Olivia Olson set vs Rock
Andrew Mather Photography

Women's Volleyball

Jennies Volleyball Travels to UNK and FHSU This Weekend

Match 18: Central Missouri Jennies (12-5, 9-0) vs No. 9 Nebraska-Kearney Lopers (18-1, 8-1)
Friday, Oct. 13 | 6:00 p.m. | Kearney, Neb. (Health & Sports Center)
Live Stats | Live Video | Lopers Roster
 
Match 19: Central Missouri Jennies (12-5, 9-0) vs Fort Hays State Tigers (7-11, 1-8)
Saturday, Oct. 14 | 6:00 p.m. | Hays, Kan. (Gross Memorial Coliseum)
Live Stats | Live Video | Tigers Roster
 

Scene Setter
  • Central Missouri volleyball (12-5, 9-0) hits the road for a pair of MIAA matches against No. 9 Nebraska-Kearney Lopers (18-1, 8-1) on Friday, Oct. 13 from the Health & Sports Center before playing the Fort Hays State Tigers (7-11, 1-8) on Saturday, Oct. 14 from Gross Memorial Coliseum as first serve for both matches is scheduled for 6:00 p.m.
  • On Tuesday, Oct. 10, the Jens defeated the Northwest Missouri Bearcats (9-8, 4-5) by a final score of 3-1 (25-23, 19-25, 25-18, 25-17) inside the Multipurpose Building in Warrensburg, Mo.   
  • In the first set of Tuesday's match against the Bearcats, redshirt senior outside hitter Kersti Nix recorded her 1,000th career kill. The Overland Park, Kan. native contributed a match-high 23 kills on 47 swings (.319 attack percentage) while adding two blocks and two digs for good measure.
 
How to Watch
  • Both matches will be available on a pay-per-view basis through the MIAA Network with coverage beginning at 6:00 p.m.     
 
Last Time Out
  • UCM defeated the Northwest Missouri Bearcats (9-8, 4-5) by a final score of 3-1 (25-23, 19-25, 25-18, 25-17) inside the Multipurpose Building in Warrensburg, Mo.  
  • In the opening set trailing 15-18, UCM's Kersti Nix (match-high 23 kills on 47 swings for a .319 attack percentage) recorded her 1,000th career kill thanks to an assist from setter Olivia Olson (match-high 54 assists and eight digs overall) sparking an 8-3 run that gave the Jens a 1-0 advantage.
  • After dropping the second set and tied at nine in the third, Central Missouri went on another 8-3 run highlighted by two kills from middle blocker Rachel Ziesman (eight kills, five blocks, and three digs overall) helping the Jens take a 2-1 lead.
  • With a tied score in the fourth set, UCM went on an 8-2 run and never relinquished the lead, capturing their ninth consecutive win to begin conference play which is the best start since 2009.
  • Freshman Emma Siron recorded a career-high 14 kills and a career-high four blocks, while middle blocker Elinor Engel had seven kills and five blocks respectively.      
  • Defensively, three Jens recorded double-digit digs including a team-high 17 from redshirt senior Sydney Lierz (five kills overall), 13 from defensive specialist Jackie Storm, and 12 from libero Grace Winkelmann as Central Missouri outhit the Bearcats .200 to .176 in the match.
 
Series History
  • No. 9 Nebraska-Kearney: Heading into Friday night's matchup, the Lopers hold a 23-20 all-time lead in the series dating back to 1979 including a 9-2 advantage in Kearney. Last season, the Jens won 3-2 (28-26, 18-25, 14-25, 25-22, 15-7) inside the Health & Sports Center highlighted by a double-double performance from outside hitter Tiffany Little (18 kills and a career-high 10 digs) while freshman Rachel Ziesman added 14 kills and five blocks. Middle blocker Grace Southern contributed 12 kills and four blocks, plus, libero Grace Winkelmann had a team-high 20 digs respectively.
  • Fort Hays State: UCM holds a 32-2 lead in the all-time series against the Tigers dating back to the 1981 season, including a 13-1 advantage in Hays. In October of 2022, the Jens swept FHSU 3-0 (25-16, 25-18, 25-17) inside Gross Memorial Coliseum as the Jens outhit the Tigers .267 to .050 on the night as outside hitters Kersti Nix and Tiffany Little collected a match-high 13 kills each. Defensively, middle blocker Grace Southern and Olivia Olson each contributed a match-high seven blocks while redshirt freshman Grace Winkelmann collected a match-high 21 digs in the winning effort.
 
Jens by the Numbers
  • Central Missouri is averaging 16.0 digs, 13.5 kills, 12.3 assists, 2.4 blocks (second-best in the conference) and 1.3 service aces per set through seventeen matches this season.
  • Setter Olivia Olson leads the Jens with 11 double-doubles on the year collecting a MIAA-leading 724 assists averaging 10.49 assists per set (ranks second in the MIAA) while having the second-most digs (181) and third in blocks (50) on the team.
  • Redshirt senior Kersti Nix leads UCM with 241 kills (second in the MIAA) on the season averaging 3.49 kills per set (second-most in the conference) while averaging 3.83 points per set (ranks third in the MIAA) and has the second-most double-doubles on the team with four.
  • Middle Blocker Grace Southern's 72 blocks leads UCM averaging 1.31 per set (best in the conference) and hitting percentage at .304 (eighth in the MIAA). Southern is third on the team in kills with 137 (2.49 kills per set) and points with 184.5 (3.35 points per set).
  • Redshirt sophomore Grace Winklemann leads the Jens with 258 digs on the year averaging 3.74 digs per set and has collected double-digit digs in 15 consecutive matches including four with 20 or more.
 
Up Next
  • Central Missouri returns to the court on Tuesday, Oct. 17, as they host the Missouri Western Griffons (13-5, 6-3) from the Multipurpose Building in Warrensburg with first serve scheduled for 6:00 p.m.
 
 
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Players Mentioned

Sydney Lierz

#14 Sydney Lierz

OH
5' 11"
Redshirt Senior
Kersti Nix

#20 Kersti Nix

OH
6' 1"
Redshirt Senior
Jackie Storm

#2 Jackie Storm

DS/L
5' 8"
Redshirt Senior
Grace Winkelmann

#1 Grace Winkelmann

DS/L
5' 9"
Redshirt Sophomore
Tiffany Little

#17 Tiffany Little

OH
5' 10"
Junior
Olivia Olson

#8 Olivia Olson

S
6' 0"
Redshirt Senior
Grace Southern

#19 Grace Southern

MB
6' 1"
Redshirt Junior
Rachel Ziesman

#11 Rachel Ziesman

MB
6' 0"
Sophomore
Emma Siron

#12 Emma Siron

OH/OPP/S
5' 9"
Freshman
Elinor Engel

#6 Elinor Engel

MB
6' 0"
Freshman

Players Mentioned

Sydney Lierz

#14 Sydney Lierz

5' 11"
Redshirt Senior
OH
Kersti Nix

#20 Kersti Nix

6' 1"
Redshirt Senior
OH
Jackie Storm

#2 Jackie Storm

5' 8"
Redshirt Senior
DS/L
Grace Winkelmann

#1 Grace Winkelmann

5' 9"
Redshirt Sophomore
DS/L
Tiffany Little

#17 Tiffany Little

5' 10"
Junior
OH
Olivia Olson

#8 Olivia Olson

6' 0"
Redshirt Senior
S
Grace Southern

#19 Grace Southern

6' 1"
Redshirt Junior
MB
Rachel Ziesman

#11 Rachel Ziesman

6' 0"
Sophomore
MB
Emma Siron

#12 Emma Siron

5' 9"
Freshman
OH/OPP/S
Elinor Engel

#6 Elinor Engel

6' 0"
Freshman
MB