HAYS, KANSAS - Northwestern Oklahoma State Ranger Volleyball opened the 2024 Tiger Classic with a first day sweep beating Colorado Springs 3-1 in the opening match of the day followed by a perfect 3-0 sweep over Truman State.

The Rangers were led by Erika Asencio Soriano with 19 kills, Mariela Jimenez with six blocks, Brianda Diaz with 17 digs and Hennesys Lalane with 40 assists.

Colorado Springs jumped out first with a quick 2-0 lead over the Rangers before Jimenez settled the Red-and-Black in with a kill putting the Rangers on the scoreboard. This helped pull the momentum to the Rangers tying the score at 4-4 after a service ace by Jimenez. Northwestern grabbed the lead for the first time following a kill by Asencio Soriano to take a 5-4 lead. The lead grew to 7-4 and a 5-0 run following a kill by Asencio Soriano. The Rangers continued to lead as a block by Ozge Yavuz and Asencio Soriano kept the Rangers out in front 10-6. Colorado Springs came back to even the score at 19-19 after a pair of 3-0 runs but the Rangers answered with one of their own to regain a 22-19 lead after a block by Carmae Jones and Mariela Jimenez. With the Rangers out in front 24-22 Jimenez and Lalane closed out the opening set with a pair of kills to win 25-22 and a set one victory.

The Rangers continued with all momentum as the Rangers were the first to score, opening the set with four straight and a 4-0 lead after a kill by Carmae Jones started the scoring followed by a service ace by Brianda Diaz, one of four in the match. Fort Hays State was able to tie the set at 6-6 after a 5-1 run. Rangers struck for three of the next four points as Asencio Soriano had two kills followed by a block by Yavuz and Jones. Colorado Springs took the first lead of the set following a 3-0 run to grab a 10-9 lead. Their lead was short lived as the Rangers retook the lead before later a tie at 16-16. The game stayed tied until 22-22 before the Rangers closed the set on a run to take a 2-0 match lead following a kill by Jimenez, Macy Shreffler, and Jimenez as the Rangers won 25-22.

Set three after a Rangers attack error Colorado Springs took the early 2-0 lead. A kill by Shreffler put the Rangers on the board before taking a 5-3 lead a few moments later. Colorado Springs responded with a 7-0 run to take a 10-5 lead over the Rangers. Northwestern continued to battle as a kill by Asencio Soriano led to the Rangers bringing the deficit back down to one. Northwestern tied the third set at 20-20 and later 23-23 but Colorado Springs closed out a set victory 25-23 over the Rangers as Northwestern still held a 2-1 match lead.

The fourth set the two teams were in a back and forth battle with four ties through the opening 16 points of the set locked at 8-8 following a 3-0 run by Colorado Springs. The Rangers answered with a 3-0 run as a block by Mariela Jimenez sent the Rangers in front 12-10. Carmae Jones followed with a kill that kept the Rangers out in front until Colorado Springs took a 20-17 lead before leading 22-19 The Rangers though responded with a block by Jimenez followed by a kill from Jimenez to tie the score at 22-22. The run did not stop there as Asencio Soriano had a kill followed by a block from Jimenez and Asencio Sorinao before a Hennesys Lalane kill closed the match out with a 3-1 Ranger victory.

MATCH 2:

Erika Asencio Soriano and Macy Shreffler led the team in kills with 11 and 10 in the match, Carmae Jones had four blocks, Brianda Diaz finished with 10 digs and Hennesys and Lalane had 21 assists.

Northwestern jumped out to a 3-0 lead after a block by Carmae Jones and Mariela Jimenez started the scoring, Shreffler followed with a kill and a 2-0 Ranger lead. The Rangers continuing to be aggressive brought the lead to 10-5 after three straight kills for the Rangers. Truman State closed the gap down to 12-10 before the Rangers extended the lead back to 18-12. Shreffler led with three kills on the run along with two by Asencio Soriano. After Truman State went on a small run to get the score to 20-16 the Rangers closed the opening set with five straight. A block by Ozge Yavuz and Carmae Jones had the Rangers in front 22-16, back to back kills by Erika Asencio Soriano had the Rangers take the opening set 25-16 and an early 1-0 match lead.

Macy Shreffler had the Rangers out in front early in set two followed by a kill from Carmae Jones. The Rangers jumped out to a 5-1 lead but Truman State climbed back to even the score 5-5. After the quick tie the Rangers went back to score three straight taking an 11-8 lead following a kill by Asencio Soriano. Still holding the three point lead at 15-12 Northwestern went on a 6-0 run to pull away for a 20-12 lead. Erika Asencio Soriano had two straight kills before Hennesys Lalane followed with one for the eight point lead. Asencio Soriano had the next three kills for the Rangers as Northwestern then led 22-16. The Rangers closed out the set two victory 25-18 after back to back kills by Carmae Jones for the 2-0 match lead.

Northwestern scored first on a Macy Shreffler kill to open the set. A block by Mariela Jimenez and Hennesys Lalane had the Rangers in front 5-3. The closest set of the match continued as the set was tied 7-7 and 9-9 before the Rangers went on a 6-0 run to take a 13-9 lead started by a Truman State attack error followed by a Lalane service ace. A block by Ozge Yavuz and Carmae Jones had the Rangers in front 13-9. Northwestern extended the lead to 19-12 before Truman State climbed back to tie the set at 22-22 after three Ranger errors.Jimenez had a kill for the Rangers to regain the lead before a service ace had the Rangers up two. After a point from Truman State a service error ended the set and match as the Rangers won 25-23 in the set

The Rangers will close out the Tiger Classic with two matches on Saturday against Emporia State at 2:00 PM followed by Fort Hays State at 6:00 PM scheduled start time.

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