ST. JOSEPH, Mo. – Third-ranked University of Central Missouri Jennies volleyball charged back from an early 2-0 deficit to win in five sets, 3-2, at Missouri Western in an MIAA match Tuesday, Oct. 19, at the MWSU Fieldhouse. The set scores were 23-25, 19-25, 25-19, 25-19 and 15-9.
The Jennies (17-2, 10-1 MIAA) have a quick turnaround, as they will travel to second-ranked Washburn (19-2, 11-1 MIAA) for a conference showdown Thursday, Oct. 21, at 6 p.m. inside Lee Arena in Topeka, Kan.
Redshirt senior
Audrey Fisher tallied a team-high 16 kills on 39 attempts with four errors for a .308 attacking percentage – her seventh consecutive contest with at least .300 hitting, while
Ally Offerdahl posted a season-best 48 assists, and
Rylie Barnum added a team-best 25 digs, pacing Central Missouri.
Kersti Nix (15 kills),
Hannah VanBuskirk (12 kills),
Sydney Lierz (11 kills) and
Hannah Engelken (11 kills) also reached double figure kills in the match, with Lierz also posting 18 digs for her fourth double-double of 2021, and Engelken added a match-high five block assists, respectively.
The Jennies outhit the Griffons (12-9, 4-8 MIAA), .222 to .190, including hitting a blistering .455 in the decisive fifth set, and bested Missouri Western in kills (70-58), assists (66-54), service aces (7-5) and blocks (9-8).
The five-set triumph marked the second time this season UCM has rallied from down 2-0 to win in five, as Central Missouri rallied from a 2-0 hole to win 3-2 against Nebraska Kearney Oct. 8.
Ali Tauchen hit .394 with a match-best 17 kills and four blocks, pacing the Griffons.
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