JOPLIN MISSOURI- Northwestern Oklahoma State Volleyball closed out their opening weekend tournament splitting 1-1 just like day one. The Rangers won the first match of the day 3-1 after taking three straight sets after dropping the first one. The second match the Rangers dropped 3-0 to Southwest Baptist.
MATCH 1:
Northwestern went up against Cameron University to start the day in the first of two matches to close out the MSSU Invite. The Aggies were the first on the board, jumping out to an early 2-0 lead before the Rangers rattled off four straight starts by a kill from Macy Shreffler. Northwestern worked it back to a tie at 6-6 following a kill by Erika Asencio Soriano assisted by Cameron Lobb. Cameron took the next three points to take a 9-6 lead before another four straight gave them a six point lead at 13-7. Cameron continued to grow the lead eventually building their first double digit lead at 24-14 and closing out the first set win 25-15 taking a 1-0 lead.
After Cameron took the first point of set two the Rangers fired back by taking a 5-2 lead. A kill by Mariela Jimenez opened the run. Cameron battled back, going on a 4-0 run to regain the lead at 9-8. Carmae Jones finished off a kill from Mikayla White to help the Rangers tie the score before a service ace by Lobb helped build a 12-10 lead. The Rangers continued to push, opening a four point lead at 19-15 after a kill from Jones. The Rangers continued to extend the lead with four straight points to take a 24-17 lead. Rangers evened the match at 1-1 after closing out the set with a 25-18 victory.
Northwestern continued the third set where they closed out the second set. Northwestern got the first point and opened a 3-1 lead after a kill from Abby Williams. The teams started trading point for point as the set was locked at 9-9 after a kill by Carmae Jones from Abby Davis. This was one of four straight points after back to back service aces from Lobb taking a 12-9 lead. The Aggies responded with six straight to regain the lead and take a 15-12 lead. Shreffler finished off a kill from Lobb to start the next Ranger run which opened a 20-16 lead. Northwestern closed out the set with a 25-19 victory following a Cameron attack error for a 2-1 set lead.
The Rangers again started the scoring off in the fourth set and quickly opened a 4-1 lead with three kills from different players in Shreffler, Williams, Ozdemir all three were assisted by Lobb. Cameron took their first lead at 6-5 after a kill and a Ranger attack error. Three straight Northwestern points closed off by a kill from Ozdemir gave the Rangers an 8-6 lead. Northwestern led 14-12. Jimenez started the next run after a kill to eventually push the Ranger lead to 18-12. Northwestern continued to build momentum with three straight again for a 24-17 lead before closing out the 25-18 set four win and a 3-1 match overall win.
MATCH 2:
Southwestern Baptist jumped out to a 2-0 lead before a kill by Abby Williams put the Rangers on the board helping score four straight and a 4-2 Ranger lead. Northwestern maintained the lead after a block from Erika Asencio Soriano put them back up 7-3. With the Rangers up 9-5 a 5-1 run for Southwest Baptist evened the score at 10-10. Shreffler's kill silenced the run but the two teams started trading points and continued to be tied through 15-15 before the Rangers went up 17-15. A kill by Ozdemir later tied it back 18-18. However Southwest Baptist scored six straight points for a 24-18 lead later winning the set 25-19.
In set two Southwest Baptist struck first but Abby Williams responded with a kill. The set was tied at 4-4 and the Rangers later trailed 7-5 before three straight Northwestern points started by a kill by Carmae Jones started a 3-0 run to take the lead back at 8-7. Williams tied the match again with a kill for a 10-10. It was still tied through 12-12 before Southwestern took the lead opening a four point lead at 18-14. Southwest Baptist finished the set on a 6-1 lead winning 25-17 and a 2-0 match lead.
Rangers were first on the board with a kill by Ozdemire. Southwest Baptist responded with five of the next six points to take a 5-2 lead. The Rangers fought back with three straight points to cut the deficit back down to one at 8-7 following a service ace by Asencio Soriano.
Southwest Baptist went on a 7-0 to respond and opened a 17-8 lead over the Rangers. A kill from Jimenez helped the Rangers start a 7-1 run to bring the set back within three at 18-15. The Rangers got within two at 21-19 after a service ace from Williams but Southwest Baptist closed out the set with a 25-20 victory and a 3-0 match win over the Rangers.
The Rangers will be off until Friday when the team travels to Pittsburg, Kansas for the Gorilla Classic Tournament to face Southwest Minnesota State, Pittsburg State, Arkansas Fort Smith, and Drury University starting on Friday September 8th at 2:00 PM.
