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Women's Volleyball

No. 23 Jennies Volleyball Travels to Joplin Tuesday

Match 25: No. 23 Central Missouri Jennies (17-7, 14-2) vs Missouri Southern Lions (13-12, 6-10)
Tuesday, Oct. 31 | 6:00 p.m. | Joplin, Mo. (Leggett & Platt Athletic Center)
Live Stats | Live Video | Lions Roster
 

Scene Setter
  • Central Missouri volleyball (17-7, 14-2) travels to Joplin, Mo. for a conference matchup with the Missouri Southern Lions (13-12, 6-10) on Tuesday, Oct. 31, with first serve scheduled for 6:00 p.m. inside the Leggett & Platt Athletic Center.  
  • Last week, the Jens went 2-0 with a pair of sweeps against Pittsburg State (Friday, Oct. 27) and No. 17 Central Oklahoma (Saturday, Oct. 28) inside the Multipurpose Building in Warrensburg.
  • Redshirt senior Olivia Olson was named the MIAA Setter of the Week for her efforts on the court posting 76 assists (12.67 assists per set) while adding 16 digs (2.76 digs per set), seven kills (1.17 kills per set), and six blocks for good measure.   
  • The Jens are ranked 23rd in the latest AVCA (American Volleyball Coaches Association) poll released on Monday, Oct. 30.
 
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. on Tuesday night.     
 
Last Time Out
  • The Central Missouri Jennies (17-7, 14-2) swept No. 17 Central Oklahoma Bronchos (22-4, 13-3) by a final score of 3-0 (25-14, 25-16, 25-20) on Saturday, Oct. 28, inside the Multipurpose Building in Warrensburg, Mo.
  • In the opening set of the match trailing 4-2, the Jens responded with a 7-2 run highlighted by three kills from middle blocker Elinor Engel (match-high 12 kills on 21 attempts for a .476 hitting percentage overall) helping UCM take a 1-0 lead.
  • Central Missouri grabbed a 2-0 advantage by closing out the second set on a 10-3 run thanks to three kills from redshirt senior Kersti Nix (match-high 12 kills overall) and two kills from middle blocker Rachel Ziesman (nine kills on 13 swings for a .692 attack percentage adding a match-high five blocks overall).
  • No. 17 Central Oklahoma answered with an 8-2 run to begin the third set, but the Jens responded evening things up at 17 on an 8-2 run of their own. After a timeout by UCO with the Bronchos leading by one, UCM would claim their 14th conference victory of the season on an 8-3 run.
  • On the afternoon, the Jennies outhit Central Oklahoma by a margin of .330 to .139 overall including .517 to .100 in the second set thanks to double-digit digs from libero Grace Winkelmann (match-high 21 digs overall) and redshirt senior Sydney Lierz (15 digs, four kills, and three blocks overall).  
  • Setter Olivia Olson collected a match-high 41 assists, four digs, three blocks, and two kills while freshman Emma Siron added seven kills on 15 swings (.500 hitting percentage) for good measure.    
 
Series History
  • Missouri Southern: Ahead of Tuesday's matchup, the Jens hold an 82-2-1 all-time lead over MSSU dating back to the 1979 season including a 28-1 record in Joplin. Earlier this season, UCM swept the Lions 3-0 (25-20, 25-14, 25-22) on Tuesday, Oct. 3, in Warrensburg as middle blocker Rachel Ziesman (three blocks and a career-high two service aces) and freshman Elinor Engel (three blocks overall) collected a match-high 10 kills each. Setter Olivia Olson contributed a match-high 36 assists, eight digs, and six kills while redshirt senior Kersti Nix added eight kills and three blocks respectively. The Jens outhit Missouri Sothern by a margin of .327 to .142 in the match highlighted by libero Grace Winkelmann's match-high 13 digs, plus, redshirt senior Jackie Storm collected eight digs.
 
UCM in the Polls
  • The Jens are ranked 23rd in the latest AVCA (American Volleyball Coaches' Association) poll released on Monday, Oct. 30. UCM is one of three teams from the MIAA conference ranked alongside No. 10 Nebraska-Kearney and No. 17 Central Oklahoma.
  • Central Missouri is atop the MIAA standings with a record of 14-2 and is one of four teams (along with Nebraska-Kearney, Central Oklahoma, and Missouri Western) who have clinched a spot in the MIAA Volleyball Tournament. 
 
Jens by the Numbers
  • Central Missouri is averaging 16.4 digs, 13.8 kills (third-most in the MIAA), 12.6 assists (third-best in the conference), 2.43 blocks (best in the MIAA) and 1.3 service aces per set through 24 matches this season.
  • Redshirt senior Olivia Olson leads the Jens with 13 double-doubles on the year collecting a MIAA-leading 1,019 assists averaging 10.84 assists per set (ranks second in the MIAA) while having the second-most digs (240) and third in blocks (73) on the team.
  • Outside hitter Kersti Nix leads UCM with 337 kills (second in the MIAA) on the season averaging 3.59 kills per set (second-most in the conference) while averaging 3.90 points per set (ranks second in the MIAA) and has the second-most double-doubles on the team with four.
  • Freshman Elinor Engel leads the Jens with 88 blocks on the year (averaging 1.01 blocks per set) while she is second on the team in kills (218) averaging 2.51 kills per set (second-most for UCM) and is the fourth player to record a double-double performance this season.
  • Middle blocker Grace Southern's 74 blocks is second-most on the team averaging 1.21 per set (best in the conference) and hitting percentage at .304 (fourth in the MIAA). Southern is third on the team in kills with 150 (2.46 kills per set) and points with 198.5 (3.25 points per set).
  • Redshirt sophomore Winklemann leads the Jens with 364 digs on the year averaging 3.87 digs per set and has collected double-digit digs in 22 consecutive matches including five with 20 or more.
 
Up Next
  • Central Missouri returns to the court on Saturday, Nov. 4, as they take on the Newman Jets with first serve scheduled for 3:00 p.m. inside Fugate Gymnasium from Wichita, Kan.  
 
 
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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
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
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