MISSOURI - Northwestern Oklahoma State closed out their weekend in Missouri against Upper Iowa. The Rangers came back to take three straight sets after dropping the first one to win the match 3-1 over Upper Iowa.

The win improves the Rangers to 4-7 on the season while Upper Iowa drops to 4-6.

SET ONE:

The Rangers got on the board from an attack error to tie the set at 1-1. Upper Iowa then rattled off three straight points to take a three point lead at 5-2 eventually extended it to 6-2. Rangers cut the deficit to three but Upper Iowas kept the pressure on extending their lead back to 12-5. With the Rangers trailing 19-14 a kill by Cameron Lobb sparked a Ranger comeback as the Red-and-Black tied it at 21 following a block by Carmae Jones. A kill by Jones and Ozdemir gave the Rangers a quick 23-21 lead but Upper Iowa managed to comeback and take the set 26-24 and open with a set victory for a 1-0 match lead.

SET TWO:

Rangers turned the momentum early in the second set by scoring four straight points to start the set on a block by Erika Asencio Soriano and a service ace by Cameron Lobb. Later a strong kill by Ivanny Blackwood helped the Rangers maintain their lead by extending it to an 8-4 lead. Upper Iowa scored three straight after that to cut the Ranger lead to 8-7 forcing a timeout. Upper Iowa was able to tie the set after a kill and a service ace by Mckenna Diermeier. Northwestern responded with a kill by Mariela Jimenez and two kills by Carmae Jones for a 4-1 run to take a 13-10 lead. As the two teams went back and forth the set was tied at 20-20 following an Upper Iowa timeout as Jimenez was able to regain the lead for the Rangers at 21-20. As the set went to 24-24, Jones helped the Rangers get back out in front with a 25-24 lead. Ece Ozdemir was able to help the Rangers get the set two victory following a kill and a service ace to seal the win at 28-26 and even the match at 1-1.

SET THREE:

Carmae Jones helped keep the momentum on the Rangers side by starting the third set with a kill and an early 1-0 lead. A kill by Asencio Soriano followed by two straight from Ivanny Blackwood pushed the Ranger's in front 5-1. After a point from Upper Iowa's the Rangers again answered back this time with a kill from Ozdemir and two service aces from Brianda Diaz had the Ranges up 9-2. Upper Iowa tried to gain ground slowly but the Rangers with a 12-9 lead was able to push the lead back out to six at 17-11. With the score 19-15 out of a Ranger timeout Northwestern scored two straight before a 4-0 run to close out the set started by Asencio Soriano getting two straight kills helped the Rangers out in front for the win 25-17 and a 2-1 set victory.

SET FOUR:

Upper Iowa, looking to extend the match to a fifth set, jumped out to a 3-0 lead to start the set before Asencio Soriano slowed their run down and got things started for the Rangers with three straight points by a kill and a service ace before Blackwood tied the game at three. Teams traded points until the Rangers tied it at 8-8 following a kill from Ascencio Soriano. This helped the Rangers open a small lead taking an 11-8 lead following a kill by Brooke Miller. Upper Iowa was not ready to go away, coming back to tie the set at 12-12. Score was tied at 15-15 one last time before a kill by Jijmenez gave the Rangers the lead for good. Jimenez had back to back kills to take an 18-16 lead, that was stretched to a 21-16 lead following back to back service aces by Ozdemir. Northwestern closed out the match victory 25-22 following a kill by Ivanny Blackwood.

Northwestern will return to action on Tuesday against Oklahoma Baptist at home for the Rangers second conference match of the season. The match is scheduled to start at 6:00 PM.

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