ST. JOSEPH, Mo. – The receiving votes Central Missouri Jennies (5-4, 0-0 MIAA) swept the Illinois-Springfield Prairie Stars (2-6, 0-0 GLVC) by final scores of 25-17, 25-14, 25-13, Friday, Sept. 11, during day one of the Holiday Inn Express Griffon Volleyball Invitational, inside MWSU Fieldhouse, in St. Joseph, Mo.
After beginning the match on a 12-5 run, highlighted by four kills from middle blocker
Kaelyn McDonald, the Jens took the opening set 25-17. McDonald, a native of Lee's Summit, Mo., ended play with a match-high 11 kills on 20 swings (.500 hitting percentage), adding a pair of blocks for good measure.
The Jens doubled their advantage in the second, jumping out to a 15-5 lead capped off by a kill from middle blocker
Ashlynn Jaccard (four kills and four blocks overall), before taking the set 25-14 as UCM converted 11-of-15 (73-percent) sideout opportunities in the frame.
The Jens completed their second sweep of the season with a 12-point victory in the third, as senior
Maya Fergerson had 10 kills on 24 swings (.417 attack percentage) and setter
Chloe Rauner recorded her team-leading third double-double performance of the year with 28 assists, 15 digs, three blocks, and two kills.
Junior
Grace Wagers (three digs and two blocks) and outside hitter
Shaye Koski contributed four kills each in the winning effort as UCM out-hit the Prairie Stars by a margin of .280-to-.036 in the match.
Defensively in the back row, the Jens were paced by libero
Ragin Corwin's 18 digs, adding four assists, and a match-high two service aces, while senior
Kirsten Harper collected seven digs, freshman
Evynn Olsen had six digs, and Aurora, Colo. native
Brenna Kelly had five digs.
The Jens conclude the Holiday Inn Express Griffon Volleyball Invitational on Saturday, Sept. 12, with a pair of matches beginning at 9:30 a.m. against the Arkansas Tech Golden Suns (6-4, 1-0 GAC), before taking on the McKendree Bearcats (2-5, 0-0 GLVC) at noon, inside MWSU Fieldhouse in St. Joseph, Mo.
