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Season Over
Meaghan Wedberg
Meaghan Wedberg
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11/12/2009 10:57:26 PM
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CANYON, Texas (Nov. 12) – Texas A&M-Commerce turned back a last-ditch Central Oklahoma comeback and handed the Bronchos a disappointing five-set defeat here Thursday night in the first round of the Lone Star Conference Tournament.

UCO rallied to force a deciding fifth set and nearly overcame a big deficit in that before finally succumbing, 14-25, 25-21, 14-25, 26-24, 12-15 in losing its eighth five-set match in nine tries this season.

The Bronchos, who finished fifth in the regular-season standings, ended the year 16-16. A&M-C improved to 25-9 in moving into Friday’s semifinals against top-seeded and tournament host West Texas A&M.

“We fought hard and had our chances, but just didn’t quite get it done,” UCO coach Jeff Boyland said.   “I’m really proud of the way we battled back and we never quit, which is a testament to the type of players we have.  It’s a disappointing loss, but better days are ahead for us.”

Zuela Adom paced the Bronchos with 21 kills and Kristen Wilson added 11 kills and 14 digs, but UCO hit just .124 in the match.  Courtney Whitlow had nine kills and three blocks and Meaghan Wedberg contributed 45 assists, 12 digs and seven kills in her final match as the lone senior on the team.

The Bronchos hit minus-.049 in the first-set rout, but bounced back to take the second set as Adom had six kills. A&M-C rolled again in the third set to take control before UCO rebounded again to tie it up.

It was a 17-17 tie in the fourth set before a Wilson kill led to a 4-0 run that put the Bronchos in front 21-17, but the Lions came back to tie it again at 24.  UCO finally put it away, getting a kill from Adom and a combined block by Adom and Whitlow to close out the set.

A&M-C overcame an early 2-0 deficit in the fifth set and was up 14-9 when the Bronchos made their final surge, getting two kills from Morgan Roy and one from Whitlow in getting within 14-12 before the Lions finally closed it out.