ST. JOSEPH, Mo. – Top seed Central Missouri Jennies (24-7, 18-2) swept the three seed Nebraska Kearney Lopers (28-5, 16-4) by a final score of 3-0 (25-16, 27-25, 25-11) on Saturday, Nov. 18, in the 2023 MIAA Volleyball Tournament Championship match from the St. Joseph Civic Arena in downtown St. Joseph, Mo.
In the opening set of the match the Jens led 14-11 before going on a 7-1 run starting with a redshirt senior
Sydney Lierz (17 digs and eight kills overall) kill from MIAA Player of the Year
Olivia Olson (match-high 41 assists, 11 digs, and three kills overall) as the Jens cruised to a 25-16 victory.
The Lopers responded in the second set leading 25-24, but UCM answered with a 3-0 run beginning with a kill from right side hitter
Emma Siron (nine kills and three digs overall), followed by a kill from freshman
Elinor Engel (11 kills on 16 swings for a .500 hitting percentage) and ended with a service ace from
Rachel Ziesman (match-high 15 kills, three blocks, and two digs overall).
The Jens began the third set on a 5-1 run and never relinquished the lead as they capture their fourth MIAA Tournament title with a 25-11 victory as UCM outhit the Lopers .351 to .164 on the night highlighted by double digit digs from libero
Grace Winkelmann (team-high 18 digs and four assists overall) and junior
Arley Anderson (17 digs, a career-high four assists overall).
Outside hitter
Kersti Nix had seven kills on 24 swings (.292 attack percentage) adding four digs, while redshirt senior
Jackie Storm collected four digs in the winning effort.
After the conclusion of the contest, three Central Missouri players were selected to the 2023 MIAA Volleyball Championship All-Tournament team including
Olivia Olson,
Sydney Lierz, and
Rachel Ziesman respectively.
