MARYVILLE, Mo. – The Northwest Missouri State University volleyball team was unable to slow down the No. 11-ranked University of Central Oklahoma Bronchos at Bearcat Arena in MIAA action in a 3-1 setback.
 
The Bronchos won by set scores of 22-25, 25-16, 25-20 and 25-13. UCO remained perfect on the season at 18-0, while Northwest dipped to 9-7 overall and 3-3 in league play.
 
The Bearcats jumped out early with a 7-1 start. UCO whittled the lead to 11-10 on a 9-4 spurt. The Bronchos leveled the set at 14-14 and took their first lead at 15-14. Maja Noehrer landed one of her four first-set kills to pull the 'Cats back into a 15-15 tie. Northwest retook the lead in the set at 17-16. Following a 17-17 tie, Northwest ran off three three straight points with Payton Kirchhoefer gaining the first two and Avery Kemp and Kasidy Mohwinkle paired up for a block for the third tally forcing a UCO timeout. UCO climbed back to within 23-22, but Noehrer responded with a kill and then Abby Brunssen and Ella Caffey stuffed the clinching point with a block for the 25-22 win.
 
Central Oklahoma took control of the second set with a 5-1 start. Northwest closed to within three points at 10-7 and 11-8, but UCO pushed the margin out to 17-10 forcing a Bearcat timeout. UCO stretched the lead to 19-10 en route to a 25-16 second-set victory. UCO hit .216 with 13 kills and only two attack errors in the set. Northwest hit .073 with 12 kills and eight errors.
 
The Bronchos began the third set with a 6-2 advantage. Northwest answered back with a 7-2 spurt to take a 9-8 lead and force a UCO timeout. UCO rebuilt three-point leads at 15-12 and 17-14 before Northwest rebounded and drew even at 18-18 on a back row kill from Olivia Dir. UCO ran off four consecutive points and head coach Amy Woerth used her final timeout of the third set with Northwest on the short end of a 22-18 score. UCO finished the third set on a 7-2 run to claim a 25-20 victory. UCO hit .292 with 17 kills and three attack errors in the third, while Northwest hit .167 with 13 kills and five errors.
 
UCO did not trail in the fourth set as the Bronchos scored the first four points and six of the first seven. UCO did not commit an attack error until leading 23-12 in the fourth set.
 
Northwest will return to action tomorrow at 3 p.m. when the Bearcats take on the University of Arkansas-Fort Smith.
 
NOTES: Ella Caffery notched her 14th career double-double and fifth of the season with 37 assists and 13 digs against the Bronchos … Abby Brunssen tallied a team-best 12 kills … Kasidy Mohwinkle secured 11 kills … Kyah Luhring was credited with a team-high 22 digs … it was only the fourth time this season UCO has lost the opening set of a match … UCO leads the all-time series with Northwest, 20-6.