MARYVILLE, Missouri - The University of Central Oklahoma came into Bearcat Arena on Friday and scored a 3-0 win over the No. 10-ranked Northwest Missouri State Bearcat volleyball team.
UCO won by set scores of 25-21, 25-21, 25-22. The Bronchos improve to 13-5 overall and 5-3 in the MIAA, while the Bearcats fall to 12-3 overall and 5-2 in league play.
The opening set featured eight ties and five lead changes. Northwest looked to be in control up 18-14, but a 7-1 run by Central Oklahoma gave the visitors a 21-19 advantage. The spurt would end at 10-2 with UCO holding a 24-20 lead en route to a 25-21 victory. UCO sided out at 71 percent, while Northwest yielded a 60 percent side out effort.
UCO built an 8-3 lead in the second set. Northwest stormed back and event the set at 17-17, but a 5-1 run by UCO put the Bronchos back in charge and eventually a 25-21 triumph. The Bronchos side out at 68 percent in the second set compared to Northwest's sideout percentage of 58 percent.
The Bronchos closed out the third set with a 25-22 win to sweep the Bearcats. The third set had eight ties and four lead changes. Northwest's last lead in the set came at 18-17. The set was deadlocked at 20-20 but a couple of attack errors from Jaden Ferguson and Morgan Lewis left the Bearcats down two. Hallie Sidney's kill pulled the Bearcats to within 23-22 but kills by UCO's Bailey Combs and Amanda Desch gave the Broncos the three-set victory.
It's the first time since 2017 that Northwest lost a 3-0 match. It ended a streak of 24 consecutive wins in three-set matches for the Bearcats.
Northwest will be back in action at home Saturday at 7 p.m. against the Newman Jets.
NOTES: Sidney notched a team-high 15 kills, which featured seven in the third set ... Lewis tallied 14 kills and hit a team-best .294 ... Rachael Sturdevant posted a career-high 24 digs, including 14 in the third set ... Maddy Ahrens was credited with a double-double with 36 assists and 13 digs ... Northwest had seven blocks, while Central Oklahoma had two blocks.
--- Northwest Athletics ---