KANSAS CITY, Mo. (Nov. 22, 2019) - Central Missouri Jennies Volleyball lives on as they advance to the 2019 MIAA Tournament finals following their semifinal round win Friday night. The No. 3 seeded Jennies came back to defeat #2 seed and nationally third-ranked Washburn 3-2 (8-25, 25-21, 23-25, 25-21, 15-11). The win earns the Jens a spot in tomorrow night's finals.
How It Happened
• As is often the case when these two teams meet, this was another tight battle.
• The Jennies landed more kills, 62-59, but actually scored fewer overall points, 75-73.
• Washburn held the advantage on defense with six more blocks, 13-7 and one more dig, 105-104.
• For the match, Central Missouri hit .155 and Washburn .184.
• Things started out as badly as they could for UCM. Washburn raced out to a 15-4 in set one and cruised to a 25-8 set win to just on top 1-0.
• Central Missouri quickly put that behind them and answered right back. Washburn carried that momentum into the first set with an 8-4 lead, but UCM rallied to tie and take the lead. The Jens scored seven straight to go from down 13-10, to up 17-13. Two kill apiece from Aubrey Bell and
Hannah Engelken helped with the rally. Washburn cut the lead to one not once, not twice, three times, but each time the Jennies responded and put the set away 25-21, scoring the final three points.
• Down by four in set three, Central Missouri stormed back with the help of an 11-5 run to take a 13-11 lead. They pushed that to three, 18-15 before the Ichabods made their comeback. Washburn scored four of five to tie at 19 and tied at 20, the Jennies called a timeout. Out of the break, the Ichabods scored two straight but the Jennies fought back to tie at 23 forcing a WU timeout. Washburn though scored the final two following the timeout to take the all-important third set, 25-23.
• The Jennies kept their hopes alive and forced a fifth set with a 25-21 win in set four. After getting ahead early, 6-2, it was Washburn who made a comeback. They tied things at 12 before the Jennies scored four straight.
Aubree Bell landed three kills and
Audrey Fisher a service ace in the scoring run. Washburn got back to within one, 18-17, but the Jennies never lost the lead.
• Central Missouri was once again behind the eight ball to start set five. They spotted Washburn a 5-2 lead, but three straight tied things at five. The set went back-and-forth and was still tied at 11 all. UCM was able to bear down and score the final four points of the set with three kills, two from
Audrey Fisher and an Ichabod attack error for a 15-11 win.
Jennies Stat Leaders
•
Aubree Bell landed 21 kills and finished with 14 digs for a double-double.
•
Hannah VanBuskirk chipped in 14 kills.
•
Ally Offerdahl dished out 53 assists and scooped 17 digs.
•
Jackie Storm was one of six Jennies with double-figure digs. She led UCM with 23.
•
Hannah Engelken and
Audrey Fisher each scored nine kills and Engelken put back five blocks.
For the Ichabods
• Genna Berg scored a game-high 23 kills with 15 digs.
• Faith Rottinghaus picked up 40 digs.
• Allison Sadler passed out 49 assists with 14 digs.
• Erica Montgomery added 13 kills.
News and Notes
• The Jennies advance to the MIAA Championship for the first time since 2015.
• This is the second straight five-set match between the Ichabods and Jennies. Washburn was 2-0 vs. Central Missouri this season entering the match.
• Central Missouri is just the second team to defeat Washburn this season, joining Nebraska-Kearney.
• The Jennies 104 digs are their most in a match this season.
Jackie Storm (23) and
Katelyn Moore (13) both had a season-high in digs.
•
Aubree Bell's 21 kills are the most for a Jennie this season. Bell had just 28 total kills in her previous 10 matches before tonight's outburst.
Up Next
• Central Missouri will go for their 15th MIAA Tournament Championship tomorrow evening against No. 1 seed Nebraska-Kearney. The undefeated Lopers have defeated Missouri Southern and Northwest Missouri so far in the tournament. First serve from HyVee Arena is set for 6 p.m.
