Ranney's 20 Push Broncos To Win Over Zips
Ranney set her previous career-high in kills with 13 against Ball State two weekends ago, but the second-year player blew away her previous best with a 20-kill performance that featured steady production through four sets. Ranney recorded kills in important moments, as well; she notched the third set winner by going through the block to give the Broncos a 2-1 edge in the match, and tied the fourth set 21-21 with a kill to add fuel to a Bronco comeback and set win.
Terin Norris recorded her 10th double-double of the season with 47 assists and 10 digs, and junior Ali Gossen recorded her second double-double of the season with 12 kills and 10 digs. All told, five players reached double figures in digs, with Kaycee Acree setting the match-high with 20 and Lena Oliver finishing with 18.
The Broncos fell behind the Zips early in the fourth set, and trailed 16-10 before starting their comeback bid. Jessica Brown notched a tip kill to get things going, and Ranney delivered another blast to cut the Zips' lead to four points. The Broncos pulled within three points when Gossen notched a kill to make it 18-15, and the junior would record an ace later in the set to make it 19-17. The Broncos tied the set at 21-21 when Ranney punched one over the block, and an Akron attack error gave WMU the lead. Brown finished off the Zips with a down line kill, giving the Broncos a 25-23 set win and a match victory.
Stephenee Yancy would be the one to pace the Broncos in the first set, helping WMU pounce on Akron early for a one-set lead. The Broncos opened the set on a 10-5 run, and stretched their lead to 14-8 when Brown recorded a solo block. Yancy would be a force in the set, recording six kills on eight swings with no errors for a .750 hitting percentage. Yancy gave the Broncos their largest lead of the set when she leaped high over the block and put away a set from Norris, making it 23-12 in WMU's favor. Yancy would turn the trick again two points later to give the Broncos a 24-13 lead, and Norris delivered the kill shot with a tip kill to make the score 25-16.
Akron bounced back with a late comeback effort in the second set, but the Broncos took the all-important third set with another dominant performance. The teams were tight early on, until Gossen capped a WMU run with a kill to make it 14-10. The Broncos scored six of the next eight points to stretch the lead to 20-12, and Yancy would force set point for the Broncos with a kill that made it 24-20. Ranney would seal the deal for the Broncos two points later with a kill of her own to make it 25-21 and give the Broncos control.
