St. Joseph, Mo. -- No. 14 Jennies (4-5, 1-0 MIAA) beat Missouri Western (6-3, 0-1 MIAA) in straight sets, 25-23, 25-18, 26-24, on Tuesday to open conference play. Central Missouri has not lost to the Griffons since 2005.

The first set began with the Jennies taking the first five of six points, and the Griffons were unable to catch them through the set. Play was much closer the second and third set, the Griffons prevented the Jennies from running away with the game. The score of set two was close, a few attack errors on the Griffons gave the Jennies a small lead until. Missouri Western almost caught the Jennies at 9-8, but the Jennies earned the following three points, and did not allow the Griffons to tie the score again. In the final set of the match, Missouri Western took the lead at 7-7 and stayed ahead until the Jennies scored four in a row to catch them at 21-21. Both teams scored a point, but the Jennies were able to string two together first and took the match.

Carly Sojka led the team in kills, with 15 total kills, and hit .333 in the match. She also had three blocks in the match. Haley Thompson had nine kills and a career-high seven blocks in the match. She also had a serving ace. Becca Blaise had seven kills and four blocks with six digs and an ace. Blaise hit .300 through three sets. Maddie Jones had five kills and a block. Shelby Winkelmann had four kills, and hit .375, with nine digs and only one reception error. Jessica McDouglad and Kourtney Thompson had three kills each. Thompson had her third double-double with 30 assists and 13 digs. Annie Reilly was the final member of the Jens to see playing time in the match. She had two aces, and 17 digs, and did not have a reception error in the match.

The Jens will play another road game on Friday in Bolivar, Mo. against Southwest Baptist, before returning to Warrensburg for their home opener against Pittsburg State on Saturday.

(Courtesy of UCM Athletics)

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