ALVA, OKLAHOMA -  Northwestern Oklahoma State Rangers Volleyball finished the second of a back to back match after beating Arkansas Monticello 3-2 Thursday evening and holding off a Southern Arkansas comeback attempt 3-1 on Friday afternoon.

Northwestern improves to 11-7 on the year with a 5-2 conference record while Southern Arkansas falls to 9-6 with a 3-4 GAC record. 

The Rangers led by Mariela Jimenez with 14 kills and Erika Asencio Soriano finishing with a double-double 12 kills and 17 digs which was a team high. Mariela Jimenez finished with six blocks followed by White and Carmae Jones. Mikayla White finished with 40 assists a match high. 

Northwestern, carrying the momentum from the thrilling comeback win Thursday evening fired off the first five points in the opening set as a kill by Erika Asencio Soriano, and Jimenez followed by a service ace had the Rangers in a 5-0 lead. Southern Arkansas though quickly came back with six straight points on the Rangers to take their first lead 6-5. Jimenez ended their run to even the score. Southern Arkansas built a 13-10 lead in the first set before the Rangers stormed back. The Rangers scored six of the next seven points to take the lead in which the Rangers never lost again in the first set. The Rangers had back to back blocks as Ece Ozdemir, and Mariela Jimenez before Jimenez and White. Two straight kills by Erika Asencio Soriano put the Rangers in front 16-14.  With the Rangers in front 16-15, Northwestern closed out the set on a 9-0 run winning 25-15. After a Asencio Soriano kill the Rangers followed with three blocks in the next five points before a service ace and a kill by Carmae Jones sealed the victory. 

The Rangers once more were first to score in the second set as Mariela Jimenez followed by a Ozdemir service ace had the Rangers in front 2-0. Northwestern continued to build the lead going in front 6-3 following a kill by Macy Shreffler. Northwestern continued to control the match pushed across a service ace by Karsyn Smith taking an 11-7 lead over the Muleriders. The Rangers holding a two point lead at 17-15 pulled away in the second set late following a 5-0 run started by Carmae Jones continued by Jimenez and Ozdemir not letting the attack through with a block. A Mulerider error had the Rangers in front 21-15. With Northwestern in front 21-17 the Rangers finished Southern Arkansas with a 4-0 run with two service aces from Smith winning 25-17 and taking a 2-0 match lead. 

Northwestern, looking for the match sweep, had a kill by Jimenez to start the set but Southern Arkansas later built a 6-3 lead after a 3-0 run. After a kill by Ozdemir had the Rangers within one, Southern Arkansas went on a 6-0 run building a 14-7 lead over Northwestern. The Rangers were not ready to go away though in the set down 17-8 sparked by Mariela Jimenez kill went on a 7-0 run to climb back within two. Northwestern added two more blocks and two service aces trailing 17-15.  Northwestern trailing 22-19 gave up three straight points on two kills and a service ace as the Muleriders closed out set three 25-19 over the Rangers. 

The Rangers looking to bounce back in set four started the set with three straight points on back to back service aces for a 3-0 lead. A block by Carmae Jones had the Rangers in front 7-2 over the Muleriders. Northwestern continuing to build the lead brought the lead to 11-7 following a kill by Mariela Jimenez. Southern Arkansas stormed back with seven quick points stealing the lead at 14-11 following two Ragner errors. Northwestern battled back with a block by Macy Shreffler before tying the set at 18-18. After the Rangers were trailing 18-16 Northwestern rattled off four points to take the 20-18 lead. After SOuthern Arkansas tied the set at 20-20 The Rangers went for four straight points started by an Ozdemir and Jimenez block including three straight blocks before a kill by JImenez fished off the 3-1 match win and 25-23 set win.

The Rangers will travel to Arkansas next week for two matches, one against Arkansas Tech in Russellville followed by Harding in Searcy. 

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