PENSACOLA, Fla. – The number eight ranked team in the country began their season in the sunshine state with a pair of wins against Lees-McRae College and Wheeling University in the opening day of the Springhill Suites Invitational.

In match number one, UCM swept the Bobcats by a final score of 3-0 (25-17, 25-12, 25-21) giving Caitlin Peterson her first win as head coach.  

After winning the first two sets outscoring Lees-McRae 50-29, UCM found themselves trailing in the third 18-16. The Jennies closed out it out on a 9-3 run highlighted by a trio of redshirt junior Sydney Lierz' seven kills in the match.

The Jens offense was led by 2021 First Team All-MIAA selection Kersti Nix who ended the match with 11 kills helping them to a .278 attack percentage while the Bobcats were held to a .109 percentage.    
 
In match number two of the day, Central Missouri beat Wheeling University 3-1 (25-20, 25-23, 23-25, 31-29) moving to 2-0 on the year.

After a 14-4 run by the Cardinals in the third, UCM came right back with a 15-4 run of their own to regain the lead. The Cardinals would win the set 25-23 led by four Tylah Yeomans kills (21 overall).

After a Yeomans kill gave Wheeling a 29-28 advantage in the fourth, the Jens looked to Nix who put the match away with three straight kills to record a career-high 23^rd for a 31-29 victory.

Redshirt sophomore Chandler Vaughan had 32 assists, while redshirt junior Olivia Olson contributed 27.

Central Missouri has one more match in Florida as they take on tournament host West Florida Saturday afternoon beginning at 4:00 p.m.