DENVER, Colo. – The Central Missouri Jennies (3-4, 0-0) split a pair of matches defeating the UT-Tyler Patriots (4-2, 0-0) by a final score of 3-2 (25-13, 25-21, 19-25, 21-25, 15-10) before falling to No. 6 Metropolitan State of Denver Roadrunners (5-3, 0-0) by a score of 3-1 (19-25, 26-24, 22-25, 18-25) on Saturday, Sept. 9, in the final day of the Colorado Premier Challenge from Auraria Event Center in Denver, Colo.
 
UCM returns to the court on Thursday, Sept. 14, as they begin MIAA play on the road against the Missouri Western Griffons at 6:00 p.m. from MWSU Fieldhouse in St. Joseph, Mo.  
 
Central Missouri 3, UT-Tyler 2 (25-13, 25-21, 19-25, 21-25, 15-10)
The Jens began the match on a 10-3 run highlighted by three kills from Parker, Colo. native Tiffany Little (eight kills and a career-high five blocks overall) as UCM took the first set of the match. Facing a two-set deficit, the Patriots responded taking the third and fourth forcing a deciding fifth set. In the fifth, Central Missouri regained their winning ways beginning on a 7-3 run before earning the victory.  
Outside hitter Kersti Nix led the Jennies offensively with a match-high 18 kills on 45 swings (.311 attack percentage) adding eight digs for good measure. Redshirt junior Grace Southern (14 kills, five blocks and four digs overall) and middle blocker Elinor Engel (career-high 11 kills and a career-high six blocks) also reached double-digit kills, while redshirt sophomore Grace Winkelmann recorded a team-high 17 digs.
 
Redshirt senior Olivia Olson contributed a match-high 46 assists, eight digs and three blocks, plus, outside hitter Sydney Lierz added five digs and a match-high three service aces respectively. The Jens out-hit UT-Tyler by a .244 to .171 percentage margin while collecting 10 more blocks defensively.  
 
No. 6 Metro State-Denver 3, Central Missouri 1 (19-25, 26-24, 22-25, 18-25)
After dropping the opening set of the match, Central Missouri trailed by as many as four in the second set but overcame the deficit, tying the match. The Roadrunners answered by winning the third and fourth sets to win. 
 
The Jens were led by double-double performances from setter Olivia Olson (match-high 36 assists, 12 digs, four kills and three blocks) and redshirt senior Kersti Nix (team-high 17 kills and 11 digs), while middle blocker Grace Southern recorded nine kills and a match-high five blocks.
 
Outside hitter Tiffany Little (three digs) and freshman Elinor Engel (two blocks) had eight kills each, plus, libero Grace Winkelmann added 11 digs respectively.