ALVA, OKLAHOMA - Northwestern Oklahoma State went up against the conference leader in Harding on Thursday afternoon. The Rangers forced the match into the fifth set but the Bisons pulled off the 3-2 victory over the Rangers following a 15-10 fifth set victory.

The loss drops the Rangers to 7-12 overall with a 3-5 conference mark followed by Harding improving to 13-7 on the year with a 8-0 conference record.

Macy Shreffler and Erika Asencio Soriano finished with a team high 19 kills. Abby Davis had 41 kills for the team lead with Brianda Diaz at 25 digs. Carmae Jones finished with seven blocks.

SET ONE:

The visitors started off with three straight kills to open the match, two from Skyler McKinnon followed by Ashley Lamkin. Mariela Jimenez put the Rangers on the board with a kill as Northwestern then trailed 3-1. Northwestern tied the set at 3-3 before the two teams battled back and forth. Harding to an 8-5 lead over the Rangers following an error. Harding took a 12-5 lead following a 7-0 run. Northwestern stopped their run following an attack error. The Bisons continued to answer though, extending their lead to 20-13. Macy Shreffler ended that run with a kill, but Harding continued to answer as they closed the set on a 6-1 run finishing the first set with a 25-16 victory and a 1-0 match lead.

SET TWO:

Asencio Soriano and Carmae Jones opened the second set with a momentum shifting block to take a 1-0 lead. After Harding answered with two points Northwestern answered back going on a 4-0 run started by a kill by Shreffler. Northwestern went for three straight points leading 8-5. With the Rangers trailing 12-9 following a run by the Bisons Northwestern jumped onto a 7-0 run started by a Asencio Soriano kill before Macy Shreffler had four straight finishes off by a block from Ivanny Blackwood and Carmae Jones. Northwestern then led 15-12. Harding ended the run there but Northwestern did not let the momentum shift as the Rangers scored right away on a kill by Carmae Jones taking a 16-13 lead again. Harding brought the set back within two at 21-19 but that was as close as they could get. Northwestern finished on a 5-1 run that was started by Asecnio Soriano before Shreffler finished off the set with a hard kill. Northwestern won the set 25-20 and tied the match at 1-1. 

The teams traded service errors to start the next set. The two teams went back and forth to open tying the score 3-3 following a kill from Harding's Skyler McKinnon. Harding then took a 6-4 lead, maintaining a slight distance. The Bisons were able to make a small lead continuing to gain separation following a kill and a block taking a 9-5 lead. Harding and Northwestern traded point for point, not able to gain separation or momentum as Harding maintained that lead over the Rangers to 14-10. Harding was able to extend their lead following a few more points taking a 18-12 lead over the Rangers. As the teams went point for point once more at 22-15 Harding closed to set victory out 25-16 just like the set one score taking a 2-1 match lead over the Rangers.

SET FOUR:

Northwestern, looking to extend the match, jumped out to a 4-0 lead in set four following back to back kills by Shreffler. A block by Jimenez and a service ace from Blackwood had the Rangers in front. Harding, trying to play catch-up in this set, stopped the run with a kill but Northwestern continued to extend the lead to 7-1. Harding stormed back to take a 9-8 lead following a massive run but Asencio Soriano put a stop to run to even the score right back. This started a 4-0 run as the Rangers took a 12-9 lead. This helped the Rangers gain much needed momentum following the run with a 5-0 run started by Shreffler and two blocks by the Rangers helped build an 18-11 lead. Harding was able to close the gap to 18-15 but this time Ivanny Blackwood was there to silence the comeback starting a 3-0 run putting the Rangers back in front 21-15. Two service errors and a kill by Asencio Soriano had the Rangers in front 24-20. Northwestern evened the match at 2-2 following the set win of 21-15.

SET FIVE:

In the decisive fifth set the Rangers once more opened the set with the first point following a major kill by Macy Shreffler and Mariela Jimenez. The two teams traded points tying the score at 3-3 and eventually all the way to 6-6. Northwestern then jumped onto a three to nothing run following a kill by Soriano and a block by Jones and Blackwood. The Rangers led 9-7, before Harding went on a 5-0 run taking a 12-9 lead. The Bisons would be able to close it out with a 15-10 set victory and a 3-2 match win.

Northwestern will be right back in action Friday afternoon with a match against Arkansas Tech at 4:00 PM scheduled start time in Percefull Fieldhouse.

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