Regan Willms set vs PSU on Senior Night
Andrew Mather | University Photographer

Women's Volleyball

No. 7 Jennies Volleyball Set for No. 2 Missouri Western in 2024 MIAA Volleyball Championship Quarterfinals

Match 26: No. 7 Central Missouri Jennies (11-14, 7-9 MIAA) vs No. 2 Missouri Western Griffons (22-6, 12-4 MIAA)
Thursday, Nov. 21 | 12:00 p.m. | St. Joseph, Mo. (St. Joseph Civic Arena)
Live Stats | Live Video | Griffons Roster | Series History | Tickets
 
2024 Central Missouri Jennies Roster | 2024 UCM Stats | 2024 MIAA Volleyball Championships | MIAA Volleyball
 

Scene Setter
  • No. 7 Central Missouri volleyball beings post season play in the 2024 MIAA Volleyball Championship quarterfinals taking on No. 2 Missouri Western on Thursday, Nov. 21, at 12:00 p.m. from the St. Joseph Civic Arena in downtown St. Joseph, Mo.
  • Senior Regan Willms was named the MIAA's Setter of the Week after collecting 108 assists, 13 digs, four blocks, and three service aces in two matches highlighted by a match and career-high 65 assists and career-best three blocks in the five-set victory over Pittsburg State on Senior Night.
  • Outside hitter Maya Fergerson was named the MIAA's Offensive Athlete of the Week following the Jens wins over Pittsburg State and Newman last week as the sophomore had 38 kills on 72 swings (.389 hitting percentage) including a match and career-high 23 kills on 46 attempts for a .370 attack percentage in the win over the Gorillas.   
  • Central Missouri won a pair of matches last weekend including a 3-2 (25-17, 18-25, 25-20, 22-25, 15-11) thriller over Pittsburg State last Saturday night after sweeping the Newman Jets on Friday.        
  • The Jens honored their five seniors in a ceremony after their five-set victory over Pittsburg State on Saturday, Nov. 16, including Ellie Erdman, Arley Anderson, Tiffany Little, Justine Bichelmeyer, and Regan Willms for their contributions to the program. 
  • Central Missouri announced the signing of 10-year-old Morgan Steeby during a NLI (National Letter of Intent) ceremony on Monday, Sept. 9, inside the Jerry M. Hughes Athletics Center in partnership with Team Impact.
 
How to Watch
  • All matches during the 2024 MIAA Volleyball Championships will be available on a pay-per-view basis through the MIAA Network with coverage beginning at noon Thursday afternoon from the St. Joseph Civic Arena in downtown St. Joseph, Mo.       
 
Meet the Jens  
Series History
  • No. 2 Missouri Western: Thursday will be the 10th meeting in the post season between the Jens and Missouri Western as UCM holds an 8-1 advantage following last season's 3-1 (25-23, 25-13, 23-25, 25-20) victory in the MIAA Volleyball Championship semifinals. Three Jens finished the match with double-double performances including setter Olivia Olson (match-high 50 assists and 10 digs), senior Sydney Lierz (17 digs and team-best 13 kills), and middle blocker Rachel Ziesman (career-high 11 blocks and 10 kills).         
 
Jens By the Numbers
  • Central Missouri is averaging 16.4 digs, 13.5 kills, 12.7 assists, 2.1 blocks and 1.4 service aces per set through 25 matches this season. 
  • Middle blocker Elinor Engel's 367 points (second in the conference) leads the Jens while her 309 kills (sixth in the MIAA) and 80 total blocks are second-most. The Shawnee, Kan. native recorded her 500th career kill in the opening set of a 3-0 sweep of the Newman Jets (Oct. 12) and is one of two players to start all 25 matches this year. 
  • Junior Rachel Ziesman's 101 total blocks (fifth in the MIAA) and 1.06 blocks per set (sixth in the conference) paces UCM defensively in the front row while posting the third-most points (321.5) and kills (266) on the team. Ziesman had a career-best 20 kills against Pittsburg State (Oct. 11) and is one of two players to start all 25 matches for Central Missouri in 2024.
  • Sophomore Maya Fergerson paces the Jens with 314 kills (fourth in the MIAA) averaging 3.57 kills per set (second in the conference) while having the second-most points (338.5). The Independence, Mo. native has double-digit kills in 20 matches this season including three matches with 20 or more highlighted by a career-high 23 against Pittsburg State (Nov. 16) earning MIAA Offensive Athlete of the Week honors.
  • Libero Grace Winkelmann leads the Jens defensively in the back row with 485 digs (seventh best in the conference), averaging 5.05 digs pet set (seventh most in the MIAA), adding a UCM best 25 service aces on the year including a career-high five against Newman (Oct. 12). The Rhineland, Mo. native collected her 1,000th career dig in the 3-1 (25-22, 16-25, 25-23, 25-18) victory over Seattle Pacific in Denver, Colo while tallying double-digit digs in all 25 matches this year including a season-best 34 against Washburn (Oct. 19).  
  • Setter Regan Willms' 275 assists are second most for the Jens averaging 7.24 per set with 12 service aces and seven kills on the year. The Dallas, Texas native was named the MIAA's Setter of the Week after compiling 108 assists, 13 digs, four blocks, and three service aces overall including a career and match-high 65 assists and a career-best three blocks in the 3-2 (25-17, 18-25, 25-20, 22-25, 15-11) win over the Gorillas on Senior Night and has recorded 30 or more assists in five of the last seven matches for Central Missouri.   
  • Senior Tiffany Little's 178 digs rank third on the team adding 173 kills (fourth), 26 blocks, and 15 service aces (third). The Parker, Colo. native recorded her third double-double performance of the year in the 3-1 (25-18, 23-25, 25-22, 25-15) victory over the Arkansas-Fort Smith Lions (Nov. 2) with a career-high 18 digs and 12 kills for good measure.
  • Defensive Specialist Brenna Kelly has the second most digs for the Jens with 204 averaging 2.22 digs per set while posting the second-most service aces with 23. The Aurora, Colo. native has collected double-digit digs in nine matches this season highlighted by a season-best 20 against Drury (Sept. 20).
 
UCM in the Postseason
  • The Jens made their 37th NCAA Tournament appearance in program history last season and the first under 2023 MIAA Coach of the Year Caitlin Peterson as the Jens have a 41-41 overall record including eight NCAA Regional Championships.
 
 
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Players Mentioned

Sydney Lierz

#14 Sydney Lierz

OH
5' 11"
Redshirt Senior
Olivia Olson

#8 Olivia Olson

S
6' 0"
Redshirt Senior
Elinor Engel

#6 Elinor Engel

MB
6' 0"
Sophomore
Regan Willms

#21 Regan Willms

S
5' 8"
Senior
Rachel Ziesman

#11 Rachel Ziesman

MB
6' 0"
Junior
Arley Anderson

#4 Arley Anderson

DS/L
5' 7"
Senior
Justine Bichelmeyer

#18 Justine Bichelmeyer

MB
6' 2"
Redshirt Junior
Maya Fergerson

#5 Maya Fergerson

OH
6' 0"
Sophomore
Tiffany Little

#17 Tiffany Little

OH
5' 10"
Senior
Grace Winkelmann

#1 Grace Winkelmann

DS/L
5' 9"
Redshirt Junior

Players Mentioned

Sydney Lierz

#14 Sydney Lierz

5' 11"
Redshirt Senior
OH
Olivia Olson

#8 Olivia Olson

6' 0"
Redshirt Senior
S
Elinor Engel

#6 Elinor Engel

6' 0"
Sophomore
MB
Regan Willms

#21 Regan Willms

5' 8"
Senior
S
Rachel Ziesman

#11 Rachel Ziesman

6' 0"
Junior
MB
Arley Anderson

#4 Arley Anderson

5' 7"
Senior
DS/L
Justine Bichelmeyer

#18 Justine Bichelmeyer

6' 2"
Redshirt Junior
MB
Maya Fergerson

#5 Maya Fergerson

6' 0"
Sophomore
OH
Tiffany Little

#17 Tiffany Little

5' 10"
Senior
OH
Grace Winkelmann

#1 Grace Winkelmann

5' 9"
Redshirt Junior
DS/L