WARRENSBURG, Mo. (Oct. 25, 2019) - Central Missouri Jennies Volleyball got off to a bit of a cold start on a cold evening, but came back hot winning three straight sets to defeat Pittsburg State 3-1 (22-25, 25-16, 25-13, 25-14). Friday night at the Multi. The Jennies improve to 15-6 this season and 9-3 in the MIAA. 

How it Happened
• UCM's defense showed up and held the Gorillas to a .038 attack percentage. PSU hit 33 kills and 30 errors. 
• The Jennies hit .187 for the match landing 51 kills.
• The Jens put back 10 blocks and scored eight points on aces.
• For the match, the Jennies sided out 62% and the Gorillas just 39%.
• Set one started off with the teams trading points. With the Jens up 5-4, Pittsburg State scored six straight to take a 10-5 lead and force a Jennies timeout. The Jennies rallied back and forced a tie at 14 after scoring four straight points. That was a part of an 8-0 run as the Jens reclaimed an 18-14 lead getting back-to-back aces from Sydney Lierz and a kill from Aubree Bell. But UCM couldn't hold the lead and Pittsburg State tied at 21 on a block. Still tied at 22, the Gorillas scored three straight to pick up the first set, 25-22.
• Pitt State kept the momentum going in set two, jumping out to a 4-1 lead. The Jennies tied things up at seven on a kill from Lierz. Neither team gained more than a two-point advantage until the Jennies scored five straight and took a 17-12 lead. The Gorillas couldn't make up the deficit this time and the Jens tied the match with a 25-16 win.
• The third set was another tight one at the start. The Jennies held just a one point lead, 11-10 before they took the set over. The Jens went on a 14-3 run to finish off the set 25-13 scoring the final eight points. Lierz scored six of the final seven points on kills and landed eight in the set as UCM hit .364.
• Tied at four in set four is when the Jennies stepped on the gas. They rattled off nine straight points and took a commanding 13-4 lead. Abby Skrastins was on the serve for all nine points and landed two aces during the run. From there, the Jennies were able to cruise to a 25-14 win to take the match.

Jennies Stat Leaders
• Sydney Lierz picked up a game-high 14 kills and added 15 digs for a double-double.
• Hannah Engelken scored 12.5 points with nine kills and five blocks (two solo, three block assists).
• Ally Offerdahl added another double-double with 38 assists and 20 digs. She also scored four kills.
• Audrey Fisher and Hannah VanBuskirk each chipped in eight kills.
• Abby Skrastins served up three aces and scooped 17 digs.

For the Gorillas
• Erika Ivkov had a team-high eight kills and added 15 digs.
• Meg Auten helped out with seven kills.
• Laura Willoughby and Brianna Richard each dished out 13 assists. Richard added 12 digs and Willoughby eight.

News and Notes
• Central Missouri is now 20-0 against the Gorillas under Coach Piontek.
• Hannah Engelken picked up career block number 200.
• Sydney Lierz landed her 200th career kill.
• The Gorillas .038 attack percentage is the lowest for a UCM opponent this season.

Up Next
• Central Missouri is back home again tomorrow night to take on Missouri Southern. First serve is 7 p.m.