Jennies Open MIAA Play with Sweep of Northwest

WARRENSBURG, Mo. (Sept. 22, 2017) - No. 15 Central Missouri Volleyball got a tough test in their first MIAA match of 2017, but defeated the Bearcats of Northwest Missouri nonetheless, 3-0 (25-23, 25-18, 25-18). The win is the Jennies 10th this season and puts them at 1-0 in the MIAA.

How it Happened
• Central Missouri hit .261 for the match and held the Bearcats to a .180 percentage.
• Four different Jennies picked up at least 12 digs, as the defense averaged more than 20 digs per set.
• The Bearcats came in to the match with better blocking numbers, but it was UCM who outblocked Northwest, 6-5.
• The Jennies took a commanding lead out of the gates at 8-3, but Northwest would come back to tie and take the lead. The first set saw 10 ties and six lead changes, mostly in the final points of the set. Trailing 23-22, UCM scored the final three points, getting two points on NWMSU errors, and ending the set on a kill from Aubree Bell, her seventh of the set.
• Set two also saw a number of ties and leads changes, but this was mostly at the beginning of the set. After UCM took an 8-7 lead, they never trailed again. The Bearcats evened the matched on three occasions, but couldn't regain the lead. The Jennies ended the set on a 13-6 run, including scoring the final four points.
• The third set was a lot like the second - close at the start, but UCM pulled away for another 25-18 set win. With the match tied at 11, the Jennies scored nine of the next 10 points to take a commanding 20-12 lead before going on to close out match.

Jennies Leaders
• Four Jennies were in double-figure digs led by Kylie Hohlen's 16. Katie Carlson picked up 14, Aubree Bell 13 and Carly Offerdahl 12.
• Bell and Kasey Hohlen led the Jennies offense. Bell had a game-high 14 kills and Hohlen landed 12 on 23 attempts with just one error for a .478 hitting percentage.
• Ally Offerdahl was at the middle of the action. She passed out 41 assists.
• UCM recorded six blocks, getting two solo, one each by Molly Lawrence and Hannah VanBuskirk. Lawrence led the team with four blocks.
• The Jennies picked up three service aces, all from Offerdahl's. Ally had two while Carly added one.
• Audrey Fisher and VanBuskirk each had nine kills. 

For the Bearcats
• Maddy Bruder recorded a double-double with a team-high 10 kills and 13 digs.
• Olivia Nowakowski had a game-high 22 digs, 17 of which came in the first set.
• Sarah Dannattell passed out 19 assists.
• Alexis Williams picked up five kills and three blocks. Darcy Sunderman added nine kills and eight digs.

News and Notes
• The Jennies improve to 1-0 both at home and in the MIAA with the win.
• Carly Offerdahl needs just two more digs to reach 500 for her career.
• Central Missouri hit .474 as a team in the second set with 22 kills and just four errors.
• The win moves Coach Piontek to 93-3 all time against teams in the state of Missouri.

Up Next
• The Jennies wrap up their brief home stand with a match tomorrow afternoon against Missouri Western. First serve is set for 3 p.m.