WC Missouri News

Central Missouri volleyball players Kayla Baer, Kaelyn McDonald, and Rachel Ziesman have been named the MIAA Volleyball Athletes of the Week, as announced by the conference office on Monday, October 6.

The team achieved a 3-0 record last week. Their wins included a four-set victory over No. 1 Central Oklahoma at Hamilton Field House in Edmond, Oklahoma. Earlier in the week, Central Missouri secured a five-set win against Rockhurst and followed with a four-set win over Arkansas-Fort Smith.

Kayla Baer was recognized as Setter of the Week. She recorded 153 assists, 29 digs, nine kills, and four total blocks over three matches. Baer had consecutive performances with 53 assists and nine digs each against Rockhurst and UAFS. Against Central Oklahoma, she achieved her fourth double-double of the season with a match-high 47 assists and 11 digs. This performance also marked her surpassing 1,000 career assists at Central Missouri.

Kaelyn McDonald received Defensive Player of the Week honors after tallying 16 total blocks—including two solo blocks—44 kills on 82 attempts for a .415 hitting percentage, and ten digs across three matches. She posted seven blocks and fifteen kills versus Rockhurst; three blocks and thirteen kills against UAFS; and set a new personal best with sixteen kills on twenty-eight swings (.500 hitting percentage) along with six total blocks against Central Oklahoma.

Rachel Ziesman was named Offensive Athlete of the Week after delivering forty-one kills on ninety-three swings (.344 attack percentage), ten total blocks, and five digs during three matches. In the win over Rockhurst, Ziesman contributed thirteen kills and four blocks; she added twelve kills and two blocks against UAFS; then led the team with sixteen kills on thirty-four attempts (.382 hitting percentage), four blocks, and two digs versus Central Oklahoma.

Central Missouri is scheduled to play three MIAA matches this week. The first is set for Tuesday, October 7 when they host Missouri Southern Lions (6-9 overall, 0-4 MIAA) for Cancer Awareness Night at Dr. Peggy Martin Court inside Jerry M. Hughes Athletics Center. The match begins at 6:00 p.m.