, Taylor Unke and Taylor Wright. Carolina VanBuskirk handed out 23 assists and Wright and Ashlen Schwartz each had eight digs.

UCM hits the road for the first time since Sept. 12 as they travel to Fort Hays State next Friday, Sept. 30 before heading to Kearney, Neb. for a battle with currently third-ranked Nebraska-Kearney, Oct. 1.