Kayla Baer serve vs Drury
Andrew Mather | University Photographer

Women's Volleyball

Jennies Volleyball Begins MIAA Play Hosting No. 3 UNK Friday, Fort Hays State Saturday

Match 10: No. 3 Nebraska-Kearney Lopers (12-0, 0-0 MIAA) vs Central Missouri Jennies (4-5, 0-0 MIAA)
Friday, Sept. 27 | 6:00 p.m. | Warrensburg, Mo. (Jerry M. Hughes Athletics Center)
Live Stats | Live Video | Lopers Roster
 
Match 11: Fort Hays State Tigers (8-1, 0-0 MIAA) vs Central Missouri Jennies (4-5, 0-0 MIAA)
Saturday, Sept. 28 | 6:00 p.m. | Warrensburg, Mo. (Jerry M. Hughes Athletics Center)
Live Stats | Live Video | Tigers Roster
 
2024 Central Missouri Jennies Roster | 2024 UCM Stats | MIAA Volleyball
 

Scene Setter
  • Central Missouri volleyball continues the 2024 season with a pair of conference matches against No. 3 Nebraska-Kearney (Friday, Sept. 27) and the Fort Hays State Tigers (Saturday, Sept. 28) with first serve slated for 6:00 p.m. from Dr. Peggy Martin Court inside the Jerry M. Hughes Athletics Center in Warrensburg.
  • Prior to Friday's contest with the Lopers, Central Missouri will hold a court rededication ceremony in honor of Dr. Peggy Martin, who coached the Jens to an impressive 1,064-281 record over 33 seasons from 1975-2008.
  • This weekend also marks the five and 10-year reunions for the 2014 and 2019 Jennies volleyball teams which will be recognized at halftime of the Mules football game against UNK on Saturday afternoon. Along with the alumni teams, the 2023 Jennies will be recognized for capturing the programs 26th regular season and fourth MIAA tournament titles during halftime on Saturday inside Walton Stadium / Kennedy Field. 
  • The Jens split a pair of matches last week falling to Rockhurst in Kansas City before defeating the Drury Panthers 3-1 (27-25, 25-18, 19-25, 25-22), highlighted by a career-high 22 kills from sophomore Elinor Engel and a career-best 55 assists from setter Kayla Baer on Friday, Sept. 20, in the opening match of the UCM Challenge in Warrensburg.
  • 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.
  • The defending MIAA regular season and tournament champion Jennies are the top seed in the conference according to the MIAA Preseason Volleyball Coaches' Poll that was released on Friday, Aug. 23, as UCM received 113 points overall including five first-place votes.
 
How to Watch
  • Friday and Saturday night's matches are available on a pay-per-view basis through the MIAA Network with coverage beginning at 6:00 p.m. from Dr. Peggy Martin Court, inside the Jerry M. Hughes Athletics Center.
 
Meet the Jens  
Series History
  • No. 3 Nebraska-Kearney: Heading into Friday night's matchup with the Lopers, UNK leads the all-time series 19-17 with the Jens taking two of three matches in 2023 including a 3-0 (25-16, 27-25, 25-11) sweep in the MIAA Tournament championship match from the St. Joseph Civic Center on Saturday, Nov. 18.   
  • Fort Hays State: Saturday's contest will be the 37th meeting between the Tigers and UCM with the Jens holding a 33-3 advantage dating back to the 1981 season. Central Missouri has won 11 of the last 12 meetings including a 3-1 (25-13, 25-15, 19-25, 25-22) victory in Warrensburg on Friday, Nov. 10, which clinched the program's 26th MIAA regular season title.  
 
Jens By the Numbers
  • Central Missouri averaged 15.0 digs, 13.2 kills, 12.3 assists, 2.1 blocks and 1.5 service aces per set through nine matches this season. 
  • Middle blocker Elinor Engel's 148 points, 129 kills, and 3.58 kills per set is the most by a Jen this season while her 29 total blocks and 0.81 points per set is third-most. The Shawnee, Kan. native recorded a career-high 22 kills in the 3-1 victory over the Drury Panthers last Friday and is one of two players to start all nine matches this year. 
  • Junior Rachel Ziesman's 35 total blocks paces UCM defensively in the front row while posting the second-most points (110) and blocks per set (0.97) while her 91 kills is the third highest on the team. Ziesman is one of two players to start all nine matches for Central Missouri in 2024.
  • Redshirt junior Grace Winkelmann leads the Jens with 155 digs, 4.31 digs pet set, and 12 service aces on the year. 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. Winkelmann has collected double-digit digs in all nine matches this year including a season-best 26 against Wheeling (Sept. 14).  
  • Freshman Maddie Wojdyla leads the Jens with 235 assists and 11.19 assists per set while her four service aces are fifth-most for Central Missouri. The Gurnee, Ill. native recorded a season-high 48 assists against No. 3 MSU-Denver and has 20 or more assists in six matches played in 2024.
  • Setter Kayla Baer is second on the team in assists (175) and assists per set (10.94) through 10 matches this season. The Wesley Chapel, Fla. native had a career-high 55 assists in the 3-1 victory over Drury while posting 30 or more assists in three of four matches played in 2024.  
  • Senior Tiffany Little's 69 digs and 2.76 digs per set rank second for the Jens adding 32 kills, seven blocks, and three service aces for good measure.
 
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.
 
Up Next
  • Central Missouri continue MIAA play on Friday, Oct. 4, as they host the Arkansas-Fort Smith Lions (8-3, 0-0 MIAA) with first serve scheduled for 6:00 p.m. from Dr. Peggy Martin Court inside the Jerry M. Hughes Athletics Center in Warrensburg.  

 
Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

Elinor Engel

#6 Elinor Engel

MB
6' 0"
Sophomore
Rachel Ziesman

#11 Rachel Ziesman

MB
6' 0"
Junior
Tiffany Little

#17 Tiffany Little

OH
5' 10"
Senior
Grace Winkelmann

#1 Grace Winkelmann

DS/L
5' 9"
Redshirt Junior
Lauren Blake

#2 Lauren Blake

OPP
6' 0"
Sophomore
Kayla Baer

#8 Kayla Baer

S
5' 10"
Junior
Brenna Kelly

#13 Brenna Kelly

DS/OH
5' 7"
Freshman
Bree Messenger

#14 Bree Messenger

OH
5' 9"
Freshman
Maddie Wojdyla

#16 Maddie Wojdyla

S
5' 9"
Freshman
Shaye Koski

#19 Shaye Koski

OH
5' 11"
Sophomore

Players Mentioned

Elinor Engel

#6 Elinor Engel

6' 0"
Sophomore
MB
Rachel Ziesman

#11 Rachel Ziesman

6' 0"
Junior
MB
Tiffany Little

#17 Tiffany Little

5' 10"
Senior
OH
Grace Winkelmann

#1 Grace Winkelmann

5' 9"
Redshirt Junior
DS/L
Lauren Blake

#2 Lauren Blake

6' 0"
Sophomore
OPP
Kayla Baer

#8 Kayla Baer

5' 10"
Junior
S
Brenna Kelly

#13 Brenna Kelly

5' 7"
Freshman
DS/OH
Bree Messenger

#14 Bree Messenger

5' 9"
Freshman
OH
Maddie Wojdyla

#16 Maddie Wojdyla

5' 9"
Freshman
S
Shaye Koski

#19 Shaye Koski

5' 11"
Sophomore
OH