ALVA, OKLAHOMA - Northwestern Volleyball returned home for a matchup against the rival Southwestern Oklahoma State. The Rangers completed a 3-1 win over the Bulldogs behind an electric crowd. Northwestern took the first two sets before closing out the match victory in set four.

Northwestern improves to 6-8 on the season with a 3-1 record in the Great American Conference while giving Southwestern their first conference loss following to 2-1 and 7-4 overall on the season. 
 

The Rangers were led by Erika Asencio Soriano with 19 kills and Ece Ozdemir totaling 14 behind 55 assists for Cameron Lobb (second most all time in a four set match for the Rangers) and 18 digs by Brianda Diaz in the team victory. 
 

SET ONE: 

Lobb started the match off with a serve leading to a Ranger point on a Bulldog attack error. After Southwestern took a 5-2 lead did not stop the Rangers fighting back behind a strong kill by Ivanny Blackwood followed by a service ace from Mikayla White and a kill by Ozdemir tied the set at 7-7. The score continued to trade, hitting a stalemate as the Rangers and Bulldogs tied at 10 before Northwestern took control of the set. Asencio Soriano closed off a kill to push the Rangers back in front at 11-10. This helped the Rangers slowly pull away. Mariela Jimenez denied the Bulldogs with a block giving the Rangers an 18-13 lead, the largest lead to that point in the set. Southwestern attempted to comeback getting the Ranger lead back to three a couple of tries and eventually as close as one at 22-21, however out of a Ranger timeout Blackwood killed the Bulldog momentum pushing the score back to 23-21. Erika Asencio Soriano closed out the set victory with a kill giving the Rangers a 25-22 victory and 1-0 match lead. 
 

SET TWO: 

Northwestern, keeping all momentum, jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the second set behind a kill by Ascencio Soriano. Southwestern was able to tie the match at 4-4 after a Ranger error. The Rangers regained the lead right away with two straight kills by Ozdemir. Southwestern took their first lead at 11-10 over the Rangers after four straight points closed off by back to back kills, the second being from Zoey Sparks. As the Rangers trailed 12-10 Northwestern went for seven straight points taking a 17-10 lead. A kill by Ascencio Soriano started this run. The Rangers, fully regaining all momentum, continued as Ascencio Soriano served with a service ace and then two big kills by Ozdemir taking a 17-12 lead. Rangers continued to keep distance from there opening a 20-16 lead over Southwestern. Much like the first after a kill by Carmae Jones, Ascencio Soriano closed out the second set 25-19 in favor of the Rangers with a huge kill to take a 2-0 match lead. 
 

SET THREE: 

Southwestern trying to comeback in the match, took three straight points after the Rangers took the first one. Mariela Jimenez helped the Rangers get back with a kill tying the match at 4-4. Southwestern slowly took a slight lead after a kill by Maddie Clark had them in a 9-7 lead. Jones finished off another kill to cut the Bulldog run, however Southwestern jumped right back on the board with back to back kills coming from Clark once more. Rangers took their first time out trailing 12-8. The timeout cooled off Southwestern a bit as the Rangers cut the deficit back to one. A kill by Jimenez and a service ace by Brooke Miller at the Rangers down 15-14. After a kill by Lacy Mott and Taryn Galt Southwestern regained a four point lead but the Ranger came roaring back. Down 22-18 Ascencio Soriano sparked another run with a kill followed by Macy Shreffler and an attack error had the Rangers down 22-21. After climbing back into the set an attack error on the Bulldogs from Cameron Turner  had the Rangers up 24-23. Southwestern took back the set though going up 26-25 and winning 27-25. 
 

SET FOUR: 

After extending the match Southwestern opened the fourth set on a 4-0 run. Ascencio Soriano sparked the Ranger comeback though with an electric kill putting the Rangers on the board. Ivanny Blackwood continued with another kill. Southwestern tried to keep the Rangers in the distance taking a 9-3 lead. Once again though the Rangers battled back a service ace by Brianda Diaz gave the Rangers three straight points. A momentum changing kill by Ozdemir got the Rangers within one before Jimenez had the huge kill, tying the set at 11. Ascencio Soriano continued to keep the Rangers with full momentum putting the Rangers in front at 13-12 for the first time in the set. At 13-13 a kill by Cameron Lobb put the Rangers back in front followed by a block by Jones helped give the Rangers some distance. Northwestern fully built off the play, jumping out to an 18-14 lead forcing the visitors into a timeout. The Red-and-Black continued to pull away following a kill by Jones, Ozdemire and Jimenez gave the Rangers a 21-16 lead. Southwestern battled back though getting within one at 23-22 but Asencio Soriano killed off the run putting the Rangers up 24-22 before a Lobb service ace gave the Rangers a 25-22 win and a 3-1 match win overall!
 

Northwestern travels to East Central on Thursday for a road matchup continuing conference play in Ada, Oklahoma. The match is set for 6:00 PM.

For the latest news and updates on NWOSU Athletics, follow @NWOSUAthletics on TWITTER or visit www.riderangersride.com.