ALVA, OKLAHOMA - Northwestern Oklahoma State Volleyball closed out the 2024 regular season at home Thursday evening against Oklahoma Baptist. The Rangers took set one before Oklahoma Baptist came back late in set two to even the match and close the match with a 3-1 victory over the Rangers.
The Rangers finish the regular season 13-15 with a 7-9 overall conference record, while Oklahoma Baptist improves to 16-12 overall with a 10-6 conference record.
Erika Asencio Soriano led the Rangers with 13 kills followed by Ivanny Blackwood with seven. Hennesys Lalane had 25 assists, as Asencio Soriano had 17 digs.
Oklahoma Baptist started the match with the first point on a kill by Allie Stricker, Mariela Jimenez was the first kill for the Rangers to tie the set at 2-2. The set stayed even after a kill by Ece Ozdemir and a block by Ivanny Blackwood.The set was tied 6-6 before the Rangers scored five of the next six points. The run started with a Blackwood kill followed by a Lalane kill. Rangers then led 11-7 over the Bison. The Ranges maintained the four point lead until the Rangers were able to extend the lead to 19-12 as the Rangers continued to push their run. Oklahoma Baptist scored four of the next five trying to dive into the Ranger lead but Northwestern answered back, closing out the set with a 25-19 win over the Bison for a set one victory and a 1-0 match lead.
In set two the Rangers went down 2-0 early before a block by Asencio Soriano and Lalane put the Rangers on the board. Oklahoma Baptist continued to hold the lead at 5-3 and 9-8 before the Rangers used a small lead to steal the lead at 10-9 following kills by Asencio Soriano, Blackwood. The teams battled back and forth as the Rangers continued to slowly try and pull away going in front 15-12. Oklahoma Baptist scored three straight to tie the set at 15-15.The Rangers took a 20-17 and a 22-19 lead, holding the three point lead to 24-21. However Oklahoma Baptist scored three straight to the set at 24-24 before stealing the set two victory. The Bison down 26-25 hit the last three points of the set to take a 28-26 win and even the match at 1-1.
The third set was all Bison early with a 3-0 set lead to start after three straight kills. The Rangers got three of the next four points to bring their deficit back down to one. Oklahoma Baptist then extended their lead to 8-3 after four straight points. With Oklahoma Baptist leading 9-6 the visitors then struck for the next six points extending their lead to double digits at 16-6 on two blocks and two service aces.Their largest lead of the set was pushed to 12 at 19-7 before the Rangers chipped back in slightly getting it to just under 10. However the Bison controlled the rest of the set for a 25-14 victory over the Rangers to go in front with a 2-1 match lead.
Oklahoma Baptist continued to carry the momentum into the final set this time jumping out to an early 2-0 lead after an ace and a kill. After Jimenez put the Rangers on the board with a kill. Oklahoma Baptist then pushed a 6-0 run on two aces, a block and two kills to take a 10-2 lead. A 5-0 run later had their lead to double digits at 16-4 over the Rangers. The Bison continued to hold the double digit lead as the Bison went on to win the set 25-14 and win the match 3-1 over the Rangers.
Northwestern Oklahoma State will continue the season into the playoffs starting on Thursday November 21st at 12:30 against Harding University in Hot Springs Arkansas.
