Jennies Take Lopers to Four, But Fall in MIAA Championship

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (Nov. 23, 2019) - For the first time since 2015, Central Missouri Jennies Volleyball advanced to the MIAA Championship game. Unlike in 2015, the Jennies fell short, losing in four sets to No. 1 seed Nebraska-Kearney (25-19, 23-25, 21-25, 14-25). The Jennies now stand at 23-9 following the MIAA Tournament.

How it Happened
• The Lopers hit just three more kills than the Jennies, 57-54. 
• Central Missouri had one more dig than UNK, 99-98, but the Lopers blocked 10 attacks to the Jennies six.
• UNK hit .200 for the match with the Jennies at .151.
• Central Missouri pulled away in a tight first set to jump on top 1-0. Trailing 15-14, the Jennies scored four straight out of a timeout, getting two kills from Hannah Engelken and one from Hannah VanBuskirk for an 18-14 lead. The Jennies led the rest of the way and scored the final four points for a 25-19 set win. Aubree Bell put down four kills and picked up 10 digs in the set.
• The Jennies got out to a sizeable lead, scoring the first four points in set two. Leading 8-3, the Lopers stormed back with an 8-1 run to take an 11-9 lead. The Jennies responded with a 6-1 run of their own, going back up five, 17-12 and forcing a Loper timeout. Out of the break, UNK scored five straight to tie, but the Jennies held onto the lead. Tied at 18, UCM scored five of seven for a 23-20 lead, but the Lopers rebounded scoring the final five points to steal the set, 25-23, tying the match at one apiece. 
• Nebraska-Kearney used a 7-0 run in the middle of set three to pull away. Down by two, 12-10, UNK scored seven straight for a five point lead, 17-12. They led the rest of the way on their way to a 25-21 win and a 2-1 lead in the match.
• The Lopers couldn't miss in the fourth set, hitting .351 with 14 kills and just one error. Tied at five, UNK went on a 6-1 run to get ahead 11-6 and were able to roll to a 25-14 win in the set and the match.

Jennies Stat Leaders
• Aubree Bell hit 14 kills with 25 digs for a double-double.
• Ally Offerdahl passed out 44 assists and picked up 18 digs.
• Abby Skrastins bested Bell by one with 26 digs for the team-high.
• Hannah VanBuskirk added 12 kills and Hannah Engelken 11.

For the Lopers
• Julianne Jackson hit a game-high 17 kills with 12 digs.
• Kamryn Schuller chipped in 13 more kills.
• Madison Squires had a game-high 45 assists with 16 digs.
• Lindsay Nottlemann scooped up 27 digs.

News and Notes
• Since winning the MIAA Tournament in 2015, the Jennies have been ousted by the Lopers each of the last four years.
• This was the Jennies first trip to the MIAA Championship since 2015.
• Aubree Bell had double-doubles in back-to-back games. 
• Bell's 20 digs are a new career-high.

Up Next
• The Jennies will wait to see if they make the NCAA Regional Tournament. The NCAA Selection Show is Monday night, Nov. 25 at 6:30 pm.