From UCO Sports
Mike Kirk
EDMOND – Taylor Bevis had 16 kills and Fulani Petties added 10 to lead No. 11-ranked Central Oklahoma to yet another Hamilton Field House sweep here Friday night.
The Bronchos dispatched Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association rival Emporia State 25-17, 25-19, 25-20 for their 11th three-set win in 11 home matches this season. UCO improved to 22-2 overall and 8-2 in the league heading into Saturday’s 7 p.m. showdown with No. 14-rated Washburn.
“We played pretty well offensively and came out with a good win,” said head coach Edgar Miraku, whose team hit .306 on the night with 48 kills and just 15 errors in 108 attacks. “Taylor really made some good swings tonight and I was happy with the way we moved the ball around.”
Bevis hit a sizzling .371 to pace the Bronchos once again, collecting 16 kills against just three miscues in 35 attempts. It was the fifth match of the year with at least 15 kills for the sophomore outside hitter, including the third straight.
Fulani hit a solid .263 in her 10-kill night while adding three assisted blocks, while Alexis Washington chipped in nine kills. Allison Barr and Jordan Spence chipped in six kills apiece, with Spence adding four blocks and Barr three.
Katy Davis had a double-double with 46 assists – her fourth consecutive outing with 40-plus — and 10 digs, with Dominique Lipari contributing a team-best 13 digs.
The opening set was close early before UCO went on a 6-1 run to snap a 6-6 deadlock, getting back-to-back service aces from Bonnie Vernon and two Washington kills during that span. It was a 16-9 advantage after a Spence kill and the Bronchos coasted in from there.
ESU grabbed an early 4-2 lead in the second set, but Bevis took over with four kills and an ace in an 8-3 spurt that put UCO in front to stay.
The third set was tight throughout, with 13 ties and five lead changes. Bevis’ hard-hit shot down the line broke the final stalemate, Davis followed with an ace and an Emporia hitting error gave the Bronchos a 21-18 lead and UCO went on to close out the match.