Volleyball celebration after a point during Comfort Inn Invitational
Andrew Mather | University Photographer

Women's Volleyball

Jennies Volleyball Begins MIAA Play at No. 4 UNK Friday, FHSU Saturday

Match 10: (RV) Central Missouri Jennies (7-2, 0-0 MIAA) at #4 Nebraska Kearney Lopers (13-0, 0-0 MIAA)
Friday, Sept. 26 | 6:00 p.m. | Kearney, Neb. (Health & Sports Center)
Live Stats | Live Video (PPV) | Live Stream | Lopers Roster | 2025 Nebraska Kearney Stats | Series History

Match 11: (RV) Central Missouri Jennies (7-2, 0-0 MIAA) vs Fort Hays State Tigers (11-1, 0-0 MIAA) 
Saturday, Sept. 27 | 1:00 p.m. | Hays, Kan. (Gross Memorial Coliseum)
Live Stats | Live Video (PPV) | Tigers Roster | 2025 Fort Hays State Stats | Series History

2025 Central Missouri Jennies Roster | 2025 UCM Jennies Stats | MIAA Volleyball | DII AVCA Coaches Poll
 
Scene Setter
  • Central Missouri volleyball begins the 2025 MIAA season on the road for a pair of matches beginning Friday, Sept. 26, against No. 4 Nebraska Kearney at 6:00 p.m. inside the Health & Sports Center before taking on the Fort Hays State Tigers Saturday, Sept. 27, beginning at 1:00 p.m. in Hays, Kan.  
  • The Jens went 3-0 this past weekend at the Comfort Inn Invitational inside the Jerry M. Hughes Athletics Center in Warrensburg with a 3-1 victory over Ouachita Baptist on Friday, Sept. 19, before sweeping Missouri S&T and McKendree Saturday afternoon.
  • Four UCM players were selected to the Comfort Inn Invitational All-Tournament Team including Grace Winkelmann, Rachel Ziesman, Kaelyn McDonald, and Shaye Koski.
  • The Jens are receiving votes in the latest AVCA (American Volleyball Coaches Association) Poll after an impressive 3-0 showing at the Comfort Inn Invitational inside the Jerry M. Hughes Athletics Center in Warrensburg.
 
How to Watch
  • Both matches will be available on a pay-per-view basis through the MIAA Network. Coverage begins at 6:00 p.m. Friday night in Kearney, Neb., and Saturday afternoon at 1:00 p.m., inside Gross Memorial Coliseum.
  • Friday's match against the Lopers will also be available on 93.1 FM KRVN "The River" in Kearney or online by clicking here with UNK Radio Network contributor Larry Cotnoir on the call.
 
Meet the Jens
  • Central Missouri returns 14 players from last year's squad while adding seven newcomers, including two transfers and four freshmen.
  • Setter Shelbi Wilson spent the previous two seasons playing for Hutchinson CC (Kan.) while redshirt junior Kaelyn McDonald transferred from MIAA foe Arkansas-Fort Smith.
  • Defensive specialist/libero Ragin Corwin (Blue Springs, Mo.), middle blocker Bria Dawson (Overland Park, Kan.), outside hitter Aspen Nelsen (Indianola, Iowa), and outside hitter Sammy Klotz (Hoyt, Kan.) are entering their first season of collegiate volleyball.  
 
Series History
  • No. 4 Nebraska Kearney: Friday marks the 38th meeting all-time between the Lopers and Central Missouri, with UNK leading the series 20-17. In their lone meeting a season ago, the third-ranked Lopers defeated UCM on Friday, Sept. 27, inside the Jerry M. Hughes Athletics Center in Warrensburg.
  • Fort Hays State: Saturday afternoon's match will be the 38th all-time meeting between UCM and the Tigers as the Jens hold a 34-3 advantage in the series. In their lone match up a season ago inside the Jerry M. Hughes Athletics Center in Warrensburg, UCM defeated the Tigers by a final score of 3-1 (23-25, 25-15, 25-13, 25-16) thanks to a match-high 20 kills on 42 swings (.381 attack percentage) from Maya Fergerson while libero Grace Winkelmann collected a match-best 22 digs for good measure.
 
Jens By the Numbers
  • Central Missouri is averaging 16 digs, 13.3 kills, 12 assists, 2.1 blocks, and 1.8 service aces per set through nine matches this season. 
  • Senior Rachel Ziesman leads the team with 33 blocks overall, averaging 1.1 blocks per set while being one of five Jens to appear in 30 or more sets and start seven matches in 2025. The Shawnee, Kan. native, recorded a double-double performance against Ouachita Bapitst (Sept. 19) with a season-high 12 kills, adding 10 blocks for good measure.
  • Middle blocker Kaelyn McDonald's 26 total blocks and 0.96 blocks per set are second for UCM defensively in the front row while posting 81 points, 60 kills, and 17 digs. McDonald has posted five or more kills in seven matches this season, highlighted by back-to-back nine-kill outings against Hillsdale (Sept. 12) and Findlay (Sept. 13). The UAFS transfer had a UCM-best 15 kills in the winning effort against Ouachita Baptist (Sept. 19) in the opening match of the Comfort Inn Invitational in Warrensburg.   
  • Redshirt sophomore Emma Siron leads the team with 103 points and 16 service aces, while adding 81 kills, averaging 2.53 kills per set. After being sidelined last season due to injury, the Sedalia, Mo. native has recorded nine or more kills in four matches this season, including a season-best 19 on 45 swings (.311 attack percentage) against Findlay (Sept. 13).
  • Libero Grace Winkelmann leads the Jens defensively in the back row with 158 digs, averaging 4.94 digs per set, adding 24 assists and six service aces. The Rhineland, Mo. native has double-digit digs in eight of nine matches this season, including a match-high 31 against Ouachita Baptist (Sept. 19) en route to collecting her 1,500th career dig. The redshirt senior enters this weekend's play with 1,542 digs overall, which is 13 away from being tied for the 10th most in program history with Jacque Barr (1999-2002).    
  • Wesley Chapel, Fla. native Kayla Baer leads the team with 306 assists, averaging 9.56 assists per set through nine games this season. The senior has added 73 digs, 22 kills, 12 blocks, and six service aces while being one of three Jens to start all nine matches and appear in all 32 sets in 2025. Baer has recorded three double-double performances for Central Missouri this season, including a match-best 43 assists and 12 digs, adding five blocks in the 3-1 victory over Ouachita Baptist (Sept. 19) in the opening match of the Comfort Inn Invitational in Warrensburg.  
 
UCM in the Polls
  • The Jens are receiving votes in the latest AVCA (American Volleyball Coaches Association) Poll after going undefeated this past weekend in the Comfort Inn Invitational in Warrensburg with a 3-1 victory over Ouachita Baptist before sweeping Missouri S&T and McKendree.  
  • UCM is one of five MIAA teams to be recognized in this week's poll, alongside No. 2 Central Oklahoma, No. 4 Nebraska Kearney, No. 7 Washburn, and No. 21 Missouri Western.
 
UCM in the Postseason
  • The Jens made their 37th NCAA Tournament appearance in program history in 2023 and the first under head coach Caitlin Peterson, as the Jens have a 41-41 overall record, including eight NCAA Regional Championships.
 
Up Next
  • Central Missouri returns to the court on Tuesday, Sept. 30, as they host the Rockhurst Hawks for Ronald McDonald House Night, with first serve beginning at 6:00 p.m., inside the Jerry M. Hughes Athletics Center in Warrensburg, Mo.
 
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Players Mentioned

Kayla Baer

#8 Kayla Baer

S
5' 10"
Senior
Maya Fergerson

#5 Maya Fergerson

OH
6' 0"
Junior
Shaye Koski

#19 Shaye Koski

OH
5' 11"
Junior
Emma Siron

#12 Emma Siron

OH/OPP
5' 9"
Redshirt Sophomore
Grace Winkelmann

#1 Grace Winkelmann

DS/L
5' 9"
Redshirt Senior
Rachel Ziesman

#11 Rachel Ziesman

MB
6' 0"
Senior
Ragin Corwin

#15 Ragin Corwin

DS/L
5' 9"
Freshman
Bria Dawson

#17 Bria Dawson

MB
6' 0"
Freshman
Sammy Klotz

#21 Sammy Klotz

OH
5' 9"
Freshman
Aspen Nelsen

#18 Aspen Nelsen

OH
5' 9"
Freshman

Players Mentioned

Kayla Baer

#8 Kayla Baer

5' 10"
Senior
S
Maya Fergerson

#5 Maya Fergerson

6' 0"
Junior
OH
Shaye Koski

#19 Shaye Koski

5' 11"
Junior
OH
Emma Siron

#12 Emma Siron

5' 9"
Redshirt Sophomore
OH/OPP
Grace Winkelmann

#1 Grace Winkelmann

5' 9"
Redshirt Senior
DS/L
Rachel Ziesman

#11 Rachel Ziesman

6' 0"
Senior
MB
Ragin Corwin

#15 Ragin Corwin

5' 9"
Freshman
DS/L
Bria Dawson

#17 Bria Dawson

6' 0"
Freshman
MB
Sammy Klotz

#21 Sammy Klotz

5' 9"
Freshman
OH
Aspen Nelsen

#18 Aspen Nelsen

5' 9"
Freshman
OH