University of Central Oklahoma

JOPLIN, Mo. (Sept. 5) – Central Oklahoma had its best and worst hitting outings of the young season here Friday in splitting two matches on the first day of the Missouri Southern Invitational.

Kristen Wilson collected a career-high 19 kills and the Bronchos hit a season-best .315 to rally past Dallas Baptist for their first win of the season before making 23 errors and hitting a season-low .107 in a three-set loss to host Missouri Southern.

UCO pulled a 25-21, 24-26, 20-25, 25-22, 15-8 victory over DBU (Box Score) as Wilson was one of three players with 10-plus kills, then dropped a 25-18, 25-11, 25-18 decision to the Lions (Box Score). 

The Bronchos, now 1-5, return Saturday to play Northwest Missouri and Drury.

“We played two completely different matches,” said UCO coach Jeff Boyland, who has no seniors and seven freshmen on his 12-player roster. “We showed a lot of courage to come back like we did against Dallas Baptist, but then we came out flat and didn't do much right in the second match.

"It's still a learning experience for us and we're getting there.  Hopefully we can bounce back tomorrow and play better."

Wilson, a sophomore outside hitter who returned to the lineup after missing last year to illness, hit .400 with 19 kills and just three errors in 40 attacks while adding 11 digs and two assisted blocks.

Sophomore Jessica Legako hit .429 with 12 kills and three errors in 21 attacks in addition to making eight a assisted blocks and Mary Wendell had 12 kills and two errors in 28 attacks for a .357 hitting percentage.

The Bronchos also got 45 assists and nine kills from junior Meaghan Wedberg, with rookie Madi Serratt adding eight kills and freshman Megan Hammond a match-high 20 digs.

Legako was a bright spot in the MSSU loss, hitting .381 with 11 kills and three errors in 21 attacks.  Wilson had 10 kills, but the 23 hitting errors and only one team block was too much to overcome.