ALVA, Oklahoma- The Rangers returned home for a match against Southern Nazarene Tuesday evening. The Crimson Storm used a strong back end of set one to gain momentum to win the first set and later carry into set two and three for a 3-0 match win over the Rangers.
Northwestern falls to 9-18 on the season, with a 4-9 conference record, while Southern Nazarene improves to 11-12 on the year with a 5-8 conference record.
Kaydee Honeycutt led Northwestern with 11 kills, followed by Addison Wimmer, who had seven kills, and Courtney Russell with five. Abigail Burns led with 13 assists, along with Abby Davis with 13 on the night. Tarra Parks led the team with 12 digs, followed by Wimmer with 10. Carmae Jones led the Rangers in blocks with three.
SET 1:
The Rangers jumped out to a fast start taking the opening four points of the match with four straight points, including a Davis service ace followed by three Crimson Storm errors to give the Rangers a 4-0 lead. The Crimson Storm would answer back with four of the following five points to cut the Northwestern lead top 6-4. The Rangers and Crimson Storm would battle trading points as the Rangers held the two-point lead going to 10-8 on a Maggie Peterson serve. A Jessica Thompson and Davis kill would push the Rangers lead back to three at 13-10. Southern Nazarene answered back with a 4-0 run to take a 14-13 lead over the Rangers to take their first lead of the night. The set would be locked at 17 following a kill from Honeycutt to even the score. Southern Nazarene would close the set on a 6-0 run and an 8-1 run to take the opening set 25-18 over the Rangers and a 1-0 match lead.
SET 2:
In the second set, both teams came out firing as the teams would trade points to start the set with six ties to in the opening 12 points. Ravyn Burns opened the scoring in the second set with a kill. Wimmer would tie the game back at six from the kill, helping start a 4-0 run to regain the lead and go in front 9-6 in the second set. Southern Nazarene would climb back and tie the set at 10-10 following a kill. After falling behind, the Rangers would use a 4-0 run to tie the game back at 19-19, started by a Burns kills followed by two Honeycutt kills capped off by a block from Jones and Dehlinger. With the Rangers trailing 22-21, the Crimson Storm would close the set on a 3-0 run to win the second set 25-21 over the Rangers and take a 2-0 match lead.
SET 3:
The Storm would carry the momentum into the last set of the night, jumping out to a 6-0 lead in the first set after taking the opening six points. The teams would battle trading points as the Crimson Storm would take an 11-5 lead over the Rangers. Northwestern would cut the deficit down to two at 13-11 following a Davis service ace. Southern Nazarene would score four straight, though following the Rangers' run to go back up 17-11 in the set. The Crimson Storm would push their lead to 22-14 before closing out the match with a set 3 victory at 25-17 and the match 3-0.
Northwestern will return home on Friday for senior night as the Rangers take on the Tigers of East Central, with the match starting at 6:00 PM.
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