WARRENSBURG, Mo. – The University of Central Missouri Jennies remained perfect in MIAA volleyball play with a 3-1 victory over the visiting Northwest Missouri State University Bearcats at the UCM Multipurpose Building.
UCM won by set scores of 25-23, 19-25, 25-18, 25-17. The Jennies moved to 9-0 in MIAA play, while Northwest dropped 4-5 in league action. Northwest is 9-8 overall on the season. It was only the second four-set match of the season for Northwest as the Bearcats fell to 0-2 in four-set matches.
Northwest's
Payton Kirchhoefer recorded her fifth double-double of the season with 15 kills and 18 digs. It is the 19th career double-double for Kirchhoefer.
Lauren Casey also reached double figures in kills (12).
Avery Kemp did not commit an attack error and contributed with eight kills (.471 attack percentage) to go along with three blocks.
Natalie Laiolo led the squad with 38 assists. Libero
Kyah Luhring helped out with 13 digs and five assists.
UCM's Kersti Nix secured a match-high 23 kills. UCM put up 60 kills to only 46 for Northwest in the match. UCM had 65 digs, while Northwest had 59. UCM also led in blocks, 10-6. UCM served up four service aces to only one for the Bearcats.
Northwest squandered a 20-16 lead in the first set as Central Missouri stormed back to take it, 25-23. Northwest hit .268 with 16 kills and five attack errors in the opening set. UCM hit .238 with 17 kills to offset seven attack errors.
The Bearcats evened the match at 1-1 with a 25-19 triumph in the second set. Northwest had 12 kills and hit .212 in the second. UCM was limited to an .053 hitting percentage with 11 kills against nine errors.
However, UCM regained the momentum in the match with a 25-18 victory in the third set. The Jennies hit .238 with 15 kills, while the Bearcats were held to .171 with 11 kills and five errors.
The Jennies closed out the win with a 25-17 triumph in the fourth set. Northwest hit only .030 in the fourth with seven kills and six attack errors. UCM posted 17 kills and hit .263 in the fourth.
Northwest will return home to take on Central Oklahoma (Friday, 6 p.m.) and Pittsburg State (Saturday, 3 p.m.) in Bearcat Arena.
