(WARRENSBURG, Mo.) — Three Jennies finished in double figures, as No. 7 Central Missouri took a straight set win over Northwest Missouri, 25-12, 25-16, 27-25 Wednesday night.

The Jens’ offense was rolling, hitting for a .303 average and collecting 57 kills in the match. Freshman Carly Sojka led the team with 13 kills, while junior Taylor Goodness and senior Bradye Peniston collected 11 kills each.

The Bearcats (11-8, 5-2 MIAA) took early leads in all three sets, but the Jennies (16-3, 8-0 MIAA) quickly recovered in each set. After falling 0-2 in the opener, Taylor Goodness and Hillary McCormick teamed up for back-to-back kills to tie the game at 2-2. The score would remain close until the Jennies took a six point run to make it 12-6. Aubri Renshaw and Brayde Peniston each knocked down two kills during the run.

Central Missouri kept the momentum rolling after a Northwest Missouri timeout, scoring on seven of the next 10 points, growing their lead to 19-9 on a solo block from Carly Sojka. After Peniston scored a kill to earn set point for the Jens, a Bearcat error closed out the set. Defensively, freshman Annie Reillywas the star of the opening game, tallying 12 digs.

Northwest Missouri again took a narrow lead, 3-1 in the second set, before Sojka tied the score with a kill and a solo block. Peniston scored a kill at 7-6, and the Jennies held the lead throughout the rest of the second set. UCM posted a .367 hitting percentage (16-5-30), their best offensive output of the night, while setter Julia Bates tallied 16 assists in the set.

In the third set, the Jennies had their toughest fight, as Northwest Missouri led throughout much of the game. The Jens held a 5-3 lead early, before the Bearcats reeled off four straight to make it 7-5 in favor of Northwest. After tying the match at 11-11 from a McCormick kill, the Jennies wouldn’t see the lead again until match point. Down 19-15, UCM rallied for a quick 6-2 run to tie the set at 21-21 after a Northwest attack error.

The Bearcats still held momentum, and forced a set point at 24-22. A block from McCormick and Goodness held off the Bearcats, and Goodness’ kill tied the score at 24-24. Northwest Missouri’s Shelby Duren gave her team another opportunity at 25-24 with a kill, but Peniston responded with back-to-back kills to give the Jennies match point at 26-25. Freshman defensive specialist Mikalee Monachino scored the match’s final kill, off a dig that floated over the net, and was misplayed by the opponent. The game-winner was Monachino’s first career kill, on only her fourth career attack.

Leading the defense, Annie Reilly collected a team-high 21 digs, and was the lone Jennie in double figures. Julia Bates collected a total of 43 assists on the night while also picking up five digs and three kills. Hillary McCormick recorded a team-high four blocks.

The Jennies continue their homestand on homecoming Saturday, when they host No. 4 Washburn at 7 p.m.

 

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