JOPLIN, MISSOURI - Northwestern Oklahoma State Volleyball opened their 2023 campaign with two matches Friday opening against Newman University winning 3-2 in a five set match. Before taking on the host Missouri Southern in the night cap. Missouri Southern won the match 3-1 over the Rangers.
The Rangers moved to an even 1-1 after the two opening matches.
MATCH 1:
In the opening match the Rangers knocked off Newman University in a close 3-2 battle. Erika Soriano Asencio led the Rangers with 16 kills and 13 digs as one of two Rangers to finish with a double-double. The other being Cameron Lobb with 21 assists and 11 digs.
The Rangers jumped out early with four kick points thanks to back to back kills from Macy Shreffler and a service ace from Lobb. After Newman ended the run the Rangers did not let the momentum go through after bouncing back taking seven straight once again to open a 12-2 lead and their first double digit lead after three straight kills by Asencio Soriano. Northwestern maintained the lead while even stretching it to 11 on a service ace by Lobb. Rangers pushed their largest lead to 13 in the opening set at 23-10 after a service ace and later closed out the set win by a final 25-11 after a service ace from Brianda Diaz.
In the second set the Rangers jumped on the board first again with the first two points. A service error followed by an attack error but the Rangers in front. The Red-and-Black continued to build off that opening a 5-1 lead. Northwestern continued to hold the lead throughout the set until the Jets tied the score in the set at 15-15 after a kill. Newman later grabbed their first lead of the match at 18-17 but the Rangers had their response trying to score back at 20-20.With it locked at 22 Macy Shreffler had a kill to start the run as the Rangers closed out the set with the final three points for a 25-22 set two victory an a 2-0 lead in the match.
After the Rangers jumped out early for the third straight set the Jets battled back the set was locked at 7-7 before trading points staying tied throughout to 15-15. Newman briefly went up 17-15 before the Rangers battled back to take a 19-17 lead for four straight points started by a kill from Erika Asencio Soriano. A kill by Carmae Jones gave the Rangers two point lead. Newman answered back with six straight taking a 23-19 lead before closing out a 25-22 set win.
Newman was the first one on the board in set four but the two teams stayed within one and even tied with a 5-5 score after a Jet service ace. Newman built a lead of 10-6 before opening a double digit lead of 20-10. Rangers fell in set four 25-15 as the match was even at 2-2 before the decisive set five.
A kill from Mariela Jimenez put the Rangers on the board first. A 3-1 lead Northwestern opened, maintaining that two point lead until it was tied at five. Newman went up two at 9-7 before the Rangers changed the set. A kill by Carmae Jones put the Rangers back in front at 10-9 helping lead a 7-0 lead to take a 14-9 lead in the set. Erika Asencio Soriano closed out the match with her sixteenth kill of the match for a 15-10 set win and a 3-2 match victory overall.
Match 2:
Missouri Southern opened the first set with the first two points before a block by Mariela Jimenez had the Rangers on the board. A kill by Erika Asencio Soriano kept the Rangers within one at the time 3-2. Missouri Southern started opening a lead going up 7-3. A kill by Jones ended the host's run. Missouri Southern answered though with six straight points taking a 13-4 lead. The Ranger deficit was stretched to 11 after an attack error had the score at 17-6. Missouri Southern maintained the double digit lead to the end of the set winning set one 25-12 for a 1-0 lead overall.
The second set Missouri Southern continued where they left off with four straight points to open the set and take a 4-0 lead. A kill from Ozge Yavuz put Northwestern on the board trailing 4-1. Missouri held the lead stretchign it to six after a kill for an 11-5 lead. Northwestern cut the deficit in half started by a kill from Shreffler trailing 11-8. An 11-3 run by Missouri Southern pushed their lead to double digits at 22-12. They closed out the set win 25-15 for a 2-0 match lead heading into the third.
The Rangers tried to change the momentum, scoring the first seven points of the set. Two blocks by Jimenez started the scoring followed by a service ace. Northwestern had two service aces and three blocks in the first seven points. After Missouri Southern stopped the run the Rangers scored three straight for a 10-1 lead overall in the set. Missouri Southern slowly chipped their way back into the set cutting the Ranger lead to 11-6. Asencio Soriano slowed their run down with a kill, rattling off three straight for the Rangers. It was 17-17 when Missouri Southern came back to tie it. They later took the lead at 20-18. A service ace by Ivanny Blackwood tied the game at 20-20. After a tie score of 22-22 two attack errors and a kill by Carmae Jones closed out the set victory 25-22.
After the Rangers got the set win pushing the set to 2-1, Missouri Southern opened the fourth set on a 4-0 run for the early lead. Rangers scored three straight cutting it back down to one but they answered back pushing the lead back to 7-3. The Rangers once again cut the deficit back down to one at 9-8 before Missouri Southern went back up 16-10. That was the closest the Rangers could get before Missouri Southern opened their lead back to seven at 21-14 and closed out the match with a kill for a 25-16 and a match victory 3-1 overall.
The Rangers will be back in action to close out the MSSU Invite Saturday with two matches, the first against Cameron followed by Southwest Baptist to close it out.
