Joplin, Missouri - The Northwestern Oklahoma State Volleyball team opened up their season Friday afternoon competing in the Missouri Southern State University tournament with two matches. In the first one, the Rangers defeated William Jewell College
3-0 and in the second match fell to Missouri Southern State University 3-2.
Match One:
In game one of the day the Rangers swept the Cardinals 3-0. Each of the sets remained close as both teams battled for victory. Sophomore Addison Wimmer led the team in kills with 14. Transfer junior, Cameron Lobb led in assists with 44. Senior Tarra Parks collected 14 digs and freshman Andrea Coady collected 12 digs.
Set One:
The match started off with both teams exchanging kill for kill. Senior Courtney Russell gave the Rangers an early push with a back to back kill, service ace, and another kill. This put the Rangers up 4-2 early in the match. Senior Ravyn Burns contributed another kill to the team. The Cardinals fought back, stealing the momentum back with a service ace and tying the match up at 6-6. Both teams exchanged points keeping the set close. A serving error by the Cardinals and a kill from sophomore Addison Wimmer allowed the Rangers to lead by two, 17-15 going into the latter stages of the set. After a timeout called by the Cardinals, Northwestern rallied behind a kill from Wimmer and senior Tarra Parks. The Cardinals fired back, tying the game at 20-20. Both teams went point for point, but a final line shot by Wimmer sealed the Ranger victory 25-23.
Set Two:
The second set started off with another kill from Russell. Wimmer quickly fed off of the forward momentum adding another kill to Northwesterns 3-2 lead. The Cardinals fought back as the game continued to exchange point for point between teams. A kill from Burns and Parks pushed the Rangers ahead by two 13-11. Another kill from Burns sparked a Ranger run of 4-1 extending their lead 20-14. A service error by Lobb and a kill kept the Cardinals within striking distance. A late run from the Cardinals allowed them to diminish the Ranger lead and close the gap at 24-23. A final middle attack and kill from Burns secured another Northwestern win and put them up two sets to none in the match. Wimmer and Burns lead the team with 9 kills each. Junior Cameron Lobb led the team with 30 assists.
Set Three:
Northwestern came out firing in the third set, taking an early lead 3-0. With kills from Burns and Wimmer and a service ace from Parks. Russell added an additional kill to forward Northwestern's momentum and lead 9-3. Lobb contributed a service ace and the Rangers continued to pull away from The Cardinals. William Jewell rallied behind two kills but The Rangers quickly overcame them with kills from Burns and Parks extending their lead 18-8. A late 5-0 run from William Jewell kept them in the match at 20-15. Wimmer ended their run and was aided by Parks and Burns again to sweet the Cardinals 25-22.
Match Two:
In the second match of the day Northwestern battled against Missouri Southern State University falling in five sets. Addison Wimmer led the team with 15 kills followed closely by Tarra Parks with 14. Cameron Lobb led in assists with 53 and Andrea Coady led in digs with 23.
Set One:
The Lions came out strong on their home court with an early 2-0 lead. Senior Ravyn Burns ended their momentum with a kill leaving the Rangers trailing by one at 2-1. Two Missouri Southern attack errors pushed Northwestern into a 2-4 lead. The two teams exchanged blows back and forth until the Lions went on a 3-0 run to put them ahead 16-10. Addison Wimmer ended their run with a kill shot. Another kill by Tarra Parks jump started a 3-0 Ranger run leaving them trailing 21-17. The two teams battled back and forth. A final kill by The Lions secured their set win 25-20.
Set Two:
The Rangers had a slow start to the second set. Wimmer fired off a kill for the Rangers to put them in the game. Missouri Southern answered back with a 5-0 run to put them ahead 7-1. Wimmer once again ended their run with a kill shot. Sophomore Carmae Jones contributed another kill to leave the Rangers trailing 9-3. Kills by Ravyn Burns and Courtney Russell closed the gap on the Lions 12-8. The Lions responded with back to back kills. Wimmer started to heat up and switched the momentum back to Northwestern pushing them on a 6-1 run at 15-14. Jones added in an additional kill to tie the game 16-16. A service error by Missouri Southern State and kills by Burns and Parks pushed the Rangers to their first lead of the set 20-22. A service ace by Parks secured Ranger victory tying the match 1-1. Wimmer led the team with 7 kills. Lobb led in assists with 22. Freshman Coady led the team in digs with 14.
Set Three:
Parks started the set strong for the Rangers with a kill. The Lions quickly responded with back to back kills putting them ahead 3-1. Wimmer and Russel contributed a kill each to keep the game close. Missouri Southern State responded with a 3-0 run leaving them ahead 11-5. Parks ended their run with a kill. Burns and Wimmer contributed a kill each to leave the Rangers trailing by one 12-11. The Lions fired back with two kills. Another banger from Parks tied the match 15-15. A kill by Jones jump started a 4-0 Northwestern run and took back the lead 17-21. Russell contributed another kill to further the Ranger lead. A final kill from Wimmer clenched the victory 23-25 and put Northwestern ahead 2-1 in the match.
Fourth Set:
Both teams came out strong for the fourth set battling point for point. An early 4-0 run from the Lions allowed them to take the lead 9-5. Russell ended their run with a kill from the right side. Missouri Southern responded with back to back kill shots keeping their lead 11-6. Burns and Parks fought back and contributed a kill each to close the gap 13-9. Jones contributed a kill and Lobb added an ace to the mix to tie the game 16-16. The Lions fired back with a serving ace and back to back kills to put them in the lead once again 22-19. A final kill by The Lions tied the match at 2-2 and led them to a fourth set victory at 25-21.
Fifth Set:
Once again both teams came out of the break swinging. Burns and Jones contributed a kill each to tie the match 3-3. Back to back kills from Russell and Parks kept the two teams neck and neck at 5-5. The Lions responded with two kills of their own. Once again Russell fired back, aceing Missouri Southern and keeping the tie, 7-7. The two teams continued to exchange kill for kill. The Lions started to pull away, rallying together at 12-10. Jones fought back, contributing another kill for the Rangers. Yet, the momentum stayed with the home team and they secured the victory of the game 15-12.
The Rangers volleyball team will be back in action on Saturday at 10:00 AM against Truman State University as they continue the tournament at Missouri Southern State University.
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