Lone Star statement - Aggies blast UCO

MATCH BOXSCORE >>

LAWTON, Okla. (Oct. 14) - Cameron won the battle at the net and laid claim to sole possession of first place in the Lone Star Conference North Division volleyball standings Thursday, turning back archrival Central Oklahoma in straight sets.

Cameron (13-10) won by scores of 30-28, 30-24, 30-25, to stay perfect at 5-0 in league play while ending a six-match winning streak for the Bronchos (17-7).

Morgan Meyer and Tayler Turner posted 12 kills each for the Aggies in the win. Meyer, a senior from Alvin, Texas, added two service aces, six digs and two blocks. Turner, a sophomore from Wichita Falls, Texas, chipped in three blocks, seven digs and an ace.

But Cameron's defensive effort at the net proved to be the difference as the Aggies collected a season-high 13 team blocks to UCO's one. Cameron had a dozen fewer kills in the match (43 to 55), but the Bronchos committed 18 more hitting errors. Senior Nicole Reinhart and sophomore Taran Turner led the defensive stand for the Aggies. Turner led all players in the match with six stops, including one solo block, while Reinhart had two solo and five total blocks. Sophomore setter Vicki Ibarra added four blocks to go along with 36 assists and 10 digs.

Central Oklahoma got off to a strong start in Game 1 before a late Aggie run turned the tide of the match. Trailing 26-22, Cameron closed the set with an 8-2 run, capped by a Taran Turner kill, to steal the momentum and take a 1-0 lead in the match.

The Aggies then opened Game 2 with a 6-0 lead that held for much of the frame. Taran Turner teamed with Ibarra for a block that put Cameron up 25-17. UCO cut the deficit to four at 28-24, but Meyer followed a kill with a set-clinching service ace to put the Aggies in control.

Central Oklahoma kept pace with the Aggies in the final frame, rallying with two straight points to knot the score at 25-25. But four straight points by Tayler Turner, including back-to-back assisted blocks with sister Taran, fueled a 5-0 run for the Aggies to close the match.

Thursday's win was the first 3-0 victory for the Aggies over UCO since the 2000 season. It was also Cameron's first home win over the Bronchos since 2001.

Cameron will have the weekend off before returning to conference play next week. The Aggies will visit Texas A&M-Commerce on Thursday, before travelling to Durant to take on Southeastern Oklahoma next Saturday.